CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS
CHS 491 – Theoretical Foundations of Chicana/o Studies
Spring 2009
(last updated 1/21/09)
Dr. José M. Alamillo
Associate Professor and Coordinator
Chicano/a Studies Program
(805) 437-2685
jose.alamillo@csuci.edu
http://csuci.blackboard.com
www.josealamillo.com
Sage Hall 2125
M-TH 2-3pm or by appointment
Malibu Hall 124
Mondays and Wednesdays, 3-4:15pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to the main theoretical concepts that have shaped Chicana/o Studies. It includes a critical examination of emerging Chicana/o Studies theoretical perspectives in light of contemporary intellectual frameworks in the social sciences, arts, and humanities, post-modernism, critical theory, and critical race theory. It also includes analysis of self-representation and socio-cultural developments in the Chicana/o community.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion students will be able to:
1. Understand and discuss the relationship between the knowledge & power;
2. Analyze the production of knowledge from a positivist and anti-positivist perspectives;
3. Examine and critically analyze the nature of post-modern theory with respect to contemporary intellectual frameworks.
4. Survey the major social theories that have informed the making of knowledge with respect to the Chicana/Chicano community and the development of Chicana/o studies as a discipline;
5. Explore the major social theories and critically analyze the impact on the Chicana/Chicano community;
6. Describe the major social theories as they pertain to a diverse society stratified by race, class, language, nationality, gender & sexuality.
7. Investigate the nature of culture as domination and resistance within! The context of mainstream American and Chicana/Chicano cultural contexts!
REQUIRED TEXTS:
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Class Attendance & Participation: All students are expected to attend all classes. This course deals with complex material processed in a variety of ways. Structured interactions, group processes, oral presentations, guided discussion of readings, and in-class group exercises will be part of the course. Students are expected to have read assigned materials by the date indicated in the syllabus, and should be prepared to discuss readings individually or groups. The degree of your engagement in these forms will the basis for points earned. Due to the highly interactive nature of the course, regular attendance and full participation are expected. Therefore, you will only be allowed two unexcused absences for the semester. Missing more than 2 class meetings absence will result in a reduction of points (2 per absence) from your total attendance/participation grade. Arriving late or leaving early on more than two occasions without permission from instructor will result in the reduction of one point from your total attendance/participation grade. In case of illness and emergency circumstances students need to provide medical documentation and notify the instructor via e-mail or phone. Excessive absences without notification beyond the withdrawal deadline will lead to being dropped from class.
2. Leading Discussion: Each person is required to lead a discussion on a theoretical concept. First, you will choose the theory and briefly summarize the reading. Second, apply the theory to a real-life scenario, event or social issue. Explain how this theory helps us understand issues/events related to the Chicano/a experience. Third, ask question about the theory that you do no understand. You should select theory reading the second week of class.
3. Theory Journal: This class will require more than reading, but engaging the reading material through journal writing. By writing a journal it will help you prepare for class discussions. Journal entries should be word processed or typed. You must write an entry for each reading. Please use a ring notebook or a two-pocket binder folder with your name, student I.D. on the front cover. You may also submit your journal through Blackboard. Each entry should include two paragraphs: First Paragraph provide two main points you got from the reading. Second Paragraph express you opinion about the reading, did you like it? Dislike it? Please raise questions on the readings, and voice your agreement or disagreement with the theory? Journals will be collected on biweekly basis (See course schedule below). I will not accept late journals, unless you have an excused absence or permission from instructor.
4. Theory Meets Practice Final Paper: The course requires a paper on a theoretical concept and its practical applications. Choose a theory in Chicano/a Studies and apply it to a contemporary issue or event. The paper should be at least 8 pages and no longer than 10 pages. This will require that you select a theory, then select a practical issue/event, followed by library research to produce a bibliography, then complete a final draft for feedback from the instructor, and finally make revisions and turn in the final paper. More detailed guidelines for the paper will be posted on Blackboard.
Theory ………………………..………..Due 2/25
Practical Issue/Event……………..Due 3/11
Bibliography…………………………..Due 4/8
Draft Paper…………………. ……….Due 4/22
Final Paper…………………………….Due 5/11
5. Final Paper Presentation: Each student will be required to present their final project to the class during the last week. With the feedback you receive from the instructor and students you will have time to revise the final paper. Mo
GRADE CALCULATION
GRADING SCALE
The final grade system will be a “+/-” A, B, C, D, and F-scale.
100% - 95% = A
94% - 90% = A-
89% - 87% = B+
86% - 84% = B
83% - 80% = B-
79% - 77% = C+
76% - 74% = C
73% - 70% = C-
69% - 67% = D+
66% - 64% = D
63% - 60% = D-
59% and below = F
SPECIAL NOTES:
Academic Honesty Information as specified by the Policy on Academic Dishonesty (SP01-57) (Note from your developer: I've reproduced the Academic Dishonesty policy at http://www.csuci.edu/academics/catalog/2007-2008/12_policiesandregulations/50_academicdishonesty.htm below).
Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or citations, plagiarism and helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty. It usually involves an attempt by a student to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill that he/she does not possess.
CSUCI Disability Statement (Note from your developer: Access this policy at http://www.csuci.edu/disability/disability.htm. I've copied the policy text below).
Cal State Channel Islands is committed to equal educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The mission of Disability Accommodation Services is to assist students with disabilities to realize their academic and personal potential. Students with physical, learning, or other disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability Accommodation Services office at (805) 437-8510 for personal assistance and accommodations.
University Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives. (University Catalogue, 2009 – 2010)
Using Blackboard
Please check your Blackboard regularly to participate to check updates, check your grade, read class announcements and look for syllabus changes and for special readings. If you do not regularly check your dolphin email account, please go into Blackboard and forward all of your email to the account that you regularly check.
COURSE OUTLINE: Readings are expected to be done prior to class meeting.
Instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the syllabus.
DATE |
TOPIC |
REQUIRED READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS |
Wed |
Introduction to the course |
Course Overview |
Mon |
What is Theory? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Wed |
Why Chicano Studies? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Mon |
What is Chicano History? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Wed |
What is Chicano Historiography? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Mon |
What is Cultural Nationalism? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Wed |
What is Race Theory?
|
Read: Menchaca, “Chicano Indianism” [Blackboard] |
Mon |
What is Internal Colonialism Theory? |
Read: Gutiérrez, “From Latin America to Harlem and the Barrios of L.A.: The Impact of Internal Colonialism Theory” [Blackboard] |
Wed |
What is Historical Materialism? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, Gutiérrez, “Unraveling America’s Hispanic Past: Internal Stratification and Class Boundaries” |
Mon |
What is Imperialism? |
Read: Gonzalez and Fernandez, “Empire and the Origins of Twentieth-Century Migration from Mexico to the United States” [Blackboard] |
Wed |
What are Transnational Approaches? |
Read: Saldana-Portillo, “From the Borderlands to the Transnational? Critiquing Empire in the Twenty First Century” [Blackboard] |
Mon
|
What is Gender and Sexuality? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Wed 3/4 |
Where is Queer Aztlan? |
Read: |
Mon 3/9 |
What is Cultural Studies? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Wed 3/11 |
What is Chicano Cinema? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, Noriega, “Chicano Cinema and the Horizon of Expectations” |
Mon 3/16 |
What is Chicano Theater? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader |
Wed 3/18 |
What is Chicano Spanish? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader |
3/23-3/27 |
Spring Break |
None |
Mon 3/30 |
Cesar Chavez Holiday-No Class |
None |
Wed |
Cesar Chavez Week of Events |
Location: TBA |
Mon |
What is Chicana Feminist Theory? |
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, 1.Sosa Riddell, “Chicanas and El Movimiento” &
|
Wed 4/8 |
What is a Chicana Identity?
|
Read: Chicano Studies Reader, |
Mon |
The Development of Chicana Cultural Studies |
Read: Torres, Chicana Without Apology, Chapter 1 |
Wed |
The Development of Chicana Cultural Studies |
Read: Torres, Chicana Without Apology, Chapter 2 |
Mon |
The Development of Chicana Cultural Studies |
Read: Torres, Chicana Without Apology, Chapter 3 |
Wed |
The Development of Chicana Cultural Studies |
Read: Torres, Chicana Without Apology, Chapter 4 |
Mon |
The Development of Chicana Cultural Studies |
Read: Torres, Chicana Without Apology, Chapter 5 |
Wed 4/29 |
The Development of Chicana Cultural Studies |
Read: Torres, Chicana Without Apology, Chapter 6 |
Mon 5/4 |
Student Presentations |
|
Wed 5/6 |
Student Presentations |
|
5/11-5/15
|
Final Paper Due |
|