English 192-021
Freshman Seminar: Southeast Asian American Life Stories
Instr: Buley-Meissner, Mary Louise
Office: CRT 492; 229-4533
e-mail: meissner@uwm.edu
Office hours: TR afternoon by appt.
Course Information: TR; 3:30-4:45pm; CRT 309
Course Description
Extraordinary stories often are told by ordinary people: stories of courage, sacrifice, strength, and hope. As we read life stories by and about Southeast Asian Americans, we can better understand the histories, sorrows, and dreams of people who have come to this country from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to build new lives. Through our study of autobiography, family biography, and contemporary writing, we will learn how political forces intersect with personal circumstances in shaping individual identities, family bonds, and enduring community values. Central to our work together will be learning how such tragic events as the Vietnam War and the Cambodia Holocaust have affected entire generations. For example, what inner resources do people draw on as they struggle to survive (physically, mentally, spiritually) during times of war and political turmoil? On what basis can identity and integrity be strengthened as people face the challenge of rebuilding their lives after war? When refugees from Laos have settled in the United States, why has it been difficult to bridge differences between traditional Hmong and modern American views regarding the interrelationship of self, family and society? As we investigate such questions, we also will consider the ethical issues involved in understanding and responding to human suffering. Films and documentaries (including "Heaven and Earth" and "Split Horns") will provide background for our discussions. Overall, through our work together, we will see how life stories offer new views of the past, important questions about the present, and valuable lessons for shaping the future of our multicultural country.
Textbooks: The five required books are available at the University Bookstore on campus. All course books should be purchased at the start of the term, including When Heaven and Earth Changed Places by Le Ly Hayslip; To Destroy You Is No Loss by JoAn Criddle with Teeda Butt Mam; I, Little Slave by Bounsang Khamkeo; Bamboo Among the Oaks: Contemporary Writing by Hmong Americans, edited by Mai Neng Moua; and The Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources, 3rd edition, by James Davis.
Course Requirements: The basic course requirements include class participation (20%); three take-home essay exams during the term (60%); and a final essay exam (20%). The participation grade will be based on attendance, punctuality, completion of reading assignments on time, constructive contributions to small group and large group discussion throughout the term, and respectful attentiveness to others' views in class discussion. Essay exam guidelines will be provided in class; full credit will be given only to exams completed on time. Make-up exams will not be scheduled.
Service Learning: Information about service-learning options will be available in class. Participating organizations are affiliated with the UWM Institute for Service Learning (ISL) and include the Milwaukee Christian Center, Hmong American Friendship Association, Hmong American Women's Association, and the Indochinese Learning Center. Students must register for English 298-003 to receive credit for service learning.
Attendance and "Incomplete" Policies: Attendance affects the final grade. Students trying to earn a grade in the "A" or "B" range should not miss more than three classes. Students who miss more than seven classes cannot pass the course. If you need special class accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, please notify the instructor at the start of the term. "Incompletes" will not be given except under UWM conditions.
