Winter 2010: English 212, section 03: Introduction to African American Rhetoric
NOTE: This syllabus may change as class needs dictate.
Homework schedule

Course weekly schedule:
Activities are DUE on the date indicated by the course schedule. Please review to plan your time wisely.

Class days: T = Tuesday; R=Thursday ::
Assignments: indicated by bold text :: Texts: RB=Reflecting Black; BT=Black Talk; S=Sundiata; :: Articles: @ VS=at VSpace

Date due
(Theme/Focus) What is due on date indicated or what will be discussed in class
Week 1

T: (Introduction to course -- Welcome | Practice):
- 'welcome' to African American rhetoric
- take Smitherman quiz in class (Smitherman, 2000)
- practice analysis with Mathis chapter 2

R
: (Introduction to course | Knowing - Symbols - Adinkra):
- discuss practices of 'knowing' and course goals; introduce rhetorical terms
- explain the origin and meaning of Adinkra 'symbols'
- set up 'Adinkra' study groups
- discuss syllabus and and online system (VSpace)
- read African philosophy (James & Sharpley, 1993, pp. 31-37) @VS for next class
- read RB chapter 1 for next class

Week 2

T: (Philosophy | Afrocentricity):
- discuss the 'Afrocentric' approach for analyzing the world
- Adinkra groups discuss African philosophy & RB 1 -- identify thesis & claims
- read "In My Father's House there were no Images" (Miller, 1994) @VS for next class
- peruse BT pp. 49-68 for next class

R
: (Philosophy | Rhetorical terms):
- Adinkra groups discuss Miller reading -- identify thesis & claims
- discuss rhetorical terms & APA citation style
- read "Mug Shot: Suspicious Person" (Brown, 1994) @VS for next class
- read RB chapter 10 for next class
- peruse BT pp. 69-87 for next class

Week 3  T: (Philosophy | Seek meaning):
- Adinkra groups discuss Brown reading and RB 10 -- identify thesis & claims
- read "How Come Nobody Told Me about the Lynching?" (Jones, 1994) @VS for next class
- peruse BT pp. 87-102 for next class

R
: (Philosophy | Claims):
- Adinkra groups discuss Jones reading -- identify thesis & claims
- Adinkra groups read lyrics and listen to various Soul, R&B, and jazz songs and discuss philosophical perspective
- read RB chapter 11 for next class
- peruse BT pp. 103-121 for next class
Week 4 T: (Philosophy | Claims - APA):
- Adinkra groups discuss RB 11 -- identify thesis & claims
- work in class on analytical paper rough draft one--making connections and APA citation style
- peruse BT pp. 122-140 for next class

R
: (Philosophy | Application):
 
- turn in analytical paper rough draft one
- Adinkra groups read lyrics and listen to various Soul and R&B philosophical songs and discuss using
five terms from Black Talk
- read "Africa's Lost Cultures" (Haskins & Biondi, 1995, pp. 184-190) @VS for the next class
- read "The Proverb Tradition in the Black Experience" (Smitherman, 2000, pp. 231-236) @VS for next class

- peruse BT pp. 141-157 for next class
Week 5 T: (Culture | Epic themes - Epic - Mali - Proverbs):
- discuss 'epic' story concept & themes (Answers.com)
- discuss Kingdom of 'Mali' (Haskins & Biondi) [BBC West African Kingdoms]
- listen to The Sound of Blackness "African Kingdoms"
- discuss the 'proverb' tradition
- 'overview' & synopsis of Sundiata
- read and discuss Sundiata, pp. 1 - 3 in class
- read Sundiata, pp. 4 - 17 for next class

R
: (Culture | Epic - Proverbs):

- read "Mama Sez" (Dance, 1998, pp. 83-88) @VS in class
- Adinkra groups share common proverbs & experiences

- Adinkra groups discuss Sundiata, pp. 1 - 17 using epic themes & proverbs
- read Sundiata, pp. 18 - 38 for next class
- peruse BT pp. 157-173 for next class
Week 6 T: (Culture | Epic - Proverbs):
- Adinkra groups discuss Sundiata, pp. 18 - 38 using epic themes & proverbs
- read Sundiata, pp. 38 - 47 for next class

R
: (Culture | Epic - Proverbs):
- Adinkra groups discuss Sundiata, pp. 38 - 47 using epic themes & proverbs
- read Sundiata, pp. 47 - 70 for next class
- peruse BT pp. 173-189 for next class
Week 7 T: (Culture | Epic - Proverbs):
- Adinkra groups discuss Sundiata, pp. 47 - 70 using epic themes & proverbs
- read Sundiata, pp. 70 - 78 for next class

R
: (Culture | Epic - Proverbs):
- Adinkra groups discuss Sundiata, pp. 70 - 78 using epic themes & proverbs
- read Sundiata, pp. 79 - 84 for next class
- peruse BT pp. 189-205 for next class
Week 8 T: (Culture | Proverbs):
- Adinkra groups discuss Sundiata, pp. 79 - 84 using epic themes & proverbs
- work in class on analytical paper rough draft two--making connections and APA citation style
- peruse BT pp. 205-222 for next class


R
: (Culture | Application):
- turn in analytical paper rough draft two
- Adinkra groups view and discuss clips from Barber Shop 2 for proverb connected with community or life experiences--use
three to five terms from Black Talk
- read McWhorter (1998, pp. 127-131) and Lippi-Green (1997, pp. 176-179) excerpts @VS for next class
- read RB chapter 6 for next class
- peruse BT pp. 223-239 for next class
Week 9  Spring Break
Week 10

T: (Language | Seek meaning):
- Adinkra groups discuss McWhorter and Lippi-Green readings -- identify thesis & claims
- Adinkra groups discuss RB 6 -- identify thesis & claims
- Adinkra groups view and discuss clips from Drumline, and Madea Goes to Jail for 'AAR in action'
- read "a night at the fantasy factory" (gossett, 2001) @VS for next class
- read "Vive Noir!" (Evans, 2001) @VS for next class

- peruse BT pp. 240-251 for next class


R
: (Language | - 'AAR in action'):
- Adinkra groups discuss gossett & Evans readings using rhetorical terms
- read Nikki Giovanni & Stevie Wonder lyrics (poems) and listen to music in class
- Adinkra groups discuss the spoken word using rhetorical terms
- read RB chapter 21 for next class
- peruse BT pp. 251-275 for next class

Week 11 T: (Language | Let's Go to Church!):
- watch Kingdom Come, pt. 1 in class
- Adinkra groups discuss
RB 21 -- identify thesis & claims
- peruse BT pp. 276-290 for next class

R
: (Language | Let's Go to Church!):
- finish watching Kingdom Come in class
- Adinkra groups discuss 'AAR in action' citing examples from Kingdom Come

- Adinkra groups read and listen to lyrics of songs from John P. Kee, Rev. James Cleveland, Mary Mary, and Mississippi Mass Choir using 'AAR in action'
- read Barbara Jordan speech @ VS for next class
- peruse BT pp. 290-305 for next class
Week 12

T: (Language | Rhetorical terms - Claims):
- listen to Jordan speech in class
- Adinkra groups discuss Jordan speech using rhetorical terms & claims
- read C. Cosby article @ VS in class
- Adinkra groups discuss C. Cosby article using claims
- work in class on analytical paper rough draft three--making connections and APA citation style


R
: (Language | Rhetorical terms - Claims):
- read H. Gates article @ VS in class
- Adinkra groups discuss H. Gates article using rhetorical terms & claims
- work in class on analytical paper rough draft three--making connections and APA citation style

Week 13 T: (Language | Rhetorical terms - Claims):
- work in class on analytical paper rough draft three--making connections and APA citation style


R
: (Language | Application):
- work in class on analytical paper rough draft three--making connections and APA citation style
 
- turn in analytical paper rough draft three
- discuss course project
Week 14 T: (African American Rhetoric | Application):
- work in class on
course projects

R
: (African American Rhetoric | Application):
- work in class on
course projects
- course evaluations
Week 15 T: (Interpretation | Application):
- turn in analytical paper final draft
- Present course projects

R
: (Interpretation | Application):
- Present course projects
Final exam
T: (Final examination):
- Turn in course portfolio on CD
- Read final exam instruction sheet and complete final exam response

[English 212-03 home]
This page last updated March 2010
by Charlene La Chatte
for Blak Kat Productions.
copyright © 1999-2010 | Fenobia I. Dallas