SS 150: Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
Professor Lagana
SPRING 2008: Reading List and Course Outline
- Please make sure that you read this course outline: answers to just about any questions you have about the requirements for this course can be found here. If you ask me a month from now, for example, when my office hours are or what chapters you should be reading, that probably means you haven’t read this course outline. This course outline is also posted on my web page here at Queensborough:
http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/flagana/ss-150.asp
- This is a college-level course and you’re all expected to treat it like one. That means coming to class regularly, coming to class prepared, paying attention, acting like grown-ups, and doing all of the assigned readings (that includes the handouts I give the class). If you’re not prepared to do all of this, then perhaps you should consider dropping the course now while you can still get a refund.
I Required books: these two books will be the basis for class lectures and discussions. They are both available in the bookstore. The book on the Rastafarians should also be on library reserve.
A) James Gilmore. Faces of the Caribbean.
B) Leonard Barrett. The Rastafarians.
II Other Readings: in addition to the two books listed above, you have to read at least one of the following five books (all available in the bookstore). Each book focuses on a particular aspect of the Caribbean experience.
A) Michele Wucker. Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and The Struggle for Hispaniola. B) Polly Petullo. Last Resorts: The Cost of Tourism in the Caribbean.
C) Peter Manuel. Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae.
D) Gad Heumann. The Killing Time: The MorantBay Rebellion in Jamaica.
E) George Gmelch and Sharon Bohn Gmelch: The Parish Behind God’s Back: The Changing Culture of Rural Barbados.
III On Library Reserve: these two books will be available at the reserve desk in the library. You might want to look that them for ideas about a research paper, for further information on what we discuss in class, etc.
A) Mintz and Price - Caribbean Contours.
B) Horowitz - Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean.
IV COURSE REQUIREMENTS: there will be an exam at the end of the semester; there may also be a short exam or a short writing assignment right before spring break. These will count for about 25% of your final grade. In addition, there are two other requirements for the course.
A) You have to write a book analysis paper (not a high school book report) ) on one of the five books listed above. Guidelines for the book paper are included at the end of this course outline. This paper should be at least 3 pages long (that’s 3 typed and double-spaced pages or more) This project will be due on March 17 (Monday) at the latest, no extensions, no excuses; you can also hand it in earlier. A book paper that is handed in late will have the grade reduced; a book paper that’s handed in after Tuesday, March 25 will receive a grade of F. The book analysis paper will count for about 25% of your final grade.
B) The major project, however, will be a research paper. This paper must be at least 7-8 pages long (typed and double-spaced) and you have to use at least three or four bibliographic sources (books, magazines, journal articles, internet resources, etc.). Your paper can be on any aspect of Caribbean history and cultures, both past and present. This includes not only the island nations of the Caribbean (Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, etc.) but also the coastal areas of some Central American countries such as Nicaragua and Panama. Also included would be some areas of mainland South America such as Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana.
C)You must submit a topic for your research paper by Monday, March 31 (preferably well before then). If you can’t come up with a topic on your own, take a look at the list of suggested research paper topics that I’ll be giving out. You also have to give me a brief outline of your paper by that date, indicating what ideas you have about your topic, what kinds of sources you’re planning on using, etc.. Your outline must be typed and should be no more than 1-2 pages long. If you can’t come up with a topic on your own, please make sure that you talk to me so I can give you some suggestions. It’s important that you do your research paper on a topic that you’re interested in. Try not to pick too broad a topic; keep it focused on something specific. If you don’t give me an outline by March 31, the grade you get on your paper will be reduced by 1/2 grade (a paper that deserved a B will get a B- ). The research paper will be due the week of May 5, any day that week Monday through Thursday (you can hand it in earlier). You must hand in your research paper during the week of May 5: no extensions, no excuses. The very last day for handing in your research paper is Thursday, May 8; any paper handed in after that will have the grade reduced.
D) I'll spend at least one class talking in more detail about the paper: how to research it, organize it, footnote it, etc. I’ll also have some handouts for you which will give you very clear guidelines on the correct format and structure of a college-level research paper. A paper that does not use the correct format and structure will be returned to you without a grade.
E The research paper will count for about 50% of your final grade. The one or two exams will count for about 25% of your final grade, with the book analysis paper also counting for about 25%. Class participation and especially class attendance will also be taken into account.
V OFFICE HOURS: if you want to talk to me about the course or about anything else, my office is in Room 119 of the MedicalArtsBuilding (phone #281-5017). My office hours are:: Monday 10:30-11:00, Tuesday 4:30-6:00, Thursday 10:30-11:00 and 3:15-3:45. If you can't make it during office hours, please talk to me after class and we can arrange a better time.
VI E-MAIL: please send any e-mail to the following address: frankL@worldnet.att.net
I can also be reached at this address: flagana@qcc.cuny.edu.
While I’m on the subject of e-mail, here are three things to remember whenever you send e-mail to one of your professors.
A) Whenever you send e-mail to a professor, please make sure that you use some semblance of proper written English”. For example, do not use common e-mail and text messaging shorthand such as “u” instead of “you”, “r u” instead of “are you”, “plz” instead of “please”, etc.
B) Any email you send to a professor should come from the free email account you get here at Queensborough (Tigermail); many professors will no longer accept email from a student unless it comes from a Tigermail account. This account be can easily accessed either from home or at school.. If you send email from another address, please be sure to put something in the subject line indicating that you’re a student.
C) A few semesters ago I got an e-mail from a student with the e-mail name of “RagingPimp”. Another e-mail came from a student calling herself “HotnSexyChicana”. Amusing as these sort of names might be, you should all make sure to use a more neutral sounding name for school-related e-mail. Would you send a resume to a prospective employer with the name “RagingPimp”? I hope not. Once again, you should always use your Tigermail account for school-related email.
VII ATTENDANCE: it's important to come to class regularly. If you miss more than 6 classes without a very good reason, your grade will be reduced. If you miss more than 10 classes without a very good reason, you will probably wind up failing the course. This includes absences due to things like minor illnesses, parking problems, court appearances, your work schedule, etc.; these do not constitute excused absences so please don’t ask. If you do miss a class or two, try to get the notes for that day from another student. If you're going to be absent for several classes, make the effort let me know by calling during my office hours, e-mailing me or by leaving a message on voicemail. Please do not ask me to tell you how many times you’ve missed class; it’s your responsibility to keep track of your own absences. Also, be sure you get to class on time. Students who walk in late disturb everyone, especially me. If you are going to be more than 10 minutes late to class, don't bother coming at all; you’ll be marked absent anyhow.
VII CLASS RULES: please make sure that you get to class awake and on time. Please try to refrain from catching up on your reading, napping, eating or conducting your courtships while in class. If you carry a cell phone, please make sure to turn it off before class begins. And please pay attention, or at least pretend to. Students whose minds start to wander may find themselves called on to comment about what’s been said in class.
VIII NEWSPAPERS: if you read a newspaper from the Caribbean, please bring a copy of it or an article from it into class for everyone to look at and perhaps talk about. If you see any articles about the Caribbean in other publications, you can bring them in as well. More class participation always makes for a more interesting class; remember that class participation affects your grade.
IX ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: don’t even think of cheating on any of the exams in this class – the result will be a failing grade for the semester if you’re caught (you do have the right to appeal to the department committee on academic integrity). Any written work that you hand in has to be entirely your own work and not the work of anyone else: handing in someone else’s work on a written assignment will also result in a failing grade for the semester.
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Notice for Students with Disabilities
Any student who feels that he/she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss his/her specific needs. Please contact the office of Services for Students with Disabilities in ScienceBuilding, room 132 (718 631 6257) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
TOPICS FOR THE SEMESTER
This course will be covering a wide range of topics: archaeology, history, politics, economics, food, music, religions, etc. Exactly what aspects of Caribbean history and cultures we talk about depends at least in part on what students are interested in. For this course to be a success, and for you to get something out of it besides just a grade, it’s important that you come to class regularly, do all of the assigned readings (that includes all of the various handouts I’ll be giving the class). I also expect you all to come to class prepared to intelligently participate in discussions.
Required Readings:
1. Gilmore – Faces of the Caribbean. Please have this book finished by the end of
February at the latest.
2. Barrett – The Rastafarians. Please have this book finished by the first week of
April.
3. You are also expected to read all of the various handouts I’ll be giving the
class throughout the semester. If you miss a class, it’s your responsibility to find
out if you missed getting any of the handouts. Here is a tentative, and a very
flexible, outline of the major topics we’ll be covering this semester
WEEK OF:
January 28. Introduction.
February 4. Some basic facts about the Caribbean (population, politics, geography, etc.)
February 11 and February 18: Important factors in Caribbean history.
February 25: The native peoples of the Caribbean – from 6000 years ago (or more) until 1492.
March 3: 1492à early 1600s: first European exploration and settlement of the Caribbean.
March 10 à 31: Sugar and Slaves (please remember that your book analysis paper is due on March 17. Any book paper handed in after May 25 will receive a grade of F. A topic and an outline for your research paper is due on March 31 at the latest.
April 7: The Caribbean in the 19th and 20th centuries: the end of slavery and the coming of political independence.
April 14:Caribbean Religions.
April 19 -à April 27: spring break – no classes. This would be a good time to start seriously working on your research papers.
April 30à May 5: The musical cultures of the Caribbean. Your research papers are due on Thursday May 8 at the latest – no extensions and no excuses.
May 12: we’ll be tying up any loose ends during this last week of the semester.
PLEASE REMEMBER: you cannot expect to do well in this course unless you come to class regularly, participate in class discussions, and do all of the assigned reading (including the handouts)
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
1. February 12 (Tuesday): no classes.
2. February 18 (Monday): no classes.
3. March 17 (Monday): your book papers are due today; no extensions and no excuses.
4. March 21-àMarch 24: no classes.
5, March 26 (Wednesday): classes follow a Monday schedule.
6. March 31: a topic for your research paper and a brief outline of your paper is due today at the latest.
7. March 31: last official withdrawal date.
8. April 19-àApril 27: spring break – no classes.
9. April 28 (Monday):. classes resume.
10. May 5: your research papers are due this week. The very last day for handing in your research paper is Thursday, May 8: no extensions and no excuses.
11. May 14 (Wednesday): last day of classes for the spring semester.
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