UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS FACULTY OF SOCIAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH STUDIES ACADEMIC YEAR 2013-2014 Department: English Studies Title of Programme: BA (Hons) English Title of module: Writing and Cultural Studies Module code: ENG 1014Y Module Tutor: Dr N Aumeerally Module Level: Year I Elective Pre-requisites: Part I of module Duration: Semester II MODULE DESCRIPTION Writing Mauritius The second part of this module will build upon students’ reading and writing skills in order to develop their ability to critically engage with texts. Students will read and discuss two types of texts divided into two units: (i) extracts from travel writing on Mauritius and (ii) short postcolonial Mauritian literary texts. Students will explore the enduring and shifting representations of Mauritius that emerge from the texts. They will also examine the identity maps that are drawn in the process, with reference to concepts of representation and identity already discussed in Semester 1. They will have to do two presentations and write two essays of 1000 words at the end of each unit to outline their understanding of key aspects of representation and identity constructions at different historical moments. LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of the course, you should be able to: - identify and develop an argument for an essay; - critically read and analyse relevant literature in an area of research; - select and synthesize research materials from different sources; - use theoretical tools relevant to the topic under investigation; - articulate and defend an intellectual position; - lead a discussion on a topic within the context of the course readings; - initiate independent research/reading; - present your research to your peers; - demonstrate basic research skills in the humanities. REQUIRED TEXTS:  de St Pierre, B (1984 edition), Paul et Virginie, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale.  Twain M (1835-1910), Following the Equator, Volume 2 (First Published in 1897), New York, Collier and Son & Co.  Naipaul V S (1972), The Overcrowded Barracoon and other Articles, London, Penguin.   Patel S (2001), Le Portrait Chamarel, Saint-Denis, Edition Grand Ocean. Virasawmy, D (1999), ‘Dayri en Fouka’ and ‘Pas Fasil’ in Testamann Enn Metchiss, Mauritius, Boukie Bananie. COURSE ASSESSMENT AND REQUIREMENTS: - For this yearly module, the ratio of coursework to exams is 30%: 70%. - For this part of the course, the students will be assessed in the following: 1) 2 Research Papers (1000 words each) – 2) 2 Presentations and Participation in weekly discussions – There will be a final exam in May 2014. - Late submission of written work will NOT be accepted without prior notification and approval of the instructor. The penalty will be zero mark. If special circumstances (illness, family emergency) prevent you from submitting the work on the due date, you must inform the instructor and the programme coordinator before the deadline. Relevant evidence must be provided. - Written assignments must be neatly typed (double spaced; 12 font) and must follow the format as detailed further. - For every assignment that you submit for grading, you must attach a Plagiarism Statement (Please refer to the Departmental Coursework Coversheet). - In Weeks 4 and 5 groups of 3-4 students will be expected to present a seminar paper for 15-20 minutes. - You must prepare a handout for the seminar paper. - You must bring all the course readings to class on the due dates to participate in the discussion. - You must acknowledge all your sources. Plagiarism is a serious offence which carries serious consequences. Please refer to the Honour Code of the Department of English Studies and the University of Mauritius Policy on plagiarism. - Guidelines will be given for each assignment. If you are in doubt as to any aspect of course, you should consult the tutor. COURSE POLICIES - Attendance is compulsory and will be closely monitored; Each unjustified absence will result in a deduction of 2% from the overall mark for coursework; You must be on time for all seminars; You must read every assignment carefully before class; You must meet the schedule of deadlines for reading and writing assignments; You must acknowledge all your sources (Harvard referencing); Plagiarism will result in an automatic failure; Courtesy and respect are mandatory in class; Disrespect will not be tolerated; You must turn off your mobile phones; Any absence must be justified by relevant evidence. It is your responsibility to inform the tutor as well as your programme coordinator. You are expected to pay attention in class. HONOUR CODE Academic work within the Department of English Studies is governed by an Honour Code which all students must adhere to. A Plagiarism Statement must be signed and attached to every assignment that is submitted for assessment. Work that is not pledged will NOT be accepted. COURSE SYLLABUS: Course readings will be made available at the beginning of the first semester for photocopying. It is your responsibility to photocopy the course materials. Week 1 Introduction & Course Overview UNIT 1: Travel writing as colonial discourse Learning Outcomes: We will explore some key aspects of French and British colonial discourses that emerge out of travel writing. Discussion Questions: What key aspects of British and French colonial discourses does your reading of travel writing on Mauritius uncover and what identity maps are etched? Week 2: Representations of Ile de France in Paul et Virginie READ:  Twain M (1835-1910), Following the Equator, Volume 2 (First Published in 1897), New York, Collier and Son & Co.(hc)  Extracts from Pratt, M L (1992), Imperial Eyes. Travel Writing and Transculturation, London and New York, Routledge (hc) Week 3: M L Pratt’s ‘transculturation’ READ:  de St Pierre, B (1984 edition), Paul et Virginie, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale (hc)  Extracts from Foucault , M (1980), Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and other writings, 1972-77, Colin Gordon (ed.), transl. by Gordon et al., New York, Pantheon (hc) Week 4 & 5 PRESENTATIONS OF DRAFT RESEARCH PAPER 1 Compare and contrast de St Pierre and Twain’s representations of the colony of Ile de France/Mauritius, with reference to Foucault’s concept of ‘heterotopia’ and Pratt’s concept of ‘transculturation’. Week 6  Submission of Research Paper 1 UNIT 2: Representations of Mauritius and identity maps in Postcolonial literature on Mauritius Learning outcomes: We will be charting the overlap and shifts between colonial and postcolonial literary representations and identity constructions with reference to concepts of nationalism, ethnicity, gender and diaspora. READ: Naipaul V S (1972), The Overcrowded Barracoon and other Articles, London, Penguin (hc)  Extracts from Anderson, B (1983), Imagined communities. Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism, London, Verso (hc) Week 7 READ:  Extracts from Fanon F, (1963), The Wretched of the Earth, New York, Grove Press (hc)  Extracts from Eisenlohr P, (2006) Little India. Diaspora, Time, and Ethnolinguistic Belonging in Hindu Mauritius, Berkeley, University of California (pdf) Week 8 READ :  Virasawmy, D (1999), ‘Dayri en Fouka’ and ‘Pas Fasil’ in Testamann Enn Metchiss, Mauritius, Boukie Bananie (hc) Week 9 READ:  Extracts from Chatterjee P, ‘The Nationalist Resolution of the Women’s Question’ in Sangari K and Vaid S (eds.) (1990) Recasting Women: Essays in Indian Colonial History, NJ, Rutgers University Press (hc)  Extracts from Mishra V (2007) The Literature of the Indian Diaspora. Theorising the Diasporic Imaginary, London: Routledge (hc). Week 10 READ :  Patel S (2001), Le Portrait Chamarel, Saint-Denis, Edition Grand Ocean (hc) Week 11 and 12  Presentations of draft Research Paper 2 Discuss the representations of the island of Mauritius in Postcolonial literature. You may consider texts discussed in class as your primary material or choose any other two postcolonial texts focusing on Mauritius. Week 13  Reading Week Submission of Research Paper at the end of Week 13 (on Friday by 16 00 at latest)  Weeks 14 and 15 Meetings with students to give feedback on Research Paper Reading List Foucault , M (1980), Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and other writings, 1972-77, Colin Gordon (ed.), transl. by Gordon et al., New York, Pantheon. Pratt, M L (1992), Imperial Eyes. Travel Writing and Transculturation, London and New York, Routledge. Anderson, B (1983), Imagined communities. Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism, London, Verso. Eisenlohr P, (2006) Diaspora, Time, and Ethnolinguistic Belonging in Hindu Mauritius, Berkeley, University of California. Mishra V (2007) The Literature of the Indian Diaspora. Theorising the Diasporic Imaginary, London: Routledge. GUIDELINES FOR WRITING 1. 2. 3. 4. You must have an argument before you start writing. You must clearly state the topic and focus of your paper. You are expected to articulate an intellectual position in your paper. You must identify relevant materials that will help you support and develop your position. 5. An argument involves conflicting views, so you must consider opposing ideas. 6. Editing is an arduous process. You must revise your paper thoroughly before submitting the final version. 7. FORMAT FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS All written work submitted must: - be typed in 12 pt; be double-spaced; be paginated continuously on the top right-hand side; be single-sided; have all four margins of 2.5 cm; include a title page (Please see the Departmental Coursework Coversheet); be thoroughly proof-read before submission; use footnotes (NOT endnotes) to document sources; have a bibliography in accordance with Harvard referencing; be NEATLY presented; NOT use fancy fonts/page borders/design; be stapled, NOT bound (NO binders please). GUIDELINES FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS The oral presentation gives you the opportunity to present your research to your peers and elicit feedback. You should time and rehearse your presentation so that you deliver a well researched paper. Like an essay, the oral presentation must be framed by a question and have a logical structure. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. State the objective/topic of your paper at the outset; Do NOT read the whole paper (you must TALK to your audience); Use eye contact with the audience; Do NOT overrun the time allotted for the presentation; Be concise and focused; Use a handout to guide the audience through your paper. My office hours will be posted on my door during Week 1. My e-mail address is : [email protected]