English 3140, Fall 2011 African Literature: Challenges and Solutions to Contemporary Crisis Today there are 1 billion people living in Africa, speaking perhaps 2000 languages. The continent comprises 20% of the land of the planet, is enormously rich in resources, yet much of Africa is desperately poor with vast populations attempting to live on less than $2 per day.

This course seeks to use African literature, memoir, film, biography, autobiography, history, library and on-line sources to begin to understand the enormous complexity of Africa and the challenges facing the continent. A cornerstone of this course is the idea that knowledge creates responsibility. Students will be expected to address what they are learning by research, collaboration, and action.

We begin our study of the current crisis in Africa by looking at the colonial and early national period. Turning to literature from the present we will encounter issues such as economic and political corruption and collapse, resource exploitation, poverty, education, the condition of women, the environment, warfare and child soldiers, AIDS, immigration, etc.

As we learn about challenges in Africa we will also explore solutions. Africa is young and growing quickly; in some countries half of the population is under 25. Most of our reading will be about young people, many college age, their life experience and how they are making a positive difference.

2011 is the year of the Arab Spring. The popular uprisings and revolutionary struggles against dictatorships across North Africa including Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, and other countries demonstrate widespread people's determination to confront economic and political conditions, the aspirations of a new generation of Africans, and the impact of new media and technologies.

As the students in this class immerse themselves in learning about Africa, they are invited to participate in making a difference. After extensive reading and study, students will form groups focused on specific issues to engage in additional reading, research, action, and work with African and international organizations dedicated to a brighter future for the continent.

We will engage in reading and discussion, in a threaded on-line computer conference at Nicenet. The course name is "2011 African Literature" and our class key is E320927237. Our threaded discusion connects reading and research and creates a collaborative, interactive community of learning.

Our class will meet in an advanced laptop computer lab that I designed and that will facilitate a number of technology infused activities.

Investigations of African life, history, religion, news, politics, etc. will help students learn more not only about the crisis in Africa but its rich and diverse cultures.

The Solutions Project will allow significant student creativity and choice and the development of wiki. This section of the course is experimental and the syllabus provisional.

This course fulfills a General Education requirement for Distribution Area IV: Other Cultures and Civilizations. This course will follow WMU procedures regarding academic honesty. Controversy and difference of opinion are welcomed.

Since the class is discussion-based, attendance and preparation are essential. Missing any classes will affect your learning. Missing three classes will affect your final grade and missing five or more classes may lead to failing the course. See my philosophy regarding participation and attendance.

Dr. Webb's office is 723 Sprau Tower, 387-2605, and his office hours are M/W/F afterclass, and by appointment and email at allen.webb@wmich.edu. (Feeling stress? English 3140 offers free on-line therapy from Eliza.)

Reading

Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart Wangari Maathai, Unbowed Sembene Ousmane, Xala Kris Holloway, Monique and the Mango Rains Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone Yusuf al-Quayd, War in the Land of Egypt Laila Lalami, Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits reading and research related to the Solutions Project

Major Assignments

Class Participation including Computer Conference 20%   Investigations 10%   Things Fall Apart Essay 20%   Midterm Exam 20%   Solutions Project 30%

Electronic Syllabus

Sep 7 Wednesday Introductions Sep 9 Friday Due: 1) Join Computer Conference respond to item "1 Introductions;" 2) Email class about your first Investigation (use "Reply All").

Sep 12 Monday Things Fall Apart 1) Read Things Fall Apart Part I. Pay close attention to the character you have been assigned to role play. Resources to support reading Things Fall Apart: List of Charactors, Igbo Art, Study Guide, Reading and Study Questions, Achebe in the Postcolonial Web, Postcolonial Dialogues. 2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading. Exceed expectations! Sep 14 Wednesday 1) Finish Things Fall Apart 2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading. 3) Make a first visit to the Village of Umuofia, and write a conference post on one of the images from the point of view of your character.

Sep 19 Friday Village of Umuofia Role Play

1) Write a post on our computer conference on the role play.

Sep 20 Monday How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

1) Read: from How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Chapters 1-5 by Walter Rodney

Study Questions for How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

Resources: European Slave Trade Map, European Colonialism of Africa Map, Berlin Conference, African Resources, Chinese Investment

2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

Sep 22 Wednesday

1) Read: from How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Chapters 6 by Walter Rodney

Study Questions for How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

2) Watch clips on history of colonialism in Africa.

 

3) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

Sep 23 Friday Africa Map Test and Answers

1) Study for the map test at liketolearn

2) Bring ideas to class for the first paper

Sep 26 Monday

1) Bring Rough Draft Things Fall Apart Essay to class.

2) Post ideas for your essay on our computer conference.

Sep 28 Wednesday

1) Read selections from King Leopold's Ghost Chapters 8-10, 15, 300-304 (reading will be handed out in class)

2) Watch clips about ongoing scramble for African resoures:

 

3) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

4) Optional: King Leopold's Ghost documentary:

Sep 29 Friday Things Fall Apart Essay DUE

Oct 3 Monday Wangari Maathai and Green Belt Movement

1) Read: Unbowed Chap 1-4

2) Watch clip about Wangari Maathai:

 

3) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

Oct 14 Friday

1) Read: Finish Xala

2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

3) Optional: Read comments on Xala on the Postcolonial Dialogues, Postcolonial Web, & Watch film Xala:

Oct 17 Monday Women and Village Life

1) Read: First half Monique and the Mango Rains

2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

Oct 21 Friday War in Africa and Child Soldiers

1) Read: A Long Way Gone to Chapter 12

2) Read: Background on the Sierra Leone Civil War.

3) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

Oct 24 Monday

1) Read: Finish A Long Way Gone

2) Watch: clip of Ishamael Beah

3) Watch: Invisible Children

4) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading and film.

Oct 26 Wednesday Continued Scramble for Africa

1) Watch: Blood Diamond

2) Write a post on our computer conference on the film(s).

3) Optional: Watch documentary on which Blood Diamond was based, Cry Freetown (brutal) and the National Geographic documentary, Diamonds of War.

Cry Freetown

 

Diamonds of War

 

Oct 28 Friday Form Solutions Project Groups

1) Write a post on our computer conference on ideas / organizations that interest you for the Solutions Project.

Oct 31 Monday Roots of Arab Spring Revolutions

1) Read: War in the Land of Egypt Chapters 1-3

2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading

Nov 2 Wednesday

1) Read: Finish War in the Land of Egypt

2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

Nov 4 Friday Arab Spring Today

1) Research an aspect of the Arab Spring today

2) Write a post on our computer conference on your research. 

Nov 7 Monday Migration

1) Read Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits Part I

2) Watch The ImmigrationTrail documentary (all parts).

3) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading and film.

Nov 9 Wednesday

1) Read: Finish Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits

2) Write a post on our computer conference on the reading.

Nov 11 Friday Prepare for Midterm

1) Share ideas on our computer conference for the midterm.

Nov 14 Monday Midterm Exam

Dec 12-16 Finals Week

Dec 12 Monday 2:45-4:45 Presentation of "Where do we go from here?"

created by: allen.webb@wmich.edu
updated: 9/11