Introduces students to a wide range of texts by writers who have
responded to human rights violations around the globe: what
responsibilities do these authors have towards their subject-
matter/audience as they tell their stories? How do these stories
relate to cultural and aesthetic forms? In what way do they
resolve the tension between cultural and universal forms and
ethics?
Athena Title
Lit and Human Rights Honors
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ENGL 3330
Prerequisite
(ENGL 1050H or ENGL 1060H or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S) and permission of Honors
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will be familiar with a wide range of texts by writers who have responded to human rights violations around the globe.
Students will contextualize and analyze examples from multiple literary genres and will practice analyzing literary form and thinking critically about literature and culture. They will acquire intercultural and international context by making connections between literary works.
Students will develop a vocabulary of key concepts in literary studies.
Students will learn about the history of human rights and the forces that shape international standards.
Students will consider the ways in which cultural backgrounds alter the understanding of human rights. They will analyze the role of cultural forms in discussions of social justice.
Students will evaluate the role of transnational institutions such as the United Nations and the Human Rights Watch.
Students will practice engaging in collaborative discussion with their peers, in small groups and/or full-class discussion. They will improve their ability to express their ideas cogently and effectively.
Students will improve their abilities to argue persuasively, use textual evidence, and write vigorous prose that adheres to conventional standards of grammar and usage.
Topical Outline
The choice and sequence of topics will vary from instructor to instructor and semester to semester. Works to be studied may include the following:
• Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
• Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
• Art Spiegelman, The Complete Maus
• Ahmadou Kourouma, Allah is not Obliged
• Nadine Gordimer, My Son's Story
• Mohammed Hanif, A Case of Exploding Mangoes
• Subhash Vyam, Bhimayana: Experiences of Untouchability
• Mohsin Hamid, Exit West
• Marjane Satrapi, The Complete Persepolis
• Edwidge Danticat, Farming of Bones
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
