ENGLISH 451 / WOMENS STUDIES 399 (Section 02)   Spring 1992
Topic: Contemporary Underrepresented American Women Writers
Fridays, 1 -3:40  p.m.  Nichols 304
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California, 94952
INSTRUCTORS:    Barbara Lesch McCaffry and
                Kris Montgomery (MONTGOME@SONOMA.EDU)

     " We cannot escape collusion with racism or homophobia simply by
having 'humanistic'  intentions, by a desire to be politically
liberal, or in the belief that we are in revolt against silence for
anyone's sake but our own." -- Adrienne Rich (1977)

     In this course, which will be team-taught by Barbara Lesch
McCaffry and Kris Montgomery, we will  be  exploring a wide range of
fiction written by women since 1950. Our focus will be on unheard
voices including:  Black, Asian, Native American, Chicana, and Jewish
women writers.  We will also be reading works that deal  with aging
and with utopias, as well as weaving in the voices of disabled,
lesbian and working-class writers.

     From each grouping, you  will chose one of  the novels which will
allow us to develop multiple perspectives on  these voices and
discover the common threads which exist.  The reading of novels will
be supplemented by  an  exploration of the context for these works,
guest lectures, and a sampling of short stories. Your voices, as
always, will help us discover how to approach these works and what
societal factors have influenced them.

     All are welcome to participate, including non-majors and graduate
students, but you will benefit more from the  course if you have
already completed English 214, English 314 or English 345  (or an
equivalent G.E. world literature  course).

     Lecture and in-class discussion will be supplemented by video and
audio tapes and small group discussions. In  addition, each of you
will have an opportunity to explore one writer or her culture in
greater depth, as well as the  chance to work with other curious and
inquisitive explorers who are enrolled in the course.


COURSE OBJECTIVES:

     1. To read a variety of novels and  short stories by
contemporary women writers whose voices have not always  been included
in the mainstream.

     2. To gain an understanding of other cultural perspectives and
begin to explore the points of similarity between  our own cultural
backgrounds and others reflected in these works.

     3. To expand our perspective in terms of issues of diversity.

     4. To enhance our skills in reading, understanding , and
discussing literature.

REQUIREMENTS:

     What  we will expect from you aside from what Simone Weil called
"an attentive heart" is:

     1.         active participation in each class meeting, based on your
reading of the assignments. More than one absence  may result in a
lowering of your final grade.  If you should miss a class during the
semester, it is your  responsibility to make up the work within one
week of your absence.  Before you return, do call another  person in
the class so that you come back ready to step out. 20% of your final
grade.

     2.         some in-class, thought-provoking, creative,
non-nervewracking writing exercises.

     3. reading responses based on your reactions to the novels (1-2
pages typed or 3-4 pages legibly handwritten;  please double-space or
write on every other line).  Your response can be in any form you
wish--poem, letter,  journal entry, essay--but it should reflect your
reading of and reaction to the text.  Do use direct quotes  whenever
possible to support your points.  30% of your final grade. Your five
highest grades will be counted.

     4. a brief oral presentation (7-10 minutes) on one of the
following groups: Black Writers and Culture  (3/6), Asian-American
Writers and Culture (3/20), Chicana Writers and Culture (4/3), Native
American Writers and Culture (4/17) or Utopias (5/8).  You will be
asked to choose a group on 2/14.   The panels' purpose is to help
prepare the class for the upcoming novels by covering topics such as:

                - Background on the authors,
                - Cultural context,
                - A novel by another writer appropriate to that week's
literature, or
                - Another novel by one of the authors to be read that week.

     Each of you should also prepare sufficient copies of a one-page
summary of the key points in your  presentation for distribution (do
include "juicy" quotes) . The later in the semester your panel takes
place, the more polished and complete we will expect the presentations
to be.  The week prior to your  panel please plan on meeting with Kris
and Barbara as a group for a half-hour right after class.  10%  of
your final grade.

     5.         a paper which  can be an outgrowth of your panel
presentation.  The paper will be a more detailed discussion  of your
topic than possible to offer during your presentation.  A short
prospectus of your proposed paper topic  will be due on 3/13,  the
first version will be due on 4/17 , and the final version is due with
your portfolio by  5/19. The papers should be 5-8 pages in length (or
10-15 for graduate students).  We will be distributing a  handout with
detailed information about the papers later in the semester.  25% of
your final grade.

     6.         a final writing exercise which allows you to synthesize
what your have learned from the course and provides  us with feedback
on how successfully the course objectives were met.  15% of your final
grade.

     7. a portfolio or collection of writing that you have done
throughout the semester.  It should include:  your  two  favorite
reading responses, at least one freewrite, a copy of the one page
handout from your  presentation, the first version of your paper with
our comments,  and  the final version of your paper.

     If you are taking the course credit/no credit rather than for a
letter grade, you will be expected to do the same  assignments.

     No late papers  will be accepted unless pre-approved one week
prior to the due date.

SCHEDULE:

     1/31       Introduction to the syllabus and the course.

     2/7        Read Tillie Olsen,  Tell Me a Riddle and prepare a brief
reaction to the novella which focuses on  one or two points that
struck you (2-3 paragraphs)

     We will be distributing the list of short stories to be read (by
topic and date) and discussing how we will organize the group
presentations.

     2/14       Discussion of short stories by Jewish writers (see list for
assigned  readings).  Be prepared to choose a group for your
presentation

     2/21       Introduction to writers dealing with Aging and discussion of
short stories (see list for assigned  readings).

     2/28       Read either Paule Marshall, Praisesong for the Widow OR  May
Sarton, Mrs. Stevens Hears the  Mermaids Singing and submit reading
response # 1.

     3/6        Panel discussion on Black Writers and Culture.  Introduction
to Black writers and discussion of  short stories (see list for
assigned readings).

        Guest Speaker: Professor Niambi Webster  (2:30-3:40 p.m. )

     3/13       Read either Toni Morrison, Beloved OR  Sherley Anne
Williams, Dessa Rose and submit reading  response # 2 .  Submit short
prospectus on your proposed paper topic.

     3/20       Panel discussion on Asian-American Writers and Culture.
Introduction to Asian-American  writers and discussion of short
stories (see list for assigned readings).

        Guest Speaker: Mei Nakano (2:30-3:40 p.m. )

     We will be arranging a showing of the film, Mitsuye and Nellie
during the hour following class for  those who have yet to see it or
who want to see it again.

     3/27       Read either Maxine Hong Kingston, The Woman Warrior  OR  Amy
Tan, The Joy Luck Club and  submit reading response # 3.

     We will adjourn at 3 p.m. so that we can attend the opening
session of "In Celebration of Women's  Education at SSU -- 1970-1992."
The panel/speakout, "Are We Old Enough to Have A History?" is  open to
all and will take place in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Student Union
from 3 - 4:45 p.m.   For those not able to attend the entire
conference (with runs through 3 p.m. on Saturday), we  strongly urge
you to attend the Keynote Address by poet and essayist, June Jordan,
which will take  6ace in the Commons at 8 p.m. on Friday.

     4/3        Panel discussion on Chicana Writers and Culture.
Introduction to Chicana writers and discussion  of short stories (see
list for assigned readings).

        Guest Speaker: Rick Rivera  (2:30-3:40 p.m. )

     4/10       Read either Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street OR
Estela Portillo Trambley, Trini and  submit reading response # 4.

     4/17       SPRING BREAK -- No Class

     4/24       Panel discussion on Native American Writers and Culture.
Introduction to Native American  writers and discussion of short
stories (see list for assigned readings).  Submit first version of
your  final paper.

        Guest Speaker: Victoria Bomberry (2:30-3:40 p.m. )

     5/1        Read either Louise Erdrich, Love Medicine OR  Leslie Marmon
Silko, Ceremony and submit  reading response # 5.

     5/8        Panel discussions on Utopias and Aging.  Introduction to
utopias by Kris and discussion of short  stories (see list for
assigned readings).

     5/15       Read either Dorothy Bryant, The Kin of Ata are Waiting for
You OR  Judy Grahn, Mundane's  World and submit reading response # 6.

     Your portfolio with the final draft of your paper is due by no
later than 5/19.

     5/22       Final writing exercise and course wrap-up (2-3:50  p.m.).


ADDENDUM TO SYLLABUS for ENGLISH 451 (S 92)
Supplemental Reading List

     A reader with copies of each of the works is in the Reserve Room
of the Library on three hour reserve.

Aging (to be read for 2/21/92 class meeting):

"My Man Bovanne," Toni Cade Bambara (in We Are the Stories We Tell)
"The Scream on Fifty-Seventh Street," Hortense Calisher
        (in Women & Fiction)
"Sitty Victoria," Vicki Salloum (in When I am an Old Woman I Shall
        Wear Purple)
"Gracefully Afraid," Mary Anne Ashley (in When I am an Old Woman
        I Shall Wear Purple)
"Making Believe: A True Story," Marylou Hadditt (in Women of the 14th
        Moon: Writings on menopause)

Black (to be read for 3/6/92 class meeting:

"Everyday Use," Alice Walker (in Women & Fiction)
"Brooklyn," Paule Marshall (in We Are the Stories We Tell)
"The Abortion," Alice Walker (in We Are the Stories We Tell)
"In The Life," Becky Bertha (in We Are the Stories We Tell)

Asian  (to be read for 3/20/92 class meeting):

"On Discovery," Maxine Hong Kingston (in We Are the Stories We Tell)
"Seventeen Syllables," Hisaye Yamamoto (in The Third Woman: Minority
        Women Writers of the United States)
"And the Soul Shall Dance, Wakako Yamauchi (in AIIIEEEEE! : An Anthology
        of Asian American Writers)
"Desert Run" Mitsuye Yamada  (from Desert Run: Stories and Poems)
"Native Daughter, " Shirley Geok-lin Lim (in The Forbidden Stitch)
"A Moving Day," Susan Nunes (in The Graywolf Annual Seven: Stories from
        the American Mosaic)
"Luna Moth," Jessica Hagedorn (in American Mosaic: Multicultural Readings
        in Context)
"Sari Petticoats," Talat Abbasi (in The Forbidden Stitch)

Chicana (to be read for 4/3/92 class meeting):

"The Youngest Doll," Rosario Ferre (in Reclaiming Medusa)
"Growing," Helena Maria Viramontes (in Cuentos: Stories by Latinas)
"The Burning," Estela Portillo Trambley (in The Third Woman: Minority
        Women Writers of the United States)
"Recuerdo"," Guadalupe Valdes Fallis(in The Third Woman: Minority Women
        Writers of the United States)
"Enero," Mary Helen Ponce (in The Graywolf Annual Seven: Stories from
        the American Mosaic)

Native American (to be read for 4/24/92 class meeting):

"Fleur," Louise Erdrich (in We Are the Stories We Tell)
"Yellow Woman," Leslie Marmon Silko (in We Are the Stories We Tell)
"Deep Purple," Paula Gunn Allen (in Spider Woman's Granddaughters)
"An American in New York," Leann Howe (in Spider Woman's Granddaughters)

Utopias (to be read for 5/8/92 class meeting):

A Weave of Women, E.M. Bronner (Chapters 1 & 3)
"She Unnames Them," Ursula K. Le Guin (in We Are the Stories We Tell)
Woman on the Edge of Time, Marge Piercy (Chapters 3-5)
"When It Changed," Joanna Russ (in The New Women of Wonder)