ENGL 233: Asian American Literature

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: C2. Humanities
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This course is designed to give students an appreciation of Asian Literature--and in particular--the expression within the Asian American Community in the mediums of poetry, short stories, and novels. The course will explore literature and will examine the impact the works have had on the Asian American and literary community. The relationship between identity and the creative work of prominent Asian American writers is explored, as well as the cultural and historical influences on such writers. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • critically examine and evaluate written texts in regards to Asian American literature, discuss and analyze the various cultural and historical differences and commonalities of the Asian American experience expressed in writing, and what they reveal about Asian American identity.
  • comprehend the variants to Asian American identity in the United States
  • comprehend and analyze the importance of folklore, myth, stories, and historical events in Asian Culture
  • demonstrate proper use of the internet and research skills

Major Course Content

1. Brief Historical Context for Asian American Immigration--from 1900's-1980's Chinese/Japanese/ Hawaiian/Indian-- US Picture Brides, Comfort Women,  Hiroshima & Nagasaki, War Brides Act, WWII, Communist takeover in China, Cultural Revolution, Plantations in Hawaii.

Vietnamese/ Philipino-- Boat People, Vietnam War, Aquino Assasination, Martial Law

2. Literature, Short stories, Novels, Films,  Poetry, Asian Mythology, Cultural Texts, Shintoism, Taoism, Oral history, 

3. Exploring themes in literature: Family, Immigration, Assimilation, Non-assimilation, Culture/Holidays, Food, Cultural Differences, Isolation, Hope, Women’s Rights, Duty, Freedoms, Acceptance, Generational Expectations, Nisei issues, Fitting in & Not Fitting in, Stereotypes, Ignorance, Characterization, Gender roles, Shame, Feminist theory,  Mythology, Refugees, War, Asylum, Symbols, Metaphors, Images, Straddling cultures.

4. Explore a myriad of Asian Voices in America:  Native American, Indian-American, Chinese American, South East Asian American, Japanese American, Pacific Islander American, Middle Eastern American.

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Poems, Short stories, Historical articles

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

1. Students will write a critical paper analyzing the central characteristic of a work. 2. Student will write a critical paper evaluation and interpreting important themes from one one or several works. 3. Student will write an analytical paper interpreting the influence of one major historical event on the literature that followed it.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Outside assignments may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Research papers utilizing the library databases and critical readings as appropriate. 2. Critical Reading to enhance students' understanding of and analytical approach to assigned literature 3. Discussion board responses to readings, historical events, and author quotes. 4. Create a presentation that analyzes an important theme of a literary work and/or explain how a work speaks directly to its social, cultural and political content.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities

3B. Humanities

IGETC Area 6: Languages other than English

No