Introduction to Asian American Literature, Fall 2006
Term paper
Due December 8

This semester, we will be reading works by eight different authors (plus a few additional handouts). These authors have been determined in part by the time constraints of the semester, and in part by my own sense of the most important authors and issues in Asian American literature. However, this course is not the last word on the subject. Over the semester we will consider the issue of what constitutes Asian American literature, and in this essay, you will have the chance to define for yourself what texts are most significant to the field.

Your assignment is to choose a work of Asian American literature that was not included in this course, and make an argument for why it should be included. In short, why is the book you have chosen essential reading for people interested in this area? Some issues you may want to deal with in this essay: 1) What are the work’s major characters, plot, setting, themes, and so on? Keep in mind that your audience may not be familiar with this work. 2) What should we know about the work’s author and historical context? 3) What have critics said about this work? 4) How does the book fit in the context of the rest of our reading this semester? How does it complement those works, and what gaps does it fill?

As you write, keep your audience in mind. I am very open to including works you suggest the next time I teach this class, so be persuasive! Also, at the end of the semester, you will do a brief presentation on your work, in order to pass on your expertise and enthusiasm to your classmates.

This essay should be 5-7 pages long, printed in 12-point font (Times New Roman is standard) with normal margins. Please use MLA style to document your sources. A hard copy is due in class December 8, and you will also be expected to submit your work electronically to Turnitin.com. (Instructions on doing this will be provided.)

Attached is a broad range (in terms of genre, gender, ethnicity, time period …) of titles which could have been included in this course, but were not. Use this list as a starting place in choosing a book to write about. Be sure to choose one by midterm in order to allow yourself enough time to complete the assignment to the best of your ability.

Possible texts for Asian American Literature term paper

  • Alexander, Meena. Raw Silk. (2004)
  • Berssenbrugge, Mei Mei. The Heat Bird. (1983)
  • Bulosan, Carlos. America Is in the Heart. (1943)
  • Cha, Theresa Hak Kyung. Dictee. (1982)
  • Chang, Diana. The Frontiers of Love. (1956)
  • Chin, Frank. The Chickencoop Chinaman and The Year of the Dragon. (1982)
  • ---. Chinaman Pacific and Frisco R.R. Co. (1988)
  • Chin, Marilyn. Dwarf Bamboo. (1987)
  • Choi, Susan. American Woman. (2003)
  • ---. The Foreign Student. (1998)
  • Chu, Louis. Eat a Bowl of Tea. (1961)
  • Hagedorn, Jessica. Dogeaters. (1990)
  • Hahn, Kimiko. The Artist’s Daughter. (2004)
  • Hayslip, Le Ly. When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. (1989)
  • Hongo, Garrett. The River of Heaven. (1988)
  • Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki and James D. Houston. Farewell to Manzanar. (1973)
  • Hwang, David Henry. Broken Promises. (1983)
  • Jen, Gish. The Love Wife. (2004)
  • ---. Mona in the Promised Land. (1996)
  • ---. Who’s Irish? (1999)
  • Kadohata, Cynthia. The Floating World. (1989)
  • Kang, Younghill. East Goes West. (1937)
  • Kim, Ronyoung. Clay Walls. (1986)
  • Kingston, Maxine Hong. China Men. (1980)
  • ---. Tripmaster Monkey. (1989)
  • Kiyama, Henry. The Four Immigrants Manga. (1931)
  • Kogawa, Joy. Obasan. (1981)
  • Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. (1999)
  • Law-Yone, Wendy. The Coffin Tree. (1983)
  • Lee, Chang-rae. A Gesture Life. (1999)
  • ---. Native Speaker. (1995)
  • Lee, Gus. China Boy. (1991)
  • Lee, Li-Young. The City in Which I Love You. (1990)
  • ---. Rose. (1986)
  • Lee, Mary Paik. Quiet Odyssey. (1990)
  • Lin, Yutang. Chinatown Family. (1948)
  • ---. My Country and My People. (1937)
  • Liu, Eric. The Accidental Asian. (1999)
  • Louie, David Wong. Pangs of Love. (1991)
  • Lowe, Pardee. Father and Glorious Descendant. (1943)
  • Lum, Wing Tek. Expounding the Doubtful Points. (1987)
  • Minatoya, Lydia. Talking to High Monks in the Snow. (1992)
  • Mori, Toshio. Yokohama, California. (1949)
  • Mukherjee, Bharati. Jasmine. (1989)
  • Mura, David. After We Lost Our Way. (1989)
  • ---. Turning Japanese. (1991)
  • Murayama, Milton. All I Asking For Is My Body. (1975)
  • Ng, Fae Myenne. Bone. (1993)
  • Nguyen Thi Thu-Lam. Fallen Leaves. (1989)
  • Nieh, Hualing. Mulberry and Peach. (1981)
  • Okimoto, Daniel. American in Disguise. (1971)
  • Okubo, Miné. Citizen 13660. (1946)
  • Robinson, Katy. A Single Square Picture. (2002)
  • Santos, Bienvenido. Scent of Apples. (1979)
  • Sone, Monica. Nisei Daughter. (1953)
  • Suleri, Sara. Meatless Days. (1989)
  • Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. (1989)
  • Tran Dieu Hang. Mua dat la (The Rain Falls on the Strange Land) (1986)
  • ---. Vu dieu cua loai cong (The Peacock Dance) (1984)
  • Tran Van Dinh. Blue Dragon, White Tiger. (1983)
  • Uchida, Yoshiko. Desert Exile. (1982)
  • Wong, Jade Snow. Fifth Chinese Daughter. (1950)
  • Wong, Shawn. American Knees. (1995)
  • ---. Homebase. (1979)
  • Yamauchi, Wakako. Songs My Mother Taught Me. (1994)
  • Yep, Lawrence. Dragonwings. (1975)

Some advice on working with this list:

Q. How do I decide which book to work on?
A. You might want to narrow the list down by a time period, genre, gender, or nationality you’re interested in – for example, “I’d like to work on Filipino American literature,” “I like contemporary literature the best,” or “We should have read more poetry in this class” – and go from there. You might want to check out titles that seem promising through an internet search (for example, on amazon.com) and/or at the library. Do start looking soon. Give yourself enough time to taste-test several works so that you can choose one you’re excited about, and enough time to order a hard-to-find title. If after perusing the options you’re still stumped, come talk to me and I’ll try to recommend something to match your interests.

Q. What if I want to work on a book that’s not on the list?
A. That’s probably fine. The list is not exhaustive, and it’s intended to help you rather than to limit you. Do check with me about your book first, although I will most likely okay it.

Q. What if someone else is writing about the same book I want to write about?
A. No problem – write about whatever work you’re most interested in. (In fact, if several people choose to write about the same book, that will only enhance the argument for its significance to the course.) However, I will ask people writing on the same topic to team up for the presentation.

Q. When do I need to decide which book I’m going to write about?
A. I’ll ask you to commit to something by midterm. Keep in mind that in order to complete this project, you’ll need to have read the book itself several times, and spent some time researching its author, historical context, and critical reception. You will feel much more relaxed and confident if you’re not spending Thanksgiving trying to choose a text.

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