Syllabus

Arizona State University

Post 9/11 Literature

Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.

– President George W. Bush

Spring 2017

Online

Instructor: Alexis Whisenant

Office Hours: Virtual hours by appointment only

Grading: Letter, 3 credit hours

Course Overview and Outcomes:

This course will introduce students to the critical analysis and writing of post 9/11 literature and popular culture. Reflecting on the political responses to the al-Qaeda attacks, this course will consider the relationship to politics, religion, security, warfare, and national identity. The course will explore diverse themes related to the attacks through novels, poetry, and music. Some key concepts explored are national security, antiwar discourse, mourning and public trauma, and the perspectives of minority and immigrant communities after the attacks.

It is my goal that the class will explore “American” identity as changed since this national event. This class is distinguished by its open forum, and in considering the contemporary material and politics, I expect the topics will be handled with intellectual respect for each other. The open format of the class allows for a wider audience that is immediately accessible.

Required Books:

DeLillo, Don: Falling Man

Cole, Teju: Open City

Hamid, Mohsin: The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Yasmina Khadra: The Sirens of Baghdad

Whitehead, Colson: Zone One

*Additional weekly scholarly works as assigned

Course Requirements:

Essays: There will be 4 essays assigned throughout the semester to help synthesize and analyze the novels and texts that we read. Requirements for the essays are as follows:

  • 2-3 pages minimum requirement
  • MLA Formatting
  • At least one scholarly resource must be cited

Discussion Forum: Each week there will be 2 Discussion Board questions where you can pick which question you would like to answer and discuss. You will also respond to 1 other student’s post for the question that you did not choose. For example, if you answered question #2, then you will respond to another student who answered question #1. Requirements are as follows:

  • 250 word minimum for initial discussion post.
  • 100 word minimum for your response to 1 other student
  • Discussion board posts are due Friday by 11:59 PM. Your response is due Sunday by 11:59 PM.
  • Please cite any outside resources used in your post.
  • Grades that do not meet minimum requirements will not receive a passing grade.

Final Paper: The final paper is a chance for students to explore, interpret, and decide for themselves how literature has been changed by 9/11, if at all. Using the novels and other reading materials, construct an essay that argues how literature can be defined since 9/11. What categorizes a novel as post 9/11? Requirements for the final essay is as follows:

  • 6 pages minimum
  • MLA Formatting
  • At least two scholarly resources must be cited

Grading:

  • A = 90 – 100%
  • B = 80 – 89%
  • C = 70 – 79%
  • D = 60 – 69%
  • E/F = Below 60%

Communicating with the Instructor

Prior to emailing me a question, please check the syllabus, announcements, and existing announcement posts. If you do not find an answer, then email me. You can expect a response within 48 hours.

Late or Missed Assignments

Late assignments are not typically accepted. Notify the instructor BEFORE an assignment is due if an urgent situation arises and the assignment will not be submitted on time. Published assignment due dates (Arizona Mountain Standard time) are firm. Please follow the appropriate University policies to request an accommodation for religious practices or to accommodate a missed assignment due to University-sanctioned activities.

Submitting Assignments

All assignments, unless otherwise announced, MUST be submitted to the designated area of the course site.

Student Conduct and Academic Integrity

Please consider every piece of writing you do for this class to be "public property." Remember that you will often be expected to share your writing with others, so avoid writing about things that you may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny, or things you feel so strongly about that you are unwilling to listen to perspectives other than your own. This does not mean that you are not entitled to an opinion but that you adopt positions responsibly, contemplating the possible effect on others. This course may contain content (assigned readings, in-class discussions, etc.) deemed offensive by some students. If you have concerns about any course content, please bring these concerns to the attention of your instructor.

To pass this class, all major writing assignments must be submitted, and note that all writing for this class must be written for this class. Resubmitting a paper from another class or elsewhere constitutes academic dishonesty. If you wish to further pursue a project begun in another class or develop ideas you have written about in another class, please discuss your plans with me first.

Academic honesty is expected of all students in all examinations, papers, laboratory work, academic transactions and records. The possible sanctions include, but are not limited to, appropriate grade penalties, course failure (indicated on the transcript as a grade of E), course failure due to academic dishonesty (indicated on the transcript as a grade of XE), loss of registration privileges, disqualification and dismissal. For more information, see http://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrity.

Students, faculty, staff, and other individuals do not have an unqualified right of access to university grounds, property, or services. Interfering with the peaceful conduct of university-related business or activities or remaining on campus grounds after a request to leave may be considered a crime. A disruptive student may be withdrawn from a course with a mark of “W” or “E” when the student’s behavior disrupts the educational process. Disruptive classroom behavior for this purpose is defined by the instructor. Disruptive behavior in any form (see https://eoss.asu.edu/dos/safety/ThreateningBehavior#def) will not be tolerated, and students are expected to be familiar with all relevant university policies. ASU Student Rights and Responsibilities are located at https://eoss.asu.edu/dos/srr/codeofconduct.

Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded on the basis of sex from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. Both Title IX and university policy make clear that sexual violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited. An individual who believes they have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the basis of sex can seek support, including counseling and academic support, from the university. If you or someone you know has been harassed on the basis of sex or sexually assaulted, you can find information and resources at https://eoss.asu.edu/wellness/sexualassault.

Qualified students with disabilities who will require disability accommodations in this class are encouraged to make their requests to me at the beginning of the semester either during office hours or by appointment. Note: Prior to receiving disability accommodations, verification of eligibility from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is required. Disability information is confidential. Establishing Eligibility for Disability Accommodations: Students who feel they will need disability accommodations in this class but have not registered with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) should contact DRC immediately. Their office is located on the first floor of the Matthews Center Building. DRC staff can also be reached at: 480-965-1234 (V), 480-965-9000 (TTY). For additional information, visit https://eoss.asu.edu/drc. Their hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Students should keep all graded assignments for this course until the term is officially over and final grades are posted. If students believe their final grade is inaccurate or unfair, they must present all graded work in order for the grievance committee to review their case. Students should not solely rely on the documents remaining electronically available on Blackboard, if submitted there, but should also maintain their own digital copies.