Course Description
A study of books that have been banned or censored in the US, the reasons for those restrictions, and the legal and social forces that opposed them.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Demonstrate competency with the techniques and methods of literary analysis.
- Analyze the social, cultural, and political contexts in which the texts in this course have been written, interpreted, and challenged.
- Evaluate what topics are being addressed in the book, whether explicitly or discreetly;
- Evaluate what observations the book makes, and/or what position it takes, about its topic(s);
- Evaluate the overall effectiveness of the work in addressing its topic, including the ways in which the work is most, and least, successful;
- Evaluate at least one context in which the work was challenged, the stated motivations (and potential ulterior motives) for the challenge(s), and a supported position on what, if any, restrictions the student would consider justified, and why.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Quizzes | 15% |
| Discussions | 25% |
| Critical Responses | 30% |
| Course Essay | 30% |
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 93–100% | A |
| 90–92% | A- |
| 97-89% | B+ |
| 83–86% | B |
| 80–82% | B- |
| 77–79% | C+ |
| 73–76% | C |
| 70–72% | C- |
| 67–69% | D+ |
| 63–66% | D |
| 60–62% | D- |
| 0–59% | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Online-asynchronous course. Attendance is self-paced, in accordance with deadlines. Participation is measured in completion of graded assignments.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
- Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969. (any edition)
- Blume, Judy. Forever, 1975. (any edition)
- L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time, 1962. (any edition)
- Harris, Robie. It's Perfectly Normal, 1994. (any edition—note: editions vary)
- Kobabe, Maia. Gender Queer, 2019. (or deluxe editon 2022)
- Lawrence, D. H. Lady Chatterley's Lover, 1928. (any edition from the uncensored 3rd manuscript)
- Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia, 1977. (any edition)
- Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis, 2003. (vol. 1, -or- The Complete Persepolis)
- Spiegelman, Art. Maus: A Survivor's Tale, 1997. (the complete edition)
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.