How is the personal political? How do personal stories and histories offer models of reckoning with race, immigration, belonging, justice, and nationhood? How is the critical made creative and the creative made critical? This course examines how creative non-fiction imagines social transformation and builds paths toward racial consciousness and solidarity. Through the many forms of creative non-fiction- autobiography, essay, memoir, testimonio, and travelogue, among others-we explore the connections between personal and local experiences of oppression and national and global forms of racism, coloniality, and empire in our current moment.
4
UnitsOptional
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeNone
Level LimitLetters and science
CollegeProfessor Rana was an incredible professor whose course I thoroughly enjoyed. All of our readings were interesting, and applicable to current events. Attend lecture! Although it is not mandatory, she speaks about certain patterns or parts of the text that she wants you to reference during exams. Do the readings and be engaged in the class to pass.
Four novels and so many poetry excerpts to read. She doesn't circulate her lecture materials so if you miss a lecture you're cooked, unless you seek out office hours. She's quiet, her lectures are monotonous and droning. Interesting content, extremely uninteresting professor.
Professor Rana is so intelligent, and her analysis of course materials was always in-depth and thought-provoking. She cares about her students and outlines course expectations in a comprehensible manner. There are times when you have to finish novels in a few days, but the course material is so interesting that it often goes by quickly.
She goes over the slides way too fast. Half of the lectures are her reading off of her notes which is respectable because she goes over great information however, this makes the lecture very boring and lengthy. You are also expected to finish novels, movies, essays which does feel a bit overwhelming at times. TA Nirvana was very helpful though!
As an English major, this is way too much for a lower-div. Expected to finish full novels in a day, doesn't post slides, uses literary jargon to where it's hard to understand the point she's getting across, exams based on memorization not content, and if your paper isn't PERFECT, you will receive a low grade. It's week 7 & I'm already burnt out.
Rana is actually the goat. She is so intelligent and well spoken, it was so refreshing to hear her ideas about the world. Two essays, a midterm, and a final and thats pretty much it. Readings are not too bad, I personally found them pretty interesting and I normally don't like English classes. Highly recommend