EN-218 African-American Literature

Teaching language

English

Prerequisites

45 ECTS credits in English. EN-160 (part 1) and EN-162 (Part 2) or the equivalent must be successfully completed.

Course contents

The purpose of the course is to introduce students to a variety of creative writing produced by African Americans. In terms of the canon, much of this literature is written in response to the lived experiences, and the legacies, of slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow the civil rights struggle, as well as the persistence of white nationalism and other forms of race bigotry. The course will investigate selected literary texts in terms of their significance within an always developing African American literary tradition and also within the broader field of U.S. literature.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• discuss the work of important African American literary writers

• compare/contrast textual and rhetorical strategies of these writers

• understand and identify the influences of oral and folk traditions, “signifying”, and musical art forms in the development of African American literature

• understand theoretical concepts of race and racism and their relation to the development of African American literature and literary theory

• understand histories of political and social resistance and their embeddedness in African American literary tradition

 

Upon completion of this course students will be able to

• account for essential features of development in African American literature

• critically evaluate primary and other relevant texts relating to African American literature and its cultural-historical context

• write independent texts based on critical use of sources in line with relevant academic practices

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars. The workload is estimated at 270 hours. An obligatory essay (2000 words) and obligatory oral presentation must be assessed as a Pass. 80% compulsory seminar attendance.

Evaluation

The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.

Admission for external candidates

No

Offered as Single Standing Module

Yes, if there are places available.

Admission Requirement if given as Single Standing Module

Higher Education Entrance Qualification and 45 ECTS credits in English. EN-160 (part 1) and EN-162 (Part 2) or the equivalent must be successfully completed.

Assessment methods and criteria

Individual home examination (ten days). Graded assessment.

Reduction of Credits

This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:

Course	Reduction of Credits
EN-219 – African-American Literature	10