AFAM262: Critical Issues in Contemporary Africa Dr. Barbara A. Silliman Fall, 2008
Address: P. O. Box 19722 Email: [email protected] Johnston, RI 02919-0722 Telephone: 401-231-2679
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Critical Issues in Contemporary Africa is a course that investigates how Africa is perceived by Westerners and by its own people. Issues of identity, self-determination, and the after- effects of European colonialism will be discussed in class as it is raised and addressed by the texts that are read and watched. Each student will write a homework essay on the assigned texts and submit the completed essay at the beginning of class on the day it is due.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: It is imperative that students attend each session of this course. There is a great deal of in-class work that will be done and an absence is detrimental to the student individually and to the class as a whole. Thus, there will be two (2) allowed absences from class with no effect on the student’s final grade. After that, 5 points will be deducted from your Final Grade for each absence.
LATE POLICY: You will arrive on time for each class. No one will be permitted into class if they are more than 10 minutes late. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will be marked absent and not allowed to come into class.
CLASS COURTESY POLICY: The use of cell phones and laptops during class is not permitted due to the abuse of these devices during class. Unless there is a clear medical need, bathroom breaks will be taken before class or after class is over. Leaving during class is disruptive and rude.
COURSE TEXTS:
To be purchased at Off-Campus Bookstore, 1017 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908 -- 861-6270:
Sundiata, D.T. Niane Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe So Long a Letter, Mariama Ba The Lion and the Jewel, Wole Soyinka “Master Harold” . . . and the Boys, Athol Fugard
To be shown in class:
Tarzan the Ape Man, Johnny Weismuller (1932) The African Queen, Humphrey Bogart (1951) Out of Africa, Meryl Streep (1985) Hotel Rwanda, Don Cheadle (2005) Cry, the Beloved Country, Richard Harris & James Earl Jones (1995)
GRADING: Essays: 30% Group Work: 30% Presentation Topic: 5% Research Presentation: 35%
ASSIGNMENTS: You will be answering questions about the assigned texts in an essay of 750 words, minimum. An essay question will be posed to you that you will be expected to compose during class time. Group Work will be done in the classroom and will be completed on time. Research Presentations will be completed instead of the traditional Research Term Paper. Information about the Presentations will be distributed in class. They are due on time and there are no extensions. There are no Incompletes in this class.
PLAGIARISM: On page 23 of the online Student Handbook, under “Student Conduct,” is a subsection entitled “Academic Honesty.” (http://www.ric.edu/studentlife/pdf/RICStudentHandbook.pdf ) It directly addresses plagiarism.
If any student is caught plagiarizing any materials in this class, that student will automatically earn a “F” for this course and will be required to leave class immediately. A report of the plagiarism violation and its consequences will be forwarded to the proper authorities.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
09/04 Introduction to Course
09/08 - 09/11 Tarzan (film, 1932)
09/15 - 09/18 Sundiata -- Essay #1
09/22 - 09/25 The African Queen (film, 1951)
09/29 - 10/02 Things Fall Apart -- Essay #2
10/06 – 10/09 Out of Africa (film, 1985) -- see film both days
10/13 *** Monday Holiday -- Class Rescheduled for Wednesday
10/15 - Out of Africa (film, 1985) -- class discussion -- Presentation Topic Due 10/15
1016 Guest Speaker -- Grace Ebong
10/20 - 10/23 So Long a Letter -- Essay #3
10/27 – 10/30 Cry, the Beloved Country (film, 1995)
11/03 - 11/06 “Master Harold” . . . and the Boys -- Essay #4
11/10 - 11/13 Hotel Rwanda (film, 2004)
11/17 – 11/20 The Lion and the Jewel -- Essay #5 Due
11/24 *** No class -- Use to prepare your Presentation
11/27 *** Thanksgiving Holiday ***
12/01 - 12/04 Presentations
12/08 - 12/11 Presentations