S ASIA 206/GLITS 313D
Modern Literature of South Asia
Autumn 2025
Instructor: Prof. Jennifer Dubrow, Associate Professor, Asian Languages and Literature (she/hers)
Email: jdubrow@uw.edu
Office: M212 Gowen Hall (note: on the mezzanine level, above the 2nd floor)
Office Hours: F 4-5 PM on Zoom: https://washington.zoom.us/j/94253019038
Class Times and Place: TTh 2:30-4:20 PM, in 106 Loew Hall
Grader (for Short Response & Final Assignment): Eugenio Quantro-Plaga, quantro7@uw.edu
Course Description:
This course introduces the modern literature of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.) from the eighteenth century to the present. We will read a selection of novels, short stories, and poetry drawn from the diverse literary traditions of the region. Major readings include the Booker Prize winner, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka, short stories about the partition of India and other topics, ghazal poetry, and work by Dalit writers. All works will be read in English translation. At the end of the course, we will have a class musha'irah (poetry recitation), in which students will present their own original English ghazals.
Course Goals:
- To analyze and appreciate the major texts covered in this course (The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, short stories, ghazal poetry by Mir, Dalit poetry and short stories)
- To become familiar with South Asian literatures and literary traditions, as well as their relationship to historical, political, and social contexts.
- To develop our own critical responses to the readings
- To learn about the poetic tradition of the ghazal and compose our own original ghazals in English
- To develop original arguments (defined as: debatable claims that can be supported by evidence) and to present those arguments clearly in written form
Required Books:
The only required book for this course is The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, by Shehan Karunatilaka (Norton: 2022), available (in paper and digital copies; paper copies are preferred) on Amazon, and new and used on Alibris. You will need to be able to annotate the text (underlining, highlighting, notes in margins) and also to bring it to class on a device other than your phone (which is too small for our use). Please note that we'll be reading from this book in Week 2, so you will need access to it immediately. A physical copy is on 24-hour reserve at Odegaard Library. There are also copies available through the Seattle Public Library.
All other readings will be provided as PDF on the Canvas website.
Paper copies of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida are preferred, but digital is also acceptable.
Assignments and Grading:
The final grade in S ASIA 206 will be comprised of the following factors:
- 4 weekly responses of about 1-2 paragraphs to the readings posted on the course discussion board, in which you copy passages or sentences that struck you as important, interesting, worthy of discussion, or confusing and say why it struck you that way; raise questions related to the reading; or write 3-4 sentences about what an idea in the reading made you think of or how you would respond to it critically. I have also posted questions for each reading that you can answer. This is not a plot summary, but rather a chance for you to engage with the reading before class discussion. The lowest grade will be dropped (i.e., you can miss a response without penalty). To be posted by noon on either Tuesday or Thursday in Weeks 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9. Credit/no credit. 20 points.
- A short response (of between 2-3 pages double-spaced) on The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, topics will be based on class discussion. Must be completed with Microsoft Word or Google Docs with Track Changes turned on. Due on Wednesday, Oct. 29 by 11:59 PM. Graded on a 20-point scale. 25 points.
- A ghazal project, in which you compose at least 4 original verses (she'r) in English. Guidelines. 10 points. 1st draft of verses due Friday, Nov. 21 by 11:59 PM. Verses will be graded on correct use of formal requirements, not creative content. If I mark that a 2nd draft is required, your 2nd draft is due Wednesday, Nov. 16, by 11:59 PM. Please note that this is the day before Thanksgiving. You will present your verses orally in class on Tuesday, Dec. 2. This is required. If you have an emergency and can't make it, you can send me a video recording of you reciting your verses.
- Participation in class, which includes asking questions in class, bringing passages for discussion, and thoughtful engagement in class discussions. 20 points.
- A take-home final assignment where you will compose 2-3 video reviews of texts we have read, based on questions I will provide in response to class discussion. You will have a choice of texts and a choice of questions. You will write out your reviews on Microsoft Word or Google Docs, record yourself giving the review, and submit your recording and written reviews on Canvas. 25 points. Due Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 by 11:59 PM. (There is no in-class or other final exam.)
Policy on Late Assignments:
For weekly responses: Weekly responses cannot be accepted late, because they inform the class discussion on the day they are due. If you are submitting the weekly response for Tuesday's class, it is due on Tuesday by noon. You cannot submit a weekly response for Tuesday's class after that. If submitting for Thursday's class, the weekly response is due on Thursday by noon. You have a half hour grace period (the "Available until" time listed on Canvas), after which a weekly response cannot be submitted. Please note that the lowest grade will be dropped, which means you can miss a response without penalty.
For other assignments: The most common cause of plagiarism in this course is a student not being done close to the deadline and then panicking. If you find you are unable to make a deadline for a written assignment (the short response, draft of ghazal verses, final assignment), email me and ask for an extension. I can usually grant an extension for 24 or 48 hours. Because of how the holidays fall this year, the latest I can accept any assignment (besides the weekly responses listed above) is 48 hours later (the "Available Until" date listed on the assignment). After that you will receive a zero. Please note that I have provided a "Writing Day" instead of class for the Short Response and the Final Assignment.
Policy on using AI tools (including Chat GPT) on assignments:
No use of any AI tool, including Chat GPT, is allowed in this course. Assignments that have been found to have used AI tools, including Chat GPT, will be given a zero. AI tools provide a generic, lower-level analysis of artistic works based on a conglomeration of information available on the internet. They flatten detail and nuance, whereas our goal is to deepen our analysis. Moreover, this course is focused on developing our own critical positions toward difficult artistic works. Chat GPT is also not good at brainstorming or developing original ideas. Finally, when Chat GPT isn't sure about something, it will fabricate its own answers and sources.
Student Responsibilities:
- Complete assigned readings by the dates specified.
- Bring your copy of the reading to use during class sessions.
- Find out from another student what was covered in class if you have to miss a class.
- Arrive in class on time so that other students are not disturbed;
- Be mindful of electronics usage during class and do not use them to surf the internet, read email, or engage in activities unrelated to class.
- Come to my office hour if you are struggling, have questions, or want to know how you can do better.
A note on attendance vs. your participation grade:
I usually take attendance in class, and will mark attendance using the Canvas Attendance feature. Canvas automatically calculates the percentage of your attendance in class. Ignore this; it is not the same as your participation grade, which is based on your participation when you are in class. If you have missed a class and are worried about your participation grade, try to participate extra in future classes.
Guideline for participation: When you are in class, try to participate at least once in every class, but no more than 3 times/class. Participation can mean reading a selected passage aloud in class, asking a question, or responding to a question I or a student poses in class.
Course Policies:
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity:
The University takes academic integrity very seriously. Behaving with integrity is part of our responsibility to our shared learning community. If you’re uncertain about if something is academic misconduct, ask me. I am willing to discuss questions you might have.
Acts of academic misconduct may include but are not limited to:
- Cheating (working collaboratively on quizzes/exams and discussion submissions, sharing answers, and previewing quizzes/exams)
- Plagiarism (using in your own work the creations, ideas, words, inventions, or work of someone else without formally acknowledging them through the use of quotation marks, footnotes, bibliography, or other reference)
- Unauthorized collaboration (working with each other on assignments)
Concerns about these or other behaviors prohibited by the Student Conduct Code will be referred for investigation and adjudication by (include information for specific campus office).
Students found to have engaged in academic misconduct may receive a zero on the assignment (or other possible outcome).
Student Conduct:
The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/
Safety:
Call SafeCampus at 206-685-7233 anytime – no matter where you work or study – to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. SafeCampus’s team of caring professionals will provide individualized support, while discussing short- and long-term solutions and connecting you with additional resources when requested.
Access and Accommodations:
Your experience in this class is important to me. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please activate your accommodations via myDRS so we can discuss how they will be implemented in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu.
Religious Accommodations:
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) (Links to an external site.). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) (Links to an external site.).
Other Resources:
Novel coronavirus & COVID-19: facts and resourcesLinks to an external site.
LiveWell Links to an external site.
The Counseling CenterLinks to an external site.