ARAB 312           2 Credit Hours

Modern Arabic Short Story in Translation

This information is for second semester 2017/2018 academic year

Teacher responsible

Abass Umar Mohammed

Availability

This course is available open to all visiting students but only as a second semester course.

Course Content

This is a study of the Arabic short story as an Arabic literary genre, involving discussions of literary theories, forms, themes and styles. Translated literary works of prominent Arab writers would be examined, with a focus on themes in Narrative Fiction, addressing social, economic, and cultural life of the Arabs.

Teaching

Thursday, 11.30pm – 1.25pm for 13 weeks.

Presentation of the topics takes the form of a lecture which covers salient points in the lecture topic as treated in the various sources which in most cases are already-distributed hand-outs. Students are then required to do further reading for individual notes for discussion in the next meeting. Essay topics are given as assignments after the completion of a full topic from which a student’s performance and understanding are assessed and evaluated.

Formative Coursework

The student is expected to acquire an enhanced understanding of Arabic literary genres, through the reading of the simple Arabic Literary genre. The student should be able to appreciate the literary theories and acquire the ability to analyze literary texts as a reflection of the political, social, economic situations of the real world.

Student’s general performance is assessed through class debates, group presentations, written assignment, class tests and final end-of Semester Examination.

Indicative reading

1. Badawi, M. M., - Modern Arabic Literature: Cambridge University Press, 1992.

2. Shedd, C. J.  Are you Listening? Voices from the Middle East:  Cambridge, Harvard 

    University,1998.

3. Bennett, A. & Royle, N. An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory: London,

    Pearson Education Limited, 2004.

4. Badawi, M. M., - Modern Arabic Literature and the West: Ithaca Press, London, 1985.

5. Gibb, H.A.R., - Studies in Contemporary Arabic Literature, (Articles from BSOS) 

    London, 1962.

6. Kurpershoek, P.M., - The Short Stories of Yusuf Idris, Leiden: E.J.Brill, 1981.

7. Sahar Khalifeh, Wild Thorns (Emerging Voices Series), 1999.

8. Somekh,S., - Language and Theme in the Short Stories of Yusuf Idris, Journal of  Arabic Literature VI, 1975.

9. Ronak, H. & Daniel, L. N. Modern Arabic Short Stories, CPI Mackays, Chatham, London,   

    2008.

Assessment and Grading

Interim Assessment and Presentation and Class Participation           30%

Final Exam                                                                                          70%

Grading Scale:

Letter Grade              Marks                   Grade Point               Interpretation

A                               80 – 100                     4.0                          Outstanding

B+                             75 – 79                      3.5                           Very Good

B                               70 – 74                      3.0                           Good

C+                             65 – 69                      2.5                          Fairly Good

C                               60 – 64                       2.0                          Average

D+                             55 – 59                      1.5                          Below Average

D                               50 – 54                      1.0                          Marginal Pass

E                               45 - 49                          0.5                         Unsatisfactory

F                                0 – 44                           0                          Fail

Refer to Undergraduate Handbook or Refer to Postgraduate Handbook (as applicable).