Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

SLA228, Spring Semester, 20th Century Ukrainian Fiction in Translation, 2023

Class meeets on Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in AH 108.

Slavic 228 offers a survey of Ukrainian novels and short stories written and published in Ukraine or outside its borders between 1917 and 2000, most of which appeared during the Soviet period in Ukrainian history. How is this literature different from those of other periods? Is there a Soviet Ukrainian prose style? How much freedom did Ukrainian authors enjoy? What were their thematic predilections and constraints? How does Ukraine's political and cultural colonial status affect the literature of this period? How has Ukrainian independence influenced Ukrainian literature?

Term papers are due directly after the last class, November 30, 2023, but no later than midnight December 11, 2023. Papers are to be 5–6 pages, typed, double spaced, and in English. Papers are to be written on topics approved by the instructor.

Assignments are brief essays of approximately 600 words (less than two pages) due on the days indicated on the schedule. Topics will be given a week in advance.

Class Presentations are oral reports before the class on works other than those read by the class as a whole. Students must choose a work of literature from the list of suggested readings or they may suggest a work themselves. If you read Ukrainian, you may choose a work that you will read in the original. Students are to give an oral presentation of from ten to fifteen minutes. Presentations should be constructed as a general overview of the work and its author along with a subjective evaluation of the most salient features of the work. Presentations are scheduled on a first come first served basis within normal class meetings. No more than two presentations per class meeting. Email the instructor to reserve a date. Here's the schedule.

Attendance in class is required. Participation in discussion improves your grade. You must read the asssigned texts BEFORE each class. Quizzes are to make sure you are keeping up with your reading. A portion of the participation grade is a subjective judgment of your participation in class.

Plagiarism is not just a mistake, it's cheating. Don't do it. You will be VERY SERIOUSLY punished. Here's how to avoid it.