English 395/Poli Sci 400: DIASPORA MEETING IN: P322 Poucher Hall 2:20-3:40PM

English 395/Poli Sci 497: DIASPORA MEETING IN: P305 Poucher Hall 2:20-3:40PM CLASS WEBSITE: www.oswego.edu/~jayaward

Instructors: Dr. Stephen Rosow ([email protected]) Office: 435B Mahar. Hours: Tu, Th 11:-12:30; W 1-3.

Dr. Neelika Jayawardane ([email protected]) Office: Hours: Tu, Th 11:00AM-12:00PM (303E Poucher)/4-5PM (IPAC offices); AND by Appointment Phone: Don’t leave panicked messages; email me instead. I answer email ONCE a day, but not on weekends. ______INTRODUCTION: Texts: 1. Diasporas by Stephane Dufoix 2. Salaam Brick Lane by Tarquin Hall 3. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri 4. The Craft of Research, Booth et. al. (recommended) 5. Class Coursepacket (All articles and outside readings are listed on the class schedule below and can be downloaded from class web page). FILMS: Ararat; The Namesake; Brick Lane; Milk, All Films will be available on reserve in the library; we will also show the film on a prearranged date.

Required Assignments/Grading System: 1 In Class Participation/ Discussion (this means actual intellectually-sound contributions, 20% not ramblings based on careful preparation of assigned readings) 2 Short Paper (5-6 pages): on concepts, approaches, theory of diaspora/due prior to class, March 2 20% 3 In-class Presentation/Lecture on the week’s reading material (on Thursdays) 10% 4a Seminar Paper Proposal/Annotated Bibliography for Seminar Paper 10% 4b First Draft 10% 4c Paper Presentation 10% 4d 20-page Seminar Paper – Final Draft 20%

EXPLANATION OF ASSIGNMENTS/GRADING SYSTEM: 1. Attendance/Participation: Attendance for this class is mandatory. Technically, you are allowed two unexcused absences (because this is a class that meets twice a week, two absences constitute a week's worth of absences), after which I will lower your overall grade by a third of a letter grade for each additional class missed. If you do miss a class, I am NOT responsible for getting you "caught up" with class work, unless you have a legitimate excuse (such as a serious, documented illness). I believe quite strongly in what is known in teaching circles as “shared inquiry”: this means that students participate actively in the teaching/learning process, sharing the duty of inquiring into the issues within - and surrounding - the texts we will be reading. Poor attendance, and poor participation in class discussion will affect your writing, and can lead to a failing grade. Emergency Absences: If you are absent FOR MORE THAN 3 DAYS from campus because of an emergency/health issues that can be documented, contact Student Advisement Office (315-312-2240) BEFORE/WHILE you are away (they will not work with you AFTER the absence). They will send all your professors an official letter stating that you will be absent for a valid.

2. Discussion Leadership: As part of your participation grade, on a prearranged day of class, each person will be responsible for presenting a lecture/discussion in class, based on that week’s reading material. As we have a large class, you may be working with one/two others, but will be graded for your individual performance. Please take your responsibility for preparation seriously: read the material for the week thoroughly, make notes, and, if you prefer, organise a Powerpoint of relevant material that will help you “teach” concepts to the class.

WHAT TO DO (see class webpage for instructions on Presentation/Paper expectations): (a) Lead discussion about the assigned readings. Discussion will take place on Thursdays. Since more than one person will lead discussion, meetings with each other, long before your big day, is necessary for coordinating the discussion and assigning specific reading/tasks to each member. On the day that you sign up to be a discussion leader, you are responsible for being the primary source of information on the work to be discussed. Please make sure that some of the class time is for “presentation” and 1 some for “discussion” with class via the questions you prepare. Make a clear, organized outline or PPT presentation of the concepts we are reading/discussing (b) Send ONE COLLECTED, ORGANISED SET of your group’s entire PPT/lecture points via email, by Wednesday at noon, so that we can look over them, make decisions about what we can add, etc. Lecture points include: a quick summary of main points from the text; relevant political background or history; maps; interviews; concepts/theory; questions you can ask the class.

3. Seminar Paper and Proposal: The Proposal and Seminar Paper assignments will be explained clearly in class and in handouts. Options for topics will be discussed in class. For students in the ENG 395 section, the Final Paper is expected to be a theoretically-informed, critical essay about an assigned literary text; you will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of other critics and their articles, but in the end, you must advance your own compelling argument and analysis. For those in the Politics section, possible topics will be discussed in class. Please proofread your work carefully and make any necessary corrections, or your papers will not reflect the work you have put into them. LATE PAPERS will absolutely NOT be accepted after the due date.

Students with disabilities: the Office of Disability Services is available to assist students who have a legally documented disability or students who suspect that they may have a disability. If you have a disabling condition that may interfere with your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact the Office of Disability Services. (Alternative testing for students with learning disabilities is available through Disability Services.)

POLICIES, EXPECTATIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES ( Refer to Student Handbook for details): 1. Meeting with the Instructor We do not meet with students immediately BEFORE/AFTER class begins/ends, because the content of such fraught conversations usually distract me from my primary responsibility—teaching a class of twenty to thirty people who have their own questions, concerns, and needs. However, we are always available for office hours. If none of these times fits your schedule, you should email one of us to arrange an appointment. We recommend that students come & discuss the readings and the writing assignments with us because it not only helps you, but also helps us direct the next class discussion. 2. Late work Once again, LATE PAPERS/EXAMS will absolutely NOT be accepted after the due date. This is a non- negotiable policy, so please do not try to negotiate through an excuse. So that our policy about late work does not seem arbitrary, please understand that we ask students to submit written work on due dates so that we can read them carefully and respond diligently to the strengths and weaknesses of the project. When students submit late work, it becomes much more difficult to assess projects with care and thoroughness, which means we assign grades but have no time to articulate the rationale behind the assessment. In those circumstances, students receive grades but little idea about what’s effective and what’s not. When students do not receive adequate feedback, they typically reproduce the same errors and fail in the same ways on subsequent projects. When you miss class for a weather/family/work/friend emergency, email a copy of essay BY THE DUE DATE (no later than class time). Upon your return, submit an identical, printed copy. If the university cancels classes for inclement weather, any assignment due must be submitted during the very next class period. 3. A word about responsibilities, having self-respect (rather than self-esteem), and not “giving your power away”: the syllabus, assignments, grading system, expectations, policies, and all responsibilities are very clear – so that students and professors will maintain the boundaries that will help us cultivate respect for ourselves, and for each other. Often, students will ask professors to “solve” a problem that has resulted because of their own irresponsibility, or lack of planning: that is called “giving your power away” – this is when you miraculously grant someone else the “power” to untangle the consequences of a problem created by you. As professors, we are not fans of censorship or secrecy, and are fully committed to open, productive discussion; we expect students to articulate their concerns about any aspect of this course. A respectful dynamic between professors and students facilitates ‘positive solutions’: a process whereby both parties identify problems, share understanding, examine their unique responsibilities & perspectives, and seek healthy solutions. Dismissing the opportunity to resolve problems at the source is akin to giving away your power- and it undermines a healthy teacher-student relationship, something that I deeply value. Most of your professors get no power or happiness from being “Saviour” figures who leap to the rescue – so please be prepared to offer positive solutions when you state your concern. We encourage you to be your own advocate – to take appropriate responsibility, to honestly self-reflect 2 and to share this dynamic process with me. Become the powerful individual that you are…you’ll see astonishing results! 4. Plagiarism: Non-negotiable: Anyone who plagiarises (in its many forms) will fail the class. The academic dishonesty policy: "Intellectual integrity on the part of all students is basic to individual growth and development through college course work. When academic dishonestly occurs, the teaching/learning climate is seriously undermined and student growth and development are impeded. For these reasons, any form of intellectual dishonestly is a serious concern and is therefore prohibited." For more information see: http://www.oswego.edu/administration/registrar/policy_text.html#cpii

Writers who copy ideas and/or language from another writer(or friend/classmate) without providing appropriate documentation using MLA guidelines (in-text and in Works Cited) are plagiarizing and will fail the class; copying from an Internet source and/or a classmate are likewise forms of plagiarism and will meet with similar failure of the class. Since this is, again, a 300+ level course, we expect that you know how, when, and why to cite and document ALL sources. However, using the required MLA Handbook for Writers, we will review the conventions of conducting research and integrating such research into your own writing. 5. Illness/family emergencies: Please note that students experiencing serious, chronic illness dealing with an emergency should report such circumstances to the Student Services (X2240) before leaving campus/during the absence. The office will notify faculty, in turn, so that we can coordinate a reasonable schedule of deadlines. Please follow these official channels for reporting. 6. Timeliness/habitual lateness Lateness is disruptive and disrespectful; we keep a record on the attendance sheet. Coming late to class, leaving for extensive, self-appointed breaks during class, or having habitual (good/bad) excuses for leaving early will reflect on your attendance/participation grade.

Schedule of Readings WEEK 1 Tue 26th : Class Introductions (Fill out personal index cards) January Overview of Syllabus: texts, assignments, policies, grading system Explanation of Assignments Course packet articles, discussion questions, links on website FOR THURSDAY: *Go to class website - click on COURSEPACKET link *Introduce yourself to Stephane Dufoix’s Diasporas *Be prepared to answer (in class) Study Questions Thu 28th : VISITING ARTIST: Sama Alshaibi (ALSO: Artist Lecture at 4PM, 118 Campus Centre Auditorium) WEEK 2 Tue 2nd : Reading: Dufoix, Diasporas, Chapters 1&2; Gabriel Sheffer, "Diaspora in February Numbers" (Chapter 4 of Diaspora Politics: At Home & Abroad) Thu 4th : “Ararat”, Part I (Discussion questions handed out) WEEK 3 Tue 9th : “Ararat” Part II; In-class Discussion…. February Thu 11th : “Political Identity and Modernity” Reading: Homi Babha, "DissemiNation: time, narrative, and the margins of the modern nation;" Benedict Anderson, “Exodus;” Stuart Hall, "Cultural Identity and Diaspora"; Sheila L. Croucher, "Nation-shaping in a Postmodern World;" WEEK 4 Tue 16th : “Recreating Community” February Dufoix, Chapter 3, 4 Aihwa Ong, "Cyberpublics and Diaspora Politics among Transnational Chinese”; Thu 18th : BEGIN Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (opening - p. 59) Background/politics/history of Bengali immigrants to US Review relevant websites (SEE COURSEPACKET LINKS on website)

Film: Arrange for a class/time to show “The Namesake”

3 WEEK 5 Tue 23rd : “Diaspora from the Inside” February Reading: Continue Lahiri pp. 60-127 Judith Brown’s Global South Asians: maps; peruse pp. 1-28 (“Intro”) Elizabeth Harney, "The Poetics of Diaspora" Thu 25th : Cont. Lahiri pp. 128—173 Judith Brown, 59-111, “Creating New Homes and Communities” Tue 2nd : 1st Paper Due: 5/6 pg. paper incorporating conceptual issues, including theoretical WEEK 6 readings, etc. March VISITING ARTIST: Lee Young Lee. Public Reading at 7Pm Thu 4th : Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth contd. pp. 174-219 Judith Caesar article, & Edward Hopper’s painting (see COURSEPACKET link on website) WEEK 7 Tue 9th : Reading: Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth contd. pp. 221-293 March Shukla, 78-131 “Little Indias” NPR Clip: Lahiri on Thanksgiving, and on “being American” Thu 11th : VISING ARTIST: Lorin Sklamberg of Klezmatics: Incorporating European Music into US Performance: Wed, 8th, at 7:30PM – students can go free to performance and/or College Hour Lecture: Thurs, 11th, 12:40PM. WEEK 8 March SPRING BREAK (March 15-19th)

WEEK 9 Tue 23rd : VISITING ARTIST: Katya Esson arrives, (visit class – questions from class) can March show film trailer ahead of time, intro her…/screening film at night Thu 25th : END Lahiri – pp. 294-end. Shukla, 212-248 “Generations of Indian Diaspora” WEEK 10 Tue 30th : VISITING ARTIST: Alex Escalante visit class on Tuesday. Public performance March/April Tuesday night, Wednesday night. Thu 1st : "London as a Site of Diaporas" BEGIN: Tarquin Hall, Salaam Brick Lane – OPENING – p.50; See pp. 265-268 for glossary SEE COURSEPACKET for relevant websites WEEK 10 Tue 6th : Hall, 51-120 April Thu 8th : FILM: Watch portion of Bend it Like Beckham in class; see rest on your own. (I’m away at a conference) WEEK 11 Tue 13th : Diaspora Politics April Hall, 121-190 Gabriel Sheffer, Diaspora Politics: At Home Abroad, Chapters 7-9 (pp. 180-238) Thu 15th : Discussion continues. FINISH Hall, 191-end WEEK 12 Tue 20th : * DISCUSSION: PROPOSAL and FINAL PAPER April Thu 22nd : Diaspora as alternative politics Jana Evans Braziel, "Queer Diasporas," and "Transnational Activism, Diasporic Arts of Resistance" in diaspora: an introduction, Chapters 4 & 6. WEEK 13 Tues 27th : Film: Milk (Part One) April Thursday 29th: FILM: Milk (Part Two)

WORK ON REVISING YOUR SEMINAR PAPERS!!!!! WEEK 14 Tue 4th : Symposium presenting research papers May Thu 6th : Symposium presenting research papers continued FRIDAY, 7th: FINAL PAPER DUE, FRIDAY 11th December: 10-Page research paper -- DELIVER TO MY OFFICE, IN PERSON, BY 2PM -- WEEK 15 FINALS WEEK Tue : No Final exam in this class – just the final paper