ENG 3623, American Folklore

Spring 2005

TR 9:30-10:45 AM

Instructor: Richard Burns

Office: W213 Office Hours: TR 2-5 PM or by appointment (972-2164)

Textbooks:

Rudolfo Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima.

Richard M. Dorson, Land of the Millrats.

Bruce Jackson, ed. Wake Up Dead Man: Hard Labor and Southern Blues.

John O. West, Mexican-American Folklore.

Course Outline (subject to change):

Jan.11 - Introduction

13 - The Study of American Folklore and “The Folk”

Land of the Millrats, pp. 1-41.

18 - Folk Groups and the Bearers of America Folk Tradition: Occupational Folklore: Land of the Millrats, pp. 42-64.

Discussion of First Paper: Folk Group Essay (due Feb. 3^rd)

20 - Occupational Folklore

Land of the Millrats, pp. 65-108.

25 - Ethnic Folklore

Land of the Millrats, pp. 109-164.

27 - Regionalism and Blacks in Gary, Indiana

Land of the Millrats, pp. 165-212.

Feb. 1 - Crimelore in America

Land of the Millrats, pp. 213-231.

3 - Folk Group Essay due

Land of the Millrats, pp. 232-240.

8 - Exam #1 (click here for study guide)

10 - Mexican-American Folklore and Miner Folklore Genres:

Mexican-American Folklore, pp. 9-64.

15 - Prose Narratives Among Mexican-Americans

Mexican-American Folklore, pp. 65-115.

17 - Folksongs and Ballads Among Mexican-Americans

Mexican-American Folklore, pp. 117-136.

22 - Mexican-American Folk Belief, Customs, and Games

Mexican-American Folklore, pp. 137-195.

Discussion of Folklore Fieldwork Project

24 - Material Folk Culture

Mexican-American Folklore, pp. 197-255.

Mar. 1 - American Folklore and Ethnic Identity in Literature

Bless Me, Ultima, pp. 1-105.

3 - American Folklore and Ethnic Identity in Literature

Bless Me, Ultima, pp. 106-176.

8 - American Folklore and Ethnic Identity in Literature

Bless Me, Ultima, pp. 177-262.

10 – Exam #2

14-19 - Spring Break

22 - Introduction to African-American Worksongs

Wake Up Dead Man, pp. vii-ix, xix-27.

Abstract for field collection due.

24 - The Texas Convict Worksong Tradition

Wake Up Dead Man, pp. 29-44.

29 - Solo Songs Among Black Convicts

Wake Up Dead Man, pp. 47-86.

31 - Group Songs Among Black Convicts

Wake Up Dead Man, pp. 87-142.

Apr. 5 - One Convict’s Repertoire: The Songs of J.B. Smith

Wake Up Dead Man, pp. 143-166.

7 - Delta Blues Symposium (no class, but attendance of one event is required—more on that later)

12 - Axe Songs Among Black Texas Convicts

Wake Up Dead Man, pp. 167-229.

14 - Axe Songs Among Black Texas Convicts

Wake Up Dead Man, pp. 231-274.

19 - Flatweeding Songs

Finish Wake Up Dead Man, pp. 275-309.

21 - Review and Discussion of Student Collections

May 2 - FINAL EXAMINATION (Monday, 8-10 AM)

Requirements:

1. Three Examinations, Class Participation, and Quizzes: Exams are 8 February, 10 March, and 2 May. Each exam will involve both objective and essay components and will requires 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. Class participation and quizzes will also be averaged into your final grade (10%).

2. Folk Group Essay:(due 4 February). Write a 3-4 page, typewritten essay (double-spaced) in which you discuss at least three 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 you should describe at least three examples of folklore relevant to each group. This counts 10% of your final grade.

3. Field collection: (due 21 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. A field collection that does not receive my approval by 22 March will not be accepted; consequently, I require a description (abstract) of your project by that date. The project counts 20% of your final grade.

4. Attendance and Class Participation: When you enter class, you must turn off your pager and/or cell phone. Your final average will be affected negatively by excessive absences, particularly since class participation counts toward your final grade. If you miss more than four class meetings without a justifiable excuse, I reserve the right to lower your grade by one letter.

5. Make-Up Work; Late Papers: Make-up exams will not be given without a valid, verifiable excuse. A make-up exam must be taken within one week of a student's return to class, and the student is responsible for initiating the make-up process. Failure to take an exam will result in a zero being computed into your final grade. Papers are due no later than 4:30 PM on the prescribed dates in the English department office (Wilson 313). Late papers will lose a letter grade; papers more than one week late will not be accepted.