OUTLINE

BMCC – Center for Ethnic Studies

Phone (212) 220 1374           Fax (212) 220 1508

Email: jmodeste@bmcc.cuny.edu

professormodeste@gmail.com

AFN 128 -- Fall 2013

Black Women in the Americas & the Caribbean

3 Credit hours

Dr. Jacquelynne Modeste
199 Chambers Street, S632
Class meets: Tue & Thu, 9:30AM – 10:45AM (F302)
Office Hours: Thursday, 11AM – 12NOON


Course Description
This course will explore the relationship between Black women in the United States and the Diaspora with particular emphasis the Americas, the Caribbean, and Brazil. Through active discussions in class and online, we will identify the ways in which women’s rights issues transcend time and place and continue to inform our culture and politics. A close reading of four novels (see below) will guide our intellectual journey.

Basic skills: Reading comprehension; the ability to transfer knowledge to various fields of thought; apply knowledge broadly across and between disciplines; present ideas thoughtfully; engage in classroom discussion.  

Prerequisites: ENG 088, ESL 094, ACR 094       Co-requisites: N/A

College Attendance Policy
At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a four-hour class that meets four times per week. You are allowed 5 hours of absence (not 5 days). In the case of excessive absences, the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade.

Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. BMCC is committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.

BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's ideas, words or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a cited work. The full policy can be found on BMCC's web site, www.bmcc.cuny.edu

AFN 128

Black Women in the Americas and the Caribbean

Course Objectives: To help students develop strengths in critical reading, critical thinking, verbal communication and written expression in order to engage in well informed and meaningful discussions of – at least -- women’s issues in global context.

Required Texts:
1. Julia Alvarez, In the Time of the Butterflies
2. Maryse Condé, I, Tituba
3. Edwidge Danticat, Breath, Eyes, Memory
4. Gloria Naylor, Mama Day

Grading (basics): Attendance and meaningful participation are vital to your success in this course. Students are expected to bring the novel we are reading to class each day and to attend each class session – on time -- having read the assigned chapters. Students should be prepared to participate actively in class discussions and to respond thoughtfully to questions posted on the Class Blog.

Specifics: Attendance & Participation, 50%; Quizzes, 25%; Final Project, 25%

Additional Grading information: 
Attendance & Participation: Our class will be interactive. I’ll expect to hear your thoughts and for you to share information that advances our classroom discussions. Therefore, your actual attendance is vital to your success and the learning environment we create.

Readings: Please divide your readings into class sessions. For example: if a book is listed on the syllabus for three (3) weeks, you will be responsible for completing 1/3 of the reading by the end of the first week; 2/3 by the end of the second week; and 3/3 (or the entire book) by the end of the third week.

Quizzes: will be given in a variety of formats in order to best capture the multiple types of intelligence you bring to class.

Final Exam: The final “exam” is the Final Group Presentation during the last two weeks of the course. Specifics on what to expect as well as a Rubric for organizing your efforts will be distributed in class.

BMCC Grading Scale

A 93 – 100% C 73 – 76%

A- 90 – 92% C- 70 – 72%

B+ 87 – 89% D+ 67 – 69%

B 83 – 86% D 63 – 66%

B- 80 – 82% D- 60 – 62%

C+ 77 – 79% F 59% and lower

Week 1

• Course Introduction
• Writing assessment & Current events
• Class Blog sign in

Week 2
• Maryse Condé; I, Tituba: Black Witch of Salem

Week 3
• I, Tituba

Week 4
• QUIZ #1: I, Tituba

Week 5
• Gloria Naylor, Mama Day

Week 6
• Mama Day

Week 7
• Mama Day

Week 8
• QUIZ #2: Mama Day

Week 9
• Edwidge Danticat: Breath, Eyes, Memory

Week 10
• Breath, Eyes, Memory

Week 11
• QUIZ #3:
• Julia Alvarez: In the Time of the Butterflies

Week 12
• In the Time of the Butterflies

Week 13
• In the Time of the Butterflies

Week 14
• In the Time of the Butterflies

Week 15
• GROUP PRESENTATIONS

Week 16
• GROUP PRESENTATIONS