Course Format

There are two requirements for the successful completion of this seminar: reading and participating actively and thoughtfully in all class discussions; and completing a 20-25 page research project. Attendance is not only required but also essential, and therefore more than three absences without an acceptable excuse will result in grade penalties. Repeated instances of getting late to class will also count as absences.

Like any other seminar, this one will emphasize student discussion and debate. The most important assignment is to read carefully and thoughtfully each week’s required readings, to devote some time well ahead of class meetings to think through the main issues, arguments, and implications of the readings, and to contribute your critical thoughts actively and articulately in each seminar session. Students will be expected to come prepared to engage in a diversity of questions related to the required readings.

In order to facilitate preparation and class discussions, the seminar will use Yapp, Trinity’s web-based discussion forum, for writing and discussions exercises. Yapp works as an electronic bulletin board that allows students to post messages and see the messages posted by other members of the class. This seminar will use Yapp in two different, yet complimentary ways. First, students shall write and post two-page commentaries on the readings that will be due by Sunday at 6:00pm (i.e., twenty-four hours before class meets). The purpose of these pre-class commentaries is to facilitate our in-class discussions by giving students an opportunity to work through their ideas and questions on the readings before class, and to allow the instructor to measure ahead of time student reactions to the readings. Second, Yapp will also be used to follow up class discussions by allowing students and the instructor an opportunity to expand on comments offered in class, or to post additional questions and comments. Students are responsible for checking Yapp on a regular basis (no less than every other day, for example). Your performance in Yapp-based discussions will be part of the evaluation of your performance in seminar discussions.

The main writing assignment of this seminar is a 20-25 page research paper analyzing a specific issue of ethnicity, race, class, or gender and the ways in which a specific Latino/Latina movement(s), activist(s), or organization dealt with it. Students shall discuss with me their choice of a topic no later thanSept. 27. A preliminary bibliography for the topic is due on Oct. 18. A first edition of the paper, including an annotated bibliography and an 8-10-page draft of the essay will be due on Nov. 15. Students will present a second edition of the paper in class on Dec. 6. The final version of the paper should be published no later than Friday, December, 17.

The final grade for the course will be a function of a student’s performance in each one of the two components of the course: reading and discussions (including Yapp), 50%; and and the research project (preliminary bibliography, first edition, class presentation, final edition), 50%.