PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS: FAMILIES AND INTERNET COMMUNITIES


English 100 - Section 8 (Spring 1995)                   MWF 1:45 - @:50 p.m.
Leslie D. Harris                                        18 Seibert (Computer Classroom)
Susquehanna University


Week 1

Mon., Jan. 23 Introduction; initial survey

Wed., Jan. 25 "Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths," Rereading America, 1-15; Introduction to DU

Fri., Jan. 27 In-Class Essay


Week 2

Mon., Jan. 30 Arlene Skolnick, "The Paradox of Perfection," RA 402-409 (with "Roseanne" episode)

Wed., Feb. 1 "Looking at Ourselves," Ourselves Among Others, 79-85 (photocopy) (with additional t.v. episode: "Me and the Boys"?)

Fri., Feb. 3 Joyce Carol Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"


Week 3

Mon., Feb. 6 MOOing re "Mainstream Family"

Wed., Feb. 8 Writing Workshop

Fri., Feb. 10 Peer Editing; Essay 1: Draft Due


Week 4

4 Mon., Feb. 13 James Baldwin, "Stranger in the Village," Notes of a Native Son, 159-175; Essay 1 Due

Wed., Feb. 15 Baldwin, "Notes of a Native Son," Notes, 85-98

Fri., Feb. 17 Baldwin, "Notes," 98-114


Week 5

Mon., Feb. 20 Baldwin, "Many Thousands Gone," Notes, 24-45

Wed., Feb. 22 Mark Crispin Miller, "The Cosby Show," RA, 645-651; Henry Louis Gates, Jr., "TV's Black World Turns--But Stays Unreal," RA, 653-660

Fri., Feb. 24 Cosby Show Episode(s)


Week 6

Mon., Feb. 27 MOOing re Cosby Show and African-American Families

Wed., Mar. 1 Joseph L. White, "Black Family Life," RA, 432-438; Bebe Moore Campbell, "Envy," RA, 440-452

Fri., Mar. 3 Peer Editing; Essay 2: Draft Due


Week 7

Mon., Mar. 6 Sandra Cisneros, "My Lucy Friend Who Smells Like Corn," "Eleven," "Barbie-Q," "Mericans," Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories, 3-9, 14-20 Essay 2 Due

Wed., Mar. 8 Cisneros, "Woman Hollering Creek," WHC, 43-56

Fri., Mar. 10 Library Work re Sandra Cisneros


Week 8

Mon., Mar. 13 SPRING RECESS

Wed., Mar. 15 SPRING RECESS

Fri., Mar. 17 SPRING RECESS


Week 9

Mon., Mar. 20 Writing Workshop

Wed., Mar. 22 Roger Jack, "An Indian Story," RA, 453-462; Paula Gunn Allen, "Where I Come From is Like This," RA, 241-247

Fri., Mar. 24 Haunani-Kay Trask, "From a Native Daughter," RA, 119-126


Week 10

Mon., Mar. 27 MOOing re Native-American/Hispanic Families

Wed., Mar. 29 Writing Workshop

Fri., Mar. 31 Peer Critiquing; Essay 3: Draft Due


Week 11

Mon., Apr. 3 Lucille Clifton, Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir 1969-1980 (visiting writer); Essay 3 Due

Wed., Apr. 5 Clifton, cont.

Fri., Apr. 7 Library Meeting: Research Skills


Week 12

Mon., Apr. 10 Library work: Research re Lucille Clifton

Wed., Apr. 12 Questions for Lucille Clifton

Fri., Apr. 14 EASTER RECESS


Week 13

Mon., Apr. 17 EASTER RECESS

Wed., Apr. 19 Harvey Fierstein, Torch Song Trilogy (film)

Fri., Apr. 21 Torch Song Trilogy (film)


Week 14

Mon., Apr. 24 MOOing re Homosexual Families

Wed., Apr. 26 Richard Goldstein, "The Gay Family," RA, 477-490

Fri., Apr. 28 Peer Editing; Essay 4: Draft Due


Week 15

Mon., May 1 Writing Workshop; Essay 4 Due

Wed., May 3 Prepare E-Mail Portfolio + Portfolio Cover Letter

Fri., May 5 Prepare Essay Portfolio + Argument re Grade Deserved


Week 16

Mon., May 8 Ending Surveys (Class and Journal)

Tues., May 9 In-Class Essay; Hand in Essay Portfolio and E-Mail Portfolio



Note: This class was paired with a comparable composition class taught by Robert Smith at George Washington University. During the various MOO sessions listed on the syllabus, Susquehanna students and GWU students met on Diversity University MOO to discuss the shared readings. They were also discussing those readings asynchronously using a class e-mail journal. For information about the structure of the course, see the associated Course Description. For a description of the Internet journal assignment, see the On-Line Journal Assignment Sheet.