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Course Description Spring 2011 John Wensman Room 423 jwensman@spa.edu Class Periods 1, 6 & 8 Prep Periods 2,4,5,7
 * New Global Voices**

Through contemporary novels from the nonwestern world, students will explore how global interactions affect diverse cultures. After working toward a definition of globalization, students will examine the rapid movements of people, capital, and ideas that distinguish contemporary globalization. We will track the impacts of these changes in many areas but will focus on human migration and cross cultural contact, the struggle between fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism, and the global marketplace. In addition to reading and research, students will explore these ideas through creative, comparative, analytic and personal writing. Students will participate in seminar discussions supplemented with the online journal entries and will create wiki based web pages to share research into the cultural context of each novel.

Is globalization real or merely a buzzword? What characterizes this phenomenon? Is it new? What are the causes and effects of migration? How does migration affect individuals, families and communities? Why are fundamentalist beliefs a common response to globalization? What is cosmopolitanism and how might it counterbalance fundamentalism? What are the economic effects of globalization on different peoples? How do individuals respond to the rapid changes of globalization?
 * Essential Questions:**

//Tortilla Curta//// in // T. C. Boyle (US/Mexico) // The Thing Around Your Neck //  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  (Nigeria) //Graceland// Chris Abani (Nigeria) //Sightseeing// Rattawut Lapcharoensap (Thailand) //White Tiger// Aravind Adiga (India) //Dragon Can’t Dance// Earl Lovelace (Trinidad) *Juniors only!!
 * Texts**:

Essays and projects 50% Tests & quizzes 20% Daily work 15% Seminar/daily participation 15%
 * Evaluation**:


 * Website: http://newglobalvoices.wikispaces.com/** ***bookmark this please.**

Class policies & expectations:

**Text annotations are both useful tool and essential practice. You should have a system of annotations that you maintain for all reading. These should be a tool for class discussions. You are also expected to add to annotations during class conversations and presentations. These will be checked randomly.**
 * **All work must be your own. Any ideas or specific language appropriated from another source without proper citation will earn no credit according to school policy.**
 * **As per English department policy, all late work will be penalized one grade increment per day, and all major assignments must be completed to pass the course.**
 * **You are expected to bring your OWN BOOK to class each day.**
 * Essay Policies, Expectations & Grading:**


 * Essays will be submitted electronically to the course drop folder and will be returned within 2 weeks.
 * DROP folders are found on the G drive** in the network under the course name. To place a file in the folder you must drag and drop it here. The file should be named with your last name and the assignment. You will not be able to see it, unfortunately. You’ll have to trust your drag/drop skills. I will place completed essays in your own folder for your review.
 * If we edit in class, bring your laptop. The edited copy will be turned in for credit.