INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
“Peoples in Motion”
LTAM 1100 (O) - HIST 1140 - Fall 2004
Dr. Jerry Dávila
Email: jdavila@uncc.edu
Office: Garinger 132
Office Hours: Mondays 2-4 and by appointment
***TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES BEFORE COMING INTO CLASS***
This course is an introduction to the topics and approaches that characterize
Latin American
Studies, and aims to prepare students for subsequent coursework in the field.
The theme that
will guide work in this course, “Peoples in Motion,” and we will explore Latin
America as a
space characterized by the movements of people. These begin with the migrations
of the first
indigenous settlers, as long as 40,000 years ago, and includes the population
movements sparked
by the encounter, the African diaspora and the arrival of Asian laborers,
European and Middle
Eastern and Asian immigrants at the turn of the twentieth century. These
movements also
include the migration of Latinos to the United States and in lesser numbers, the
movement of
peoples from the United States to Latin America.
By approaching the study of Latin America through the lens of “Peoples in
Motion,” this course
characterizes the Americas as a place of difference and diversity, but also a
place tied together by
broad historical, social and cultural themes. This approach will also allow us
to understand the
ways in which identity is asserted, negotiated, changed and preserved, sometimes
all at once. We
will examine different approaches to this question from the vantage of the
different disciplines
that broadly comprise Latin American Studies. These include history, literature,
culture and
media studies, anthropology, political science, economics and sociology. Each
brings different
tools and different resources to what has become a uniquely interdisciplinary
area of study.
Required Readings (Available at Gray’s and the Campus Bookstore):
ACADEMIC HONESTY
The health of our intellectual community depends upon highest standards of
academic integrity,
as set out in the UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity printed in
the
Undergraduate Catalogue. I expect you to be steadfast and rigorous in adhering
to the following
five principles: (1) all work that you submit must be your own; (2) you may not
submit work
that has already been submitted in another class; (3) When you draw directly
from another
source, you must place that language in quotes and cite the source; (4) When you
paraphrase
from another source, you must cite the source; (5) Do not falsify information.
Failure to abide
by these norms can result in a failing grade for the course and further
disciplinary action.
COURSE ASSESSMENT
This course stresses the analysis of different types of approaches to Latin
American Studies, and
combines seminar discussion as well as written and oral communication. Written
work will
consist of a term paper, midterm, final exam and periodic reading quizzes. Oral
work will consist
of participation in discussion as well as two class presentations. In addition,
students will be
graded on course attendance and their professional approach to the class. The
breakdown of
grades follows below:
Quizzes
10% Midterm:
15%
Term Paper
20% First Oral
Presentation:
5%
Class Attendance & Participation: 10%
Second Oral Presentation: 10%
Final Exam:
20%
Professionalism:
10%
Professionalism: If you maintain a professional approach to this class, you
will automatically
receive credit for 10% of the course grade. This 10% is yours to lose, however,
if you miss class,
attend unprepared, are disruptive, submit assignments inappropriately, fail to
meet course
responsibilities or otherwise fail to contribute to the learning environment of
your classmates.
Attendance, preparedness and participation are not simply components of your
grade, they
are the foundations of this course. Your failure to come to class willing and
able to engage in
critical analysis of materials in this course impoverishes the class and wastes
everyone’s time.
Late submissions of written assignments are unfair to the majority of the
students who do
their work on time. Late assignments will be penalized as follows: same day,
after class, one-half
a letter grade; second day and each day thereafter, one letter grade. However it
is always in your
interest to submit the assignment, no matter how late. Incomplete work in the
course will result
in a failing grade, regardless of the grade average.
Class Discussion: It is indispensable to the success of these discussions
that each member of
the class to have completed the reading and prepared to participate. The grade
for class
participation will be weighted heavily on active engagement in these
discussions.
Quizzes will be held occasionally gauge the quality of your reading for discussion.
The Oral Presentations are a basic component for this class, as the course
carries credit for an
O-Goal (only if taken as LTAM 1100). The first oral presentation will be based
on a field visit.
The second oral presentation will be conducted during the last weeks of the
course on the topic
of your term paper. The assignments will be assessed on the basis of the quality
of the
presentation and of the material presented.
The Term Paper will be an 8-10 page paper analyzing a population in motion in
Latin America.
This could be any group not studied in class, or with permission of the
instructor, could be a new
perspective on one of the groups already discussed. Your assignment is to
identify scholarly
analyses about the group you have chosen that reflect the approaches of at least
three disciplines.
Analyze, compare and contrast the different approaches taken by scholars in
different fields,
considering in particular the types of sources, types of analytical and
theoretical frameworks and
types of conclusions that different types of scholars apply. This paper should
also identify one
primary source (such as a document or documents, a piece of literature, a film,
etc.) that you will
analyze, demonstrating your aptitude for applying the different types of tools
used by the other
scholars you have discussed in your paper.
COURSE MEETINGS and READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Unless otherwise noted, readings are to be completed by the Monday of the week
assigned.
Week 1 Aug. 23, 25, 27 Introduction
Reading: Leon Fink, The Maya of Morganton.
Week 2 Aug. 30, Sept. 1, 3 Discussion of Leon Fink’s The Maya of Morganton.
Reading: Finish Leon Fink, The Maya of Morganton.
Week 3 Sept. 6 (No Class), 8, 10 First Oral Presentations
Reading: Jeffrey Lesser, Negotiating National Identity.
Week 4 Sept. 13, 15, 17 Individual Meetings
Reading: Jeffrey Lesser, Negotiating National Identity.
Mon -- Visit from International Programs Office
Week 5 Sept. 20, 22, 24 Discussion of Jeffrey Lesser’s Negotiating National
Identity
Reading: Finish Jeffrey Lesser, Negotiating National Identity
Week 6 Sept. 27, 29, Oct. 1 Sociological Approaches to Migration
Reading: Ruben Rumbault, “The Americans: Latin American and Caribbean Peoples in
the United States,” Americas: New Interpretive Essays, ed. Alfred Stepan, pp.
275-307. (On Reserve).
Begin Hart, Undocumented in L.A.
Week 7 Oct. 4, 6 (No Class), 8 (No Class) Midterm Exam
Reading: Continue Hart, Undocumented in L.A.
Week 8 Oct. 11 (No Class), 13, 15 Discussion of Diane Walta Hart’s
Undocumented in L.A.
Reading: Finish Hart, Undocumented in L.A.
Week 9 Oct. 18, 20, 22 Film, Identity and Migration
Film: TBA
Reading: Spitzer, Hotel Bolívia.
Week 10 Oct. 25, 27, 29 Discussion of Leo Spitzer, Hotel Bolívia
Reading: Finish Hotel Bolívia.
Week 11 Nov. 1, 3, 5 Final Oral Presentations
Week 12 Nov. 8, 10, 12 (No Class Nov. 8 and 10) Final Oral Presentations
Week 13 Nov. 15, 17, 19 Final Oral Presentations
Reading: Begin Vinson, Flight.
Week 14 Nov. 22, 24 (No Class), 26 (No Class) Final Oral Presentations
Term Paper Due Monday, November 22
Reading: Begin Vinson, Flight.
Week 15 Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 3 Discussion of Ben Vinson’s Flight.
Week 16 Dec. 6, 8 Conclusion
The Final Exam will be held on Monday, December 13, from 12-3 pm