ECTS credits ECTS credits: 3
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 51 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 9 Interactive Classroom: 12 Total: 75
Use languages Spanish, Galician, English
Type: Ordinary subject Master’s Degree RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: English and German Philology
Areas: English Philology
Center Faculty of Philology
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
An advanced introduction to the theoretical and historical contexts of the multiculturalism debate in the English-speaking world and its supporting methodological frameworks. The aim is to attain a working knowledge of and critical competence in the theories and debates that constitute the concept of the multicultural in the literature and culture of the English-speaking world via a focus on certain national, regional, and thematic domains that exemplify in their own specific ways cultural diversity in its different manifestations.
Advanced study by means of selected literary and theoretical texts of the diverse aspects intrinsic to the constitution of cultural identity within the complex, globally diverse English-speaking world. Transhistorical and transcultural perspectives will enable an exploration of the multiple theoretical and literary approaches that have articulated the current notion of a multicultural English-language literature in its sometimes contradictory diversity (with its transcultural, intercultural and intra-cultural interactions). The plurality of perspectives addresses the need to apply such theoretical and analytical tools to the current state of the English-speaking world in its expansive globalization and proliferating identities.
PRIMARY OBLIGATORY READINGS:
Eudora Welty. "Clytie"; "Death of a Traveling Salesman"
Flannery O'Connor. "The Artificial Nigger"; Good Country People"
Carson McCullers. The Member of the Wedding
Bobbie Ann Mason. "Shiloh"
Ernest J. Gaines. "The Sky Is Gray"
Alice Walker. "Everyday Use"
Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird
Toni Morrison. Home
Ralph Ellison, "Boy on a Train"
Jesmyn Ward. Sing, Unburied, Sing
Ron Rash. "Those Who Are Dead Are Only Now Forgiven"
COMPLEMENTARY READINGS:
The following is a set of recommended readings, from among which a more specific set of required readings shall be specified by the teacher for use in class.
Bak, Hans, ed. Multiculturalism and the Canon of American Culture. Amsterdam: VU
University Press, 1993.
Goldberg, David Theo, ed. Multiculturalism: A Critical Reader. Oxford: Basil
Blackwell, 1994.
Michaels, Walter Benn. The Trouble with Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity
and Ignore Inequality. New York: Henry Holt, 2006.
Lee, A. Robert. Multicultural American Literature: Comparative Black, Native,
Latino/a and Asian American Fictions. University Press of Mississippi, 2003.
Manzanas, Ana Mª & Jesús Benito. Cities, Borders, and Spaces in Intercultural
American Literature and Film. New York: Routledge, 2011.
Taylor, Charles. Multiculturalism and "The Politics of Recognition": An Essay with
Commentary. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992.
Websites
Multiculturalism: Post World War II American Literature and Culture Database
http://english.berkeley.edu/Postwar/multiculti.html
Mutliculturalism: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/multiculturalism/
Competences (“Memoria do Máster Interuniversitario en Estudios Ingleses Avanzados e as Súas Aplicacións, 2ª
edición", pp. 6-7: http://www.imaes.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MEMORIA_ANEXOS-I-II.pdf)
G01- Ability to delve into those concepts, principles, theories or models related to the various areas of English
Studies, as well as to become familiar with the methodology required to solve those problems typical of this field of
study.
G02 Ability to apply the knowledge gained/obtained within the multidisciplinary and mutifaceted/versatile area of
English Studies.
G04- Ability to present experiences, ideas or reports in public, as well as to express informed opinions based on
criteria, external rules or personal reflections, for which a sufficient command of the academic and scientific
language, both written and oral, will be necessary.
G05- Abilities to investigate and manage new knowledge and information within the context of English Studies.
G06- Ability to acquire/achieve critical thinking that will lead students to consider the relevance of the existing
research in the fields of study that make up/shape/define English Studies, as well as the relevance of their own
investigations.
E09- Knowledge of the main models and resources of literary/cultural research in the anglophone world.
E11- Capacity to identify and analyse the most relevant features of the anglophone culture and institutions through texts belonging to different historical periods.
In order to acquire the theoretical and critical skills essential to the course, the following activities will be undertaken throughout the course in accord with the students’ work schedule:
1) Introductory sessions: activities concerned with the presentation of the course and the organization of the students’ independent research and work during the course. This will take place during the first week of the course.
2) Lecture sessions: presentation of the theoretical contents of the course.
3) Seminars: teacher-led discussion sessions focusing on specific thematic and theoretical aspects of the set readings.
4) Group tutorials: short sessions devoted to the organization of learning tasks, work assignment, problem solving, review of theoretical notions, clearing up of doubts concerning methodological questions and supervisión of the assigned work, both written work and oral presentations.
5) Class work: debate and discussion of the set primary texts under the supervisión of the teacher. The students should develop the capacity to employ the theoretical notions acquired in other sessions to the critical analysis of the chosen texts.
6) Presentations: oral presentations by the students of their individual research on specific aspects of their course work. The subject of their presentations will be decided in consultation with the teacher.
Previous to all sessions, students must have read all set texts, both primary texts that will be the focus of intensive analysis in class and the complementary critical and theoretical readings which will provide a framework for that literary-critical analysis. All set work for class sessions such as presentations and other activities must be prepared according to the course schedule.
Class participation: 30%. Intensive and thoughtful participation required in all class discussions, demonstrating that one has read and worked upon the set texts, primary and secondary, and has dealt with them critically and creatively. (Assessed competences: G01, G02, G05, E09, E11)
Class presentation and paper: 70%. (Assessed competences: G02, G04, G05, G06) Class presentations in English with clearly structured argument and critical engagement with texts will be required, about topics chosen by the student beforehand in consultation with the teacher. Suggested length: 15 minutes at most, facilitating discussion amongst the seminar members afterwards.
Paper: Critical and creative analysis of a chosen text employing the concepts and theorizations explored during the seminar sessions. Proper expression and essay structure in English as well as originality of thought is essential.
Second chance: the same criteria and the same percentages will apply.
Students with official attendance waiver: one long paper (50%), two additional short essays (25%), plus a short exam (25%).
Organization of the workload is based on the following distribution of time:
a) Total number of hours= 75
b) Maximum number of hours for in-class work = 14;
c) Maximum number of hours to be assigned for online activities = 10;
d) Student’s independent study = 51
Constante Gonzalez Groba
Coordinador/a- Department
- English and German Philology
- Area
- English Philology
- Phone
- 881811894
- constante.gonzalez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) Emeritus
| Wednesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:15-19:15 | Grupo /CLE_01 | English | D04 |
| 19:15-20:15 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | English | D04 |
| Thursday | |||
| 18:15-19:15 | Grupo /CLE_01 | English | D04 |
| 19:15-20:15 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | English | D04 |
| 05.28.2025 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | D04 |
| 05.28.2025 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | D04 |
| 07.09.2025 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLIS_01 | D04 |
| 07.09.2025 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | D04 |