COURSE UNIT TITLE

: RACE AND CLASS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
ERA 4035 RACE AND CLASS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE ELECTIVE 3 0 0 5

Offered By

American Culture and Literature (English)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR NILSEN GÖKÇEN ULUK

Offered to

American Culture and Literature (English)

Course Objective

This course is designed to introduce and discuss the concept and structures of class in American society as they interact with relevant issues such as race, ethnicity, gender, and age. In order to achieve this, we will look into the birth and evolution of social and economic classes first in human history and their particular emergence in the United States, which was founded in order to create a classless democracy. Since the most striking conflict with this ideal is found in the racial divisions and slavery in American history, class cannot be considered independently of race in America, the other major component of this course. At the end of this course the student is expected to develop an understanding of how the racial divisions of American society also function as class divisions.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   To form a clear conception and history of class,
2   To learn the basic theories concerning class,
3   To evaluate literary works from the perspective of class relations,
4   To grasp the ties between gender, race and class,
5   To be able to develop persuasive arguments on issues pertaining to class,
6   To be able to discern, recognize and evaluate the forms in which class relations appear in contemporary situations

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction: Classes in Daily Life Lecture and Discussion
2 Veblen, chp. I "Introductory," chp. II "Pecuniary Emulation." Lecture and Discussion
3 Veblen, chp III "Conspicuous Leisure," chp. IV "Conspicuous Consumption." Lecture and Discussion
4 Veblen, chp. X "Modern Survivals of Prowess," chp. "The Higher Learning as an Expression of Pecuniary Culture." Lecture and Discussion
5 Day, Introduction, chp I "Medieval." Lecture and Discussion
6 Day, chp. II "The Renaissance," chp. III "The Civil War and after." Lecture and Discussion
7 Day, chp. IV "The Eighteenth Century," chp. V "The Nineteenth Century." Student Report on: Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed Lecture, Discussion, Student Presentation
8 Midterm Exam
9 Day, chp. VI "The Twentieth Century." Fussell, chp I "A Touchy Subject." Student Report on: Nelson W. Aldrich, Jr., Old Money Lecture, Discussion, Student Presentation
10 Fussell, chp. II "An Anatomy of the Classes," chp. III "Appearance Counts." Student Report on: Bell hooks, Where We Stand: Class Matters Lecture, Discussion, Student Presentation
11 Fussell, chp. IV "About the House," chp. V "Consumption, Recreation, Bibelots." Student Report on: London, The Iron Heel. Lecture, Discussion, Student Presentation
12 Fussell, chp. VI "The Life of the Mind," chp IX "The X Way Out." Student Report on: Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. Lecture, Discussion, Student Presentation
13 Fussell, chp VII "Speak, That I May See Thee," chp VIII "Climbing and Sinking, and Prole Drift." Student Report on: Howells, Hazard of New Fortunes Lecture, Discussion, Student Presentation
14 Wrap up

Recomended or Required Reading

In this course we will study a wide range of materials from theoretical and historical texts to autobiographical accounts, from books of journalism to short stories and novels.
Theory of Leisure Class, Thorstein Veblen
Class (New Critical Idiom), Gary Day
Class, Paul Fussell
(Selections from) Race, Class and Gender, Paula Rothenberg
How the Other Half Lives, Jacob Riis
Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich
"Harlem" James Baldwin
"How Bigger Was Born" (from Native Son), Richard Wright
Old Money: The Mythology of Wealth in America, Nelson W. Aldrich, Jr.
Where We Stand: Class Matters, bell hooks
Iron Heel, Jack London
(Selections from) The Haves and Have-Nots, Barbara Solomon
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Poor White, Sherwood Anderson

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1. Lectures
2. Discussions
3. Student Presentations

Assessment Methods

To be announced!

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

Since the assessment methods below have not yet been entered the system, for now the closest assessment methods have been chosen.
Midterm: 30 %
Quizzes: 10 %
Presentations: 20 %
Final Exam: 40 %

Assessment Criteria

Either the midterm or the final of this course will involve writing a research paper. The minimum criteria in the evaluation of this assignment will be the sensibleness and coherence of the argument, fluency of the development of ideas and thoughts, the quality and range of research, the intellectual level of the analyses and syntheses of the sources, their integration to the main idea, and the success in the accuracy, fluency in the idiomatic usage of language.
The minimum criteria for the in-class exam with essay type questions include the logical associations with the question, coherence and consistency in the unfolding and development of the idea(s), and the accurate and fluent usage of language.
In the quizzes, the questions are tailored to evaluate the student s class preparation for the day; therefore, they will be based on facts, rather than interpretations of the assigned materials.
In all sorts of exams, personal interpretations must be supported by facts and fact-based knowledge on the part of the student.
The grade from class participation will be earned based on the intellectual level of the student s class participation in discussions.
In the presentations the minimum criteria for evaluation include an overall command of material, clarity and succinctness of verbal expression, organization of thoughts and ideas, timing, and the knowledgeableness of the presenting student in answering questions in the ensuing discussion.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

In order to be able to follow class discussions and lectures, the students must read the required material for the week. Each student is thus expected to be ready to participate in an intellectually stimulating discussion of the texts. In addition, s/he is expected to establish ties between the present and previously introduced material in order to be able to develop a wider perspective on underlying issues.
The material for student seminars can be replaced by other works from the Course Materials.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

Office phone: 232 301 8678
E-mail: gokcenils@yahoo.com

Office Hours

By appointment

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 13 3 39
Preparation for midterm exam 1 5 5
Preparing assignments 1 7 7
Preparation for final exam 1 6 6
Preparation for quiz etc. 2 1 2
Preparing presentations 1 7 7
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 13 5 65
Midterm 1 2 2
Quiz etc. 2 0,5 1
Final 1 3 3
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 137

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13PO.14
LO.155545
LO.2443445
LO.35555535
LO.4433435
LO.55555554455355
LO.655544555

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Cumhuriyet Bulvarı No: 144 35210 Alsancak / İZMİR
Phone: +90(232) 412 12 12 - Fax: +90 (232) 464 81 35

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