English 6115 21st Century Global Anglophone Literature

Virtual sessions on Google Meet, Wednesdays from 5:30-8:00

Instructor: Matt Franks Virtual Office Hours on Google Meet, Thursdays from 4-5 & by appt. Email: [email protected]

Course Description: This class will focus on British, South Asian, African, and Caribbean literature from the past 20 years. We will engage in these texts through a transnational feminist framework focused on the afterlives of slavery and colonialism in the 21st century and ongoing resistance to gender, racial, and class domination. We will attempt to describe the current state of global literatures written in English, asking some of the following questions: how do contemporary writers and theorists respond to late 20th century global frameworks like postcolonialism, subaltern studies, and the black Atlantic? How has advanced globalization impacted formerly colonized sites as well as literary production itself? What problems does the term “Global Anglophone” itself elucidate and conceal?

Required Texts: Zadie Smith, NW; Mohsin Hamid, Exit West; Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun; Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other; M. NourbeSe Philip, Zong!; Dionne Brand, A Map to the Door of No Return; Marlon James, Black Leopard, Red Wolf

Learning Outcomes: Students will learn to… ® Demonstrate advanced mastery of content within the field of contemporary Global Anglophone literary studies by answering comprehensive discussion questions about specific writers, genres, texts, and theories within this period in class discussions. ® Demonstrate refined skills in scholarly writing by completing an extended research-based project. ® Demonstrate a facility in relating the facts and ideas of the discipline of English studies to the field of Global Anglophone literature and theory within the context of Western intellectual history. ® Demonstrate a keen awareness of contemporary issues in the study of literature, including those which emanate from an understanding of the differences among cultural value systems.

ENGL 6115, Summer Session II 2020 1 Virtual Class Sessions -I will send you calendar invites that include links to join all of our class periods and for my office hours, and I will also email you the link 5-10 minutes before each class session begins on Wednesdays at 5:30. You can join using your device or by phone.

Assignment Summaries: (See assignment sheets for detailed description, requirements, and rubrics for all assignments)

All written work for this class must be in MLA format: Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced, with 1” margins

Reading Journal (15%): A weekly journal entry where you will discuss your response to the relationship between the assigned literary and theoretical readings (outcome #3)

Article Report (15%): A summary and assessment of a scholarly article about one of our course texts that you will present to the class (outcome #4)

Prospectus (5%): A proposal of your topic, primary text, and approach for your research project (outcomes # 2-4)

Final Research Project (40%): Early in the term, you will select one out of the following options for your research project: 1) conference paper, 2) writing sample/article for publication, or 3) teaching project. The requirements for your project will be based on your goals for the class and for your own professional future (outcomes #1-4)

Participation (25%): This is a discussion-based course, so attending and participating in our virtual class periods is a major part of your grade. Participation is graded based on attendance, lateness, and the quality and quantity of your comments in discussions (outcomes #1-4)

Grading Scale:

A+ = 98-100 B+ = 88-89 C+ = 78-79 D+ = 68-69 F = 0-59 A = 93-97 B = 83-87 C = 73-77 D = 63-67 A- = 90-92 B- = 80-82 C- = 70-72 D- = 60-62

Timelines:

Unless an unforeseen situation arises, o I will return all assignments within one week from the time they are turned in o I will respond to all emails within one 24-hour business day o I expect that you will talk to me immediately about any concerns or issues that arise, that way I can best support your success in the class! Email is the best way to reach me, or log in to my virtual office hours.

ENGL 6115, Summer Session II 2020 2 Course Schedule: (subject to change) *readings marked with an asterisk are on CourseDen

Date Topic Assigned Reading Assignment Hamid, Exit West Wed, June 3 Globalization *Gikandi, "Globalization & the Claims of Journal Postcoloniality" Smith, NW Wed, June 10 Cosmopolitanism Journal *Gilroy, from Postcolonial Melancholia Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun Wed, June 17 War Journal *Mbembe, "Necropolitics" Adiga, The White Tiger Wed, June 24 Rights Journal *Spivak, "Righting Wrongs" Philip, Zong! Wed, July 1 Slavery Journal *Hartman, "Venus in Two Acts" Brand, A Map to the Door of No Return Wed, July 8 Diaspora Journal *McKittrick, from Demonic Grounds Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other Journal Wed, July 15 Intersectionality *Nash, "Practicing Love" Prospectus James, Black Leopard, Red Wolf Wed, July 22 Queerness Journal *Nyong'o, "Queer Africa" Friday, July 25: Research Project due on CourseDen by 5pm Project

Class Policies: Late work: all late assignments will be graded down by 1/3 of a grade per day (not class period). An A paper becomes an A- if it is one day late, a B+ if it is two days late, etc. Attendance: Since this is a graduate course with only eight course sessions, you must be online and actively participating in all class meetings. If you miss more than one class period, you will not be able to pass the course. Turning in Assignments: Your papers will be turned in on CourseDen, under assignments. It is your responsibility to ensure that your files are successfully uploaded, and that they are in .docx format. If not, they will be counted as late. Accessibility: If you have a disability or require any kind of accommodations in order to succeed in this course, please let me know within the first two weeks of class. You may also need to register at the Accessibility Services Office: http://www.westga.edu/accessibility. Writing center: I highly encourage you to use online sessions with the writing center for help on a range of writing issues, from brainstorming to final revisions: https://www.westga.edu/academics/coah/writing/index.php. Academic Honesty: The English Department’s Plagiarism policy applies to this course: www.westga.edu/academics/coah/english/department-plagiarism-policy.php. Other Policies: https://www.westga.edu/administration/vpaa/common-language-course-syllabi.php

ENGL 6115, Summer Session II 2020 3