Textbooks

Simon J. Bonner, American Children’s Folklore.

Américo Paredes, “With His Pistol in His Hand.”

Patricia A. Turner, “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.”

Schedule

(subject to modification)

Jan. 9- Introductory Remarks

14- American Folklore (or folklore in America?)/ Who are the folk?

16- Studying the folklore of folk groups in America.

21- Regionalism and Folklore: “The State of Arkansaw”

23- The Folklore of Age-Based Groups: American Children. American Children’s Folklore, pp. 11-36.

28- What Children Say. American Children’s Folklore, pp. 37-49.

30- What Children Play. American Children’s Folklore, pp. 51-82.

Feb. 4 - What Children Write and What they Sing American Children’s Folklore, pp. 83-111.

6- Children’s Speech Play: Riddles and Jokes American Children’s Folklore, pp. 113-142. Interview essay due.

13- Scary Stories Children Tell. American Children’s Folklore, pp. 143-158.

18- Children’s Beliefs, Customs, and “It” Games. American Children’s Folklore, pp. 161-197.

20- What Children Make. American Children’s Folklore, pp. 199-236.

25- Exam #1 (click here to see study guide)

27- Ethnic Groups and Boundaries: “The Atlanta Child Murders.”

27- Legend and Rumor in African-American Culture. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” pp. xiii-32.

Mar. 4 - Legend and Rumor in African-American Culture: Control and Riots. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” pp. 33-56.

6- Legend and Rumor in African-American Culture: Conspiracy Theories, pp. 57-107. Folk group essay due.

11- Legend and Rumor in African-American Culture: Conspiracy Theories II. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” pp. 108-136.

13- Legend and Rumor in African-American Culture: Contamination Stories. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” pp. 137-164.

SPRING BREAK

25- Legend and Rumor in African-American Culture: Consumer/Corporate Conflict and Crack. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” pp. 165-201.

27- Delta Blues Symposium (more on this later).

Apr. Legend and Rumor in African-American Culture. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Conclusion.

3- Exam #2 (see study guide)

8- Ethnic Groups and Boundaries. “How Texans Remember the Alamo.”

10- Mexican-American Folklore: The Ballad Tradition and the Corrido.

15- Mexican-American Folklore and Border Conflict. "With His Pistol in His Hand,” Part One.

17- Mexican-American Folklore and Border Conflict. With His Pistol in His Hand," Part Two.

22- Video: "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez"

24- Video: "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez" (continued). Field collection due.

29- Review.

May 5- FINAL EXAM (Tuesday, 8-10 AM)

Requirements

1. Three examinations (20 February, 3 April, 5 May): Each exam will involve both objective and essay components and will require a knowledge of material presented in the readings and in class presentations. The final may include a comprehensive component. Each exam will count 20% of your final grade.

2. Interview Essay (due 6 February). Write a 2-3 page typewritten paper based on an interview you conduct with a seventy-year-old (or older) person; it will be based on answers to three questions (more on this later). The paper will count 10% of your final grade.

3. Folk Group Essay (due 6 March). Write a 3-4 page, typewritten essay in which you discuss at least two folk groups to which you belong (or have belonged). You should show how each of your groups meets the minimal requirements for a "group" in the sociological sense, and should describe at least three examples of folklore specific to each group. This paper will count 10% of your final grade.

4. Field Collection (due 24 April). Interview at least five members of a folk group with the purpose of collecting information about some aspect of the group's folklore. Thorough instructions for this project will be provided in early March. It will be necessary to contact me either via e-mail or during my office hours to discuss/select your topic. Note that field collections which have not been discussed and approved by 13 March will not be accepted. The project will count 20% of your final grade.

5. Attendance. Regular attendance is important; consequently, I keep a record of attendance. Your final average will be affected negatively by excessive absences. If you miss more than six classes without verified, justifiable excuses (illness, serious family emergency, university business, inclement weather [commuter students only]), I will lower your final average one letter grade.

6. Make-Up Work; Late Papers. Make-up examinations will not be given without a valid, verifiable excuse (illness, serious family emergency, university business, inclement weather [commuter students only]). A make-up examination must be taken within one week of a student's return to class. Papers are due no later than 5:00 PM on the prescribed dates in the English department office (W313).Do not place papers under my door; the custodian will throw them away. Late papers will lose one letter grade; papers more than ten days late will not be accepted.