This introductory course in American Indian Literature will allow you to read and study a variety of genres, including traditional oral literature, autobiography, poetry, and fiction by Native authors. You will learn basic research and critical skills needed in reading Native American texts. This course fulfills a 3-credit requirement for the American Indian Studies Major.
It also fits within the IdEA theme, American Indian World Views.

Texts: Lawana Trout. Native American Literature: An Anthology.
Lincolnwood, ILL: NTC Publishing Group, 1999.

N. Scott Momaday. The Way to Rainy Mountain. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1969.

Ella C. Deloria. Waterlily. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988.

Delphine Red Shirt, Bead on an Anthill: A Lakota Childhood, Lincoln:
University of Nebraska Press, 1998.

Requirements: Attendance, two essays of at least 500 words in length (including references to at least three sources), an in-class examination on The Way to Rainy Mountain and other work by N. Scott Momaday, an essay of at least 250 words in response to a related cultural event (suggestions are marked with asterisks throughout this syllabus), a 1,000-word essay (including references to at least five sources). If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accomodation, please contact your professor and Dr. Elaine Pearson, Director of the Office of Disability Services (677-6389), as early as possible in the semester.
The following schedule may be modified as necessary.
September

W 3 Introduction to the course and each other. Film: Lakota
Quillwork in Art and Legend.

F 5 Meet in Hoy A & B to hear a presentation by the Wheels of Justice
Tour on Self-determination for both Iraqis and Palestinians,
drawing parallels to the dispossession and oppression of other
peoples, including American Indians.

M 8 Introduction to Trout, "The first American literature: Oral
Traditions," xvii-xviii; "Language and Learning in Two Worlds,"
"Lakota Language," Albert White Hat, Sr., 587-97 and the Lakota creation.

W 10 Written literature: Trout, xviii-xxiii. Narratives from
Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa and Dakota Texts by Ella C.
Deloria.

F 12 Introduce Waterlily . Topics for 500-word essay # 1.

M 15 Class meets at the W. H. Over Museum for discussion and tour.

W 17 Waterlily continued. Using the current MLA format for writing scholarly papers.

F 19 Waterlily continued.

M 22 Meet at I.D. Weeks Library to visit the Chilson archives.

W 24 Read Trout, Luther Standing Bear's "The Sun Dance, 125-33 and
"First Days at Carlisle," 598-609.

F 26 Class meets at the American Indian Oral History Center, D 12.
Rough draft of 500-word essay #1 due (2 points).

M 29 Trout, Zitkala-Sa, "The School Days of an Indian Girl," 611-23.

October

W 1 Trout, Lame Deer, "Alone on a Hilltop," 134-39. Trout, Black Elk
and Neihardt, "High Horse's Courting," 520-25.

F 3 Trout, Vine Deloria, Jr., "Indian Humor," 651-62. Philip J. Deloria,
"I Am Not a Mascot," 45-48.

M 6 Fiction and poetry by Elizabeth Cook-Lynn. Essay # 1 due (18
points).

W 8 Trout, Tiffany Midge's "Beets," 442-49.

F 10 Introduce the writing of Delphine Red Shirt. Begin discussion of
Bead on an Anthill. Suggested topics for 1,000-word essay.

M 13 Native American Day. *Native American Day Wacipi

W 15 Discuss Bead on an Anthill. Writing an abstract.

F 17 Continue discussion of Bead on an Anthill.

M 20 Delphine Red Shirt discusses Bead on an Anthill. Reads at 1 in
Frankenfeld A & B.*

W 22 Complete discussion of Red Shirt's writing. Abstract for 1,000-
word essay due.

Th 23 *Karen Lone Hill, speaks in Farber Hall, 7:30

F 24 Introduce the writing of N. Scott Momaday. Trout, 60-61, 79-80,
264-65, 367-68, 488-91, 580-82.

M 27 Begin The Way to Rainy Mountain.

W 29 The Way to Rainy Mountain continued.
Study topics for the examination.

F 31 The Way to Rainy Mountain continued.

November

M 3 Trout, 635-48. Preparation for the exam.

W 5 In-class examination on The Way to Rainy Mountain.

F 7 "The Spirit World," 75-78; "Iroquois Myths," 81-85; Parker, "The
Origin of the Long House;" "The Council of the Great Peace,"
Trout, 93-101; Roberta Hill's poetry.

M 10 Film: Ghost Dance . Discussion. Poetry and an autobiographical
essay by Wendy Rose, Trout, 277-81 and 374-83. Topics for 500-word essay #2.

W 12 The writing of James Welch, Trout, 52-53; 189-91, 328-29, 759-61.

F 14 The writing of Simon J. Ortiz, Trout, 347-49.

M 17 The writing of Leslie Marmon Silko, Trout, 291-307, 389-97, 583-85,
674-78. Rough draft of essay #2 due (2 points).

W 19 The writing of Linda Hogan, Trout, 23-41, 140-43, 762-57

F 21 The writing of Diane Glancy, 201-13 and 232-33.

M 24 500-word essay #2 due (18 points). The writing of Joy Harjo,
350-52; 663-65; 679-87, 717-19.

W 26 The poetry of Luci Tapahonso, Trout, 68-72, 214-18, 384-88, 495-97,
501-3.

Thanksgiving Recess

M 1 Rough drafts of 1,000-word essay due (4 points). Peer reviews.

W 3 The writing of Louise Erdrich, Trout, 42-44, 318-20

F 5 The poetry of Lance Henson

M 8 A reading by Lance Henson

W 10 The writing of Sherman Alexie, Trout, 20-22, 463-66, 498-500, 626-
29, 672-73. Share these. Essay in response to cultural event due (2 points).

F 12 1,000-word essay due (28 points). Discussion of the course.

Requirements specified:
Class attendance is required: Three absences are permitted. After these three, 2% will be deducted from your total grade points for each unexcused absence.
Participation: You will be expected to participate in class discussions (4%) and to complete writing exercises inside and outside of class, including a 250-word response to an out-of class cultural event (2%), Rough drafts of 2, 500-word essays (4%), Abstract of 1,000 word essay (2%) Rough draft of 1,000-word essay (4%): Total 16%
Essay requirements:
Your essays should conform to the format indicated in the MLA Handbook, 6th edition (available in the 3rd floor study carrel of I.D. Weeks Library). Your 500-word essays may become the basis for the 1,000-word essay you are required to write. Your audience has read or should have access to the texts, so there is no need for long quotations. The reader can be expected to understand brief references, but you still need to document them.
Feel free to use creative writing approaches, including autobiographical references; however provide evidence that you are familiar with the assigned texts.
When quoting someone, use quotation marks and attribute the quotation to its author. Plagiarism (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, to primary and secondary texts, as required. It is well organized and coherent. It is free of grammatical, mechanical and spelling errors. This essay features varied sentence patterns and precise diction that is appropriate to its purpose. 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 the text/s.
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 technique 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.
Plus or minus grades indicate slight variations from these standards.
Averaging of final grades:
Since it is impossible to convert your participation in the course precisely into numbers, these percentages are approximate, but they provide guidance for evaluating your work.
Class Participation: Discussion-4%, 2 rough drafts of 500-word essays, 2% each-4%, abstract of 1,000-word essay--2%, rough draft of 1,000-word essay-4%, essay in response to cultural event--2% Total 16%

2, 500-word essays--18 % each-Total 36%

Exam on Momaday's work--20%

1,000-word essay--28%

Grading scale: 90-100% A, 80-89% B, 70-79% C, 60-69% D, 0-59% F