The course will attempt to offer opportunities to connect to and learn from African students, both studying here at WMU and at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal. Students are expected to take advantage of other local and internet resources to immerse themselves in African literature, culture, and issues. The final project will allow significant student creativity and choice.

English 314 will include an extensive on-line discussion, "African-lit," on the WMU Confer. Students are expected to regularly use their firstname.lastname WMU email account.

This course fulfills a General Education requirement for Distribution Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations. This course will follow WMU procedures regarding academic honesty. Since the class is discussion-based, attendance is essential. Missing more than three classes will effect the final grade and missing six classes will lead to failing the course.

Dr. Webb's office is 723 Sprau Tower, 387-2605, and his office hours are after class on Monday or Wednesday, by appointment and email at allen.webb@wmich.edu. (Feeling stress? English 314 also offers free on-line therapy from Eliza!)

Reading

Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart Sembene Ouseman, Xala Gorgui Dieng, A Leap Out of the Dark (see professor $10) Ngugi wa'Thiongo, Devil on the Cross Buchi Emecheta, Kehinde Two or Three additional novels / literary works

Major Assignments

Class Participation 15% Cultural Explorations 15% Folklore Teaching Unit 10% Things Fall Apart Analysis 15% Midterm Exam 15% Teaching Resource Pages 10% Final Project 20%

Electronic Syllabus Sep 1 Wednesday Introductions Sep 8 Wednesday Early African History and Folklore 1. Early African History Quiz 2. African Folklore: Complete steps 1-3

Sep 13 Monday Oral Traditions, guest Dr. Mustafa Mirzeler Modern African History Quiz Sep 15 Wednesday Oral Traditions, guest Dr. Mustafa Mirzeler African Literature Quiz

Try African Food! Omoefe's Place 2107 E. Main 388-9556

Sep 27 Monday

Read: Things Fall Apart, part 1
On-line resources to support reading Things Fall Apart: Study Guide, Reading and Study Questions, Achebe in the Postcolonial Web, Postcolonial Dialogues,Masks on Line, On-line Academic Articles via WMU Library

Africa Map Test and Answers; Study for the map test at liketolearn

Oct 13 Wednesday

Read: Xala, Comments on Xala on the Postcolonial Dialogues, Postcolonial Web

Oct 20 Wednesday

Oct 25 Monday Read: Devil on the Cross, chapters 1-3 Background on Ngugi, Pegasos, Emory Postcolonial Studies, Ngugi as theorist Postcolonial Discourse, essay on Ngugi by Bronwyn Mills Oct 27 Wednesday Read: Devil on the Cross, chapters 4-6 Look at International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement website.

Nov 1 Monday

Read: Devil on the Cross, chapters 7-end

Form literature circles

Nov 3 Wednesday

Read: Start Kehinde
Background on Emecheta: An Igbo Woman, Postcolonial Web

Nov 8 Monday

Finish Kehinde

Nov 15 Monday

Midterm Exam

Dec 7 Tuesday 2:45-4:45 African Lit Final Presentation of Final Projects Compare our class with other Courses in African Literature

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created by: allen.webb@wmich.edu
updated: 9/04