Dr. Norma Wilson, Office D 228, Hours 10-10:50, 1-1:50 & by appointment.
Professor Wilson joined the USD English faculty in 1978. She completed a Ph.D. in English with an emphasis in American literature at the University of Oklahoma in 1978. She has published numerous articles on American and Native American literature, including "Nesting in the Ruins," in English Postcoloniality: Literatures Around the World, ed. Radhika Mohanram and Gita Rajan. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996. Her book The Nature of Native American Poetry was published by the University of New Mexico Press in 2001. In July 2002, she was a writer in residence at Fundacion Valparaiso, Mojacar, Spain.
Course Description:
This course will explore the relationships between humans and other animals
in a variety of texts and in the natural world. Students will be encouraged
to pursue scholarly and personal interests and to write from experiential
and scientific, as well as literary perspectives. Through this study
students will hone their skills in critical and creative thinking,
writing and speaking.
Texts:
The primary texts are Anthony Mercantante's Zoo of the Gods, Rudolfo
Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima, Linda Hogan, Deena Metzger and Brenda Peterson's
Intimate Nature , Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's The Trickster and the
Troll and The Writer's Harbrace Handbook. Additional readings, films,
videotapes and field trips will supplement these texts. Items on reserve
include Angus Taylor, Magpies, Monkeys, and Morals (See his extensive
bibliography); Peter Singer, Animal Liberation; and Tom Regan, All
That Dwell Therein: Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics.
Requirements:
Attendance, completion of reading assignments, written and oral responses
to readings and presentations. Attend and write about a related cultural
event or educational exhibit any time during the semester and write
a 250-word response. Due one week following your experience. Can be
a visit to the zoo. (2 points). Two 750-word essays, which include
personal narrative, description, and persuasion, a literary analysis
of at least 1,000 words, and a research paper of at least 2,000 words.
Related requirement: information literacy skills (See October 28).
Requirements and evaluation criteria are specified at the end of this
syllabus. If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting
an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor
and Dr. Elaine Pearson, Director of Disability Services (Service Center,
119; 677-6389) as early as possible in the semester.
September
W 4 Introduction to the course and to each other. The significance of animals in world mythologies. Lakota. "How the Sioux Came to Be." Told by John Fire/Lame Deer. From Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz, eds. American Indian Myths and Legends. Observing animals. Spend at least 15 minutes carefully attending to an animal's behavior outdoors. Write responses to the questions for class discussion on Friday.
F 6 Bring a written description of an animal you have carefully observed. (1 point). The function of description. Discussion. Consider: What interests do animals have in common with human beings? What interests are unique to particular animals? to human beings? Philosophers sympathetic to animal liberation hold that being sentient is a necessary condition for membership in the moral community. Should being sentient also be seen as a sufficient condition. How would a world in which animals were not viewed as essentially resources for human purposes be different from today's world?
M 9 Intimate Nature, 56-67, Birute M. F. Galdikas, "Akmad." Lisa Linn Kanae, "Kimo's Red Collar." Share a story about your relationship with an animal. Personal narratives. (1 point)
W 11 Work with the Writer's Harbrace Handbook, pp. 3-28. Discussion of the significance of the September 11, 2001 attack and its aftermath.
F 13 Begin Zoo of the Gods, pp. ix-7. Then peruse the book, selecting an animal of your choice. Consider questions the relationships between human beings and a particular animal as indicated in the myth and the significance of that animal in the culture. Persuasion. For Essay # 1, focus on an animal of your choice. Describe the animal. Consider its significance within certain mythical, historical or cultural contexts. You may include a narrative of your own experience with that animal.
M 16 Read "First People," pp. 6-19, 29-33 and 34-36 of Intimate Nature. View and discuss Legends of the Sioux.
W 18 Consider the animals and mythologies of your particular place. Zoo of the Gods, 50-53, Selection from the Journals of Lewis and Clark. Consider the history and literature of Spirit Mound. The importance of a thesis. Harbrace, 29-47. *Presentation on Spirit Mound at W.H. Over Museum, 7:30 pm.
F 20 Meet at the W. H. Over Museum. Tour and discussion. VLP mtg., D 201, 4 pm*
M 23 Zoo of the Gods, 15-20, 26-28, 67-69, 106-116, 126-43 and Intimate Nature, pp. 420-27. Wild animals of our region.
W 25 Domesticated animals. Zoo of the Gods, 40-46, 54-58, 85-89, 103-5, Intimate Nature, 176-79, 180-86, 200-202. What are the parallels, if any, between the animal liberation movement and the women's liberation movement?
Th 26 Marcus Amerman presents the Oscar Howe Memorial Lecture, Farber, 7 pm*
F 27 Essay #1 due. Share these. (2 points)
September 27-29 Northern Plains Tribal Arts, Ramkota, Sioux Falls*
M 30 View Ancient Survivors of the Missouri. Discussion. Critical and creative thinking. The Missouri River Institute. Ideafest. Suggested topics for research projects. Sample abstract and bibliography.
October
W 2 Bring a newspaper article that focuses on a current social, political or environmental issue related to animals, such as animal confinement operations or medical experimentation on animals, to share with the class. For essay, #2, write a persuasive essay, based on a current issue related to animals.
F 4 Intimate Nature, 37-45, Haunani-Kay Trask, "The Dog That Runs in the Rough Seas." The monk seal & other endangered species. Discussion.
M 7 Zoo of the Gods, 36-39 and Intimate Nature, 97-103, 132-41, 159-66, 344-45, 438-41. Gorillas, chimpanzees, apes & monkeys. Janet McAdams reads at 2 pm in the Lincoln-Roosevelt rooms.
W 9 Discuss moral and ethical views of philosophers regarding animals.
F 11 Intimate Nature, 291-94. Discussion. Zoo of the Gods, 63-66 and Intimate Nature, 379-92. Lions.
*Sunday, October 13, Native American Day Wacipi, 4 H Building
M 14 Native American Day--No classes.
W 16 Zoo of the Gods,, 117-20 and Intimate Nature, 115-31. Elephants.
F 18 Zoo of the Gods, 21-25 and Intimate Nature, 71-77, 142-51, 349-56. Dolphin, porpoise and whale.
M 21 Zoo of the Gods, 70-73, Intimate Nature, 90-96. Wolves.
W 23 Essay #2 of 750 words due. Share these. (2 points)
Th 24 Webster Two Hawk presents the Cash Memorial Lecture, Farber 8 pm*
F 25 Zoo of the Gods, 158-88, Animals of the Mind.
M 28 All students are required to pass an Information Literacy examination on research skills, library catalog, database and web evaluation. Since these skills should benefit your research, I am dismissing today's class to allow you some time to prepare for the examination. You must complete all four required information literacy lessons and quizzes by November 27 at 11:55 pm. The URL for USD Information Literacy is http://www.usd/library/assessment_gateway/
W 30 Begin discussion of Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's The Trickster and the Troll. Topics for discussion and literary analysis.
November
F 1 Complete discussion of Sneve's The Trickster and the Troll.
M 5 Introduce Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. Zoo of the Gods, 131-33. The owl in Native American mythology.
W 7 Bless Me, Ultima . Suggested topics for writing a literary analysis.
F 9 Bless Me, Ultima. The MLA format in The Writer's Harbrace Handbook.
M 11 Veterans Day Holiday
W 13 Meet in the Lincoln-Roosevelt Rooms, CSC. Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve reads from and discusses The Trickster and the Troll. *Sneve will present a reading from her book Completing the Circle today at 2 pm in Farber Hall.
F 15 Discuss Sneve's The Trickster and the Troll and Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima.
M 18 Bless Me, Ultima continued.
W 20 Complete discussion of Bless Me, Ultima
F 22 Work on rough drafts in class.
M 25 Essay #3 of at least 1,000 words on The Trickster and the Troll and/or Bless Me, Ultima due. Share these. (2 points)
W 27 Writing an abstract and preparing a preliminary bibliography for your research project.
Thanksgiving break
December
M 2 Meet in the I. D. Weeks Library for research.
W 4 Abstract and bibliography of at least five sources due. (4%) Share these. Make copies for class members.
F 6 Work in class on research project.
M 9 Bring rough drafts for peer review.
W 11 Oral presentations of your research paper. (2%)
F 13 Oral presentations continued. Research papers are due on December 17 at 9:30 am. You may bring them to my office or place them in my mailbox.
Requirements and Evaluation Criteria
Class attendance is required. You will receive a maximum of 4% credit for the number of classes you attend. A: 0-3 absences (4%), B: 4-6 absences (3%), C: 7-9 absences (2%), D: 10-12% (1%), F: 13+ absences (0%)--Total 4%
Daily work. You will receive points for the following assignments: Written description (1%), Oral personal narrative (1%), 250-word essay on related cultural event (2%), Oral presentation of essay #1 (2%), oral presentation of essay #2 (2%), oral presentation of essay # 3 (2%), Abstract and bibliography for research paper (4%), oral presentation of research paper (2%)--Total 16%
Essay #1. 750-word descriptive essay on an animal of your choice: 16%
Essay #2: 750-word persuasive essay on an animal related social, political and/or environmental issue: 16%
Essay #3: 1,000-word literary analysis of The Trickster and the Troll and/or Bless Me, Ultima. 20%
Research Paper: An essay of at least 2,000 words evolving from your study of animals. At least five sources must be cited.: 28%
All writing submitted must be typed, double spaced. Use the MLA Style. Instructions and examples are given in your text, The Writer's Harbrace Handbook.
Plagiarism will be reported to the director of the Honors Program. Presenting another author's words or ideas as your own is not acceptable. No credit will be received for writing that is plagiarized. Students will not be allowed to redo a plagiarized assignment for credit.
Grading criteria for essays:
A: This grade is reserved for an essay that demonstrates the highest competence. The thesis is clear and well supported with accurate references, in the form of specific details, and to primary and secondary text/s, as required. An A-level essay is well organized and coherent. It is free of grammatical, mechanical and spelling errors. Sentence patterns vary, and diction is precise. Documentation, Works Cited, quotations and other items are done properly, according to the MLA format. An unusually creative expression, this essay provides insights that illuminate its subject.
B. This grade is for an essay that demonstrates competence; however it does not meet all the expectations mentioned above.
C: This grade is for an essay that demonstrates a degree of competence; however, its creativity, substance and/or style are not above average.
D: This grade is for an essay that is below average in competence.
F: This grade is for an essay that demonstrates incompetence.
Grading scale: 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, 0-59% F