Brooklyn College

Spring 2023 Syllabus

Professor Sybil White Email:Sybilw@brooklyn.cuny.edu

CLASS CODES AND SECTIONS:
AFST 3260 - R5 (4119)
ENGL 3162 - R5 (3701)
WGST 3117 – R5 (4152)
4 CREDITS
MEETING TIMES: TH, 5:05 PM – 7:50 PM
MEETING LOCATION: BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOUR: TH/4:00- 5:00 PM

BLACK WOMEN’S FICTION

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an exploration of Black women novelists, short story writers, and essayists. It may include
cross-cultural comparisons with African and Caribbean novelists. There might also be assigned readings
of selected essays in feminist criticism.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1) To read and analyze texts written by female writers of the African diaspora who represent
commonalities, ambiguities and conflicts throughout the diaspora, with focus on the United States,
Africa and the Caribbean.
2) To explore a variety of representations of—and responses to— the United States, Africa and the
Caribbean, as well as highlight commonalities and differences among selected writers.
3) To examine various cultural and cross-cultural themes including self-identification, mother-daughter
relationships, and separation and connection.
4) To enable students to write clear, cogent, well-conceived essays.

EVALUATION
 The final grade for this course will be determined based on the following criteria. The final grade will
not be based on a curve.

PREPAREDNESS & PARTICIPATION - 25%

ORAL PRESENTATIONS (Discussion Leader) - 25%
CRITICAL ANALYSIS PAPERS - 25%
FINAL PAPER (pages to be determined) - 25%

ASSIGNMENTS
 Students are required to obtain and read all the assigned texts. If you are unable to purchase the texts, try
to locate the books from the library or from other reliable sources. Students must present all assignments
on time. Few exceptions will be made for late papers. Please bear in mind, if you are given permission to
submit a late paper it will be penalized by one full letter grade. In order to be given an extension for a
paper, you must ask in advance (which means before the paper’s due date). Late papers will not be
accepted without permission from the instructor. The final paper will not be accepted late under any
circumstances.
Unless otherwise directed, all papers must be submitted via Blackboard in Microsoft Word format,
typed (double-spaced), and must adhere to MLA style guidelines. Papers must have standard 12pt
font with one-inch margins. It is expected that students at this level of academic endeavor will avoid
engaging in plagiarism. Brooklyn College guidelines regarding plagiarism will be enforced.

REQUIRED TEXTS
 Jesse Redmon Fauset, Plum Bun
Ann Petry, The Street
Toni Morrison, Jazz
Jacqueline Woodson, Another Brooklyn

There will also be additional readings posted on Blackboard in Course Documents (The poems of
Phillis Wheatley and Frances E.W. Harper).

Grading and Assignment Details:

25% Participation and Preparedness
To be successful in this class, you are expected to attend our virtual class meetings, participate, and stay in class
throughout class time. If you are not at our class meetings, your participation grade will drop significantly. A pattern
of lateness or leaving early will affect your grade negatively. You are expected to come to every class prepared. This
means having done the assigned homework, and arriving to class ready for discussion. If you come to class
regularly, but are not prepared, your grade will be affected negatively.
Participation is determined by:
 Your respectful, on-time presence in class.
 Your willingness to discuss, comment and ask questions.
 Your preparation for class (i.e. having the required materials at hand, and doing the assigned readings, as
well as the informal writing assignments that will be used during class time).
 Your active engagement in class discussions and other in-class activities.

25% Critical Analysis Papers

There will be reading assignments for nearly every class meeting, and one written critical analysis paper for each of
the assigned readings (one per assigned book. For example, one critical analysis paper for Toni Morrison’s Jazz).
Details of assignments will be discussed in class. In order to adequately complete assignments, you will need to
assess the readings critically; do not focus on your personal experience, merely provide a plot summary, or just say
“I liked…” or “I disliked…” when responding to a text. Instead, your paper should present a specific claim and
provide a critical analysis about what is happening in the text regarding the character(s), the theme of the class,
and /or language, narrative structure. Pay close attention to HOW and WHY the text makes specific meaning. In
other words, what is the author trying to say to his/her reader? Critical analysis papers should be on the average of
two pages long. This is the minimum length requirement of the paper. Papers that are less than two pages
long will receive a failing grade. Papers that exceed the length requirement of the paper are fine. It is likely that
you may need another page or two to fully examine the selected work of fiction.
* For critical analysis papers and the final paper: Nearly every paragraph should contain support (a quote) from
the text. Introduce the paragraph with a topic sentence, followed by an introduction to the quote, providing brief
context for what’s happening at that moment, which characters are involved, etc.; present quote (citing with MLA
Format). Importantly, your quote should be followed by an analysis/interpretation explaining how the quote
specifically supports your argument. Written assignments must use MLA documentation/citation: 12 pt. Times New
Roman Font: 1 inch margins.
25% Oral Presentation (Discussion Leader): During the semester, every student is required to do a
short presentation at the beginning of class. The presentation will be on the selected reading of the day.
The student’s job will be to open the class discussion of the reading (preparing questions to pose to the
class, and giving his or her thoughts on the material). In other words, the student will lead the class into
the night’s discussion. The required time of the Oral Presentation is, at minimum, 15 minutes. However,
you are welcome to go beyond the minimum time. A sign-up sheet will be presented at the beginning of
the semester.
25% Final Paper (pages to be determined) - You may choose to write this paper on a single text or a
combination of texts (two or more) on the syllabus for this class. Using the assigned text/s as your
primary source/s, you will write an argumentative essay that presents your own in-depth interpretation
of a particular thematic or technical aspect that runs throughout the texts of your choosing. You may
focus on one particular topic that is portrayed in the texts of your choice. For example, you might offer a
postcolonial reading of two or three texts and analyze the intersection of history, politics, and literature
throughout the texts. Whatever angle you choose to take, remember that this essay is argumentative,
meaning that your essay must make a case. You will need to convince the reader that the topic you’re
presenting is significant and convince the reader to see things from your perspective. This paper is not a
review of the text, or summary of criticism on a work. All papers must be uploaded to Blackboard in
Microsoft Word format (NOT a pdf file), typed and double-spaced, and adhere to MLA style
guidelines. Papers must have standard 12pt font and one-inch margins. It is expected that students at this
level of academic endeavor will avoid engaging in plagiarism. Brooklyn College guidelines regarding
plagiarism will be enforced. There will be more details about this assignment later in the semester.

Letter grades will be applied in the following way:

A+ (98-100), A (95-100), A- (90-94)
B+ (86-89), B (83-85), B- (80-83)
C+ (76-79), C (73-75), C- (70-73)
D+ (67-69), D (64-66), D- (60-63)
F = 59 or below

Explanation of Letter Grades:

A = Excellent Overall
B = Mostly Adequate with some Excellent Aspects.
C = Adequate (Average Work)
D = Shows Promise At Times but Unacceptable Aspects Are Frequently Evident
F = Unacceptable Overall
Let me emphasize that an “A” for the overall course really means excellent. That means an “A”
in all course work: formal writing, informal writing, in-class participation, and final exam. Just
doing all the work in this course is often adequate (i.e. “C” work). Students who receive an “A”
push themselves very hard. They are generally not content to do the minimum. An “A” student
always hands in their work on time. They never ask for extensions or favors.

Virtual Office Hours:

I have virtual office hours on Thursdays from 4:00 pm until 5:00 pm. If you have any questions, are
having difficulties with the coursework, or would like to discuss your ideas and your work, please email
me to arrange an appointment.

BROOKLYN COLLEGE POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and
plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and
for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College
procedure for policy implementation can be found at www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty
member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if
the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the violation.

The CUNY Board of Trustees has adopted a policy on academic integrity that applies to all students at
Brooklyn College. Academic dishonesty is prohibited and is punishable by penalties, including failing
grades, suspension and expulsion. Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material,
information, notes, study aids or devices or communication during an academic exercise. Plagiarism is the
act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writing as one’s own. Internet plagiarism includes
submitting downloaded papers or part of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the
Internet without citing the source, and cutting and pasting from various sources without proper
attribution. The full text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy may be found on the CUNY website.
Brooklyn College’s procedures for implementing the CUNY policy and other explanatory material may
be found online under the “Campus Info” tab on the BC WebCentral portal.

CENTER FOR STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES

In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the
Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may
have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student
Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at (718) 951-5538. If you have already registered with the
Center for Student Disability Services, please provide your professor with the course accommodation
form and discuss your specific accommodation with him/her.

STUDENT BEREAVEMENT POLICY

Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113
Boylan Hall, 718-951-5352, studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu , if they wish to implement either the
Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of
Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g. a funeral program or death
notice). For more information, please contact the Division of Student Affairs.

NONATTENDANCE BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an
institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations
or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs. Students who
are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from
any examination or study or work requirements. Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students
absent from class because of religious beliefs with equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed;
no additional fees may be charged for this consideration. If classes, examinations, study or work
requirements occur on a Friday after 4 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations,
study, or work requirements will be made available on other days, where possible and practical. The
faculty and the administration will not allow any adverse or prejudicial effects to accrue to students
availing themselves of this regulation. If students have complaints about the application of this policy,
they are entitled to bring action or a proceeding for enforcement of their rights in the Supreme Court of
Kings County.
 AFST 3260/ENG 3162/WGST 3117
BLACK WOMEN’S FICTION
Course Schedule
(This schedule is subject to revision based on the needs of the class)
Week 1
TH, 1/26 Introductions: the syllabus, class introductions, the course theme (“What makes a Black
woman’s voice unique to her time in history?”).

Homework: Read over the syllabus. If you have questions about the syllabus, bring your
questions to class. Read the poetry of Phillis Wheatley and Frances E.W. Harper (Found
in Blackboard’s Course Documents). Select one of Wheatley’s poems and one of
Harper’s poems that you want to discuss in class. Write down a discussion question for
each poem (It can also be a comment if you have trouble coming up with a question).
When you get to class, type your question in the Blackboard Collaborate Chat Box.
Week 2

TH, 2/2 Discussion: The poetry of Phillis Wheatley & Frances E.W. Harper, the Discussion
Leader assignment, signing up for Discussion Leader,
Homework: Read Plum Bun (Home, Chapters 1-6). Create a discussion question for
class. Post your question in the Blackboard Collaborate Chat Box when you get to class.
Sign up for Discussion Leader: Email me with your preference date to lead the class
discussion. I will be posting the Discussion Leader list on Blackboard later this week.
First come, first served so email me as soon as you know.

Week 3
TH, 2/9 Discussion: Jesse Redmon Fauset, Plum Bun (Home, chapters 1-6), passing in America
in the time of Jesse Redmon Fauset, the Tragic Mulatto.
Homework: Read Plum Bun (Market, chapters 1-7). Create a discussion question and
bring it to class.
Week 4
TH, 2/16 Discussion: Plum Bun.
Homework: Read Plum Bun (Plum Bun, chapters 1-5). Create a discussion question and
bring it to class.

Week 5
TH, 2/23 Discussion: Plum Bun, writing a critical analysis paper.
Homework: Read Plum Bun (Home Again, chapters 1-6)

Week 6
TH, 3/2 Discussion: Plum Bun, connecting stories.
Homework: Plum Bun (Market is Done, chapters 1-3), Write a critical analysis paper
(The instruction for your paper can be found in Blackboard Assignments). Your critical
analysis paper is due on Thursday, March 16th by 5:00 pm. Please submit your paper on
Blackboard.

Week 7
TH, 3/9 Discussion: Plum Bun.
Homework: Read The Street (chapters 1-6). Complete and post your critical analysis
paper.

Week 8
TH, 3/16 Discussion: The Street, Ann Petry, objectification of women, limitations due to race and
gender in the time of Ann Petry, connecting stories.
 Homework: Read The Street (chapters 7-14)

Week 9
TH, 3/23 Discussion: The Street.
Homework: Read The Street (chapters 15-18). Write a critical analysis paper. The
instructions for your paper can be found in Blackboard Assignments. Your paper is due
on Friday, April 14th by 5:00 pm. Submit your assignment on Blackboard.

Week 10
TH, 3/30 Discussion: The Street, the Final Paper.
Homework: Read Jazz (pages 3-87). Complete your critical analysis paper and post it
before the deadline (Friday, April 14th by 5:00 pm).

Week 11
TH, 4/6 Spring Break – NO CLASSES

Week 12
TH, 4/13 Spring Break (No Classes)

Week 13
TH, 4/20 Discussion: Jazz, Toni Morrison, ageism, beauty, murder, self-image and madness.
Homework: Read Another Brooklyn (chapters 1-7). Write a critical analysis paper for
Jazz (the instructions are found in Blackboard Assignments). Your paper is due on
Thursday, April 27th by 5:00 pm.

Week 14
TH, 4/27 Discussion: Another Brooklyn, Jaqueline Woodson, the Final Paper, different themes in
the novels and poems.
Homework: Read Another Brooklyn (chapters 8 – 16).

Week 15
TH, 5/4 Discussion: Another Brooklyn, the Final Paper revisited.
Homework: Read “The Barbershop” by Gloria Naylor (Reading found in Blackboard
Course Documents).

Week 16
TH, 5/11 Discussion: “The Barbershop”, the Final Paper.
Last Day of Class Homework: The Final Paper.
Your final paper is due on Thursday, May 18th by 5:00 pm (instructions are found in
Blackboard Assignments). Please submit your paper on Blackboard. Late papers
will not be accepted.