CHICANO 180
Chicana and Chicano Schooling and Community Activism
Description: Seminar, four hours. Overview of Chicana/Chicano schooling issues in U.S., with special emphasis on several important historical events that exemplify struggle for educational justice and equity that affected Chicana/Chicano education--Mendez versus Westminster (1947) desegregation case and 1968 high school Chicana/Chicano student walkouts. Through oral history projects, documentation of legacy of Sylvia Mendez, who experienced segregation in one Mexican school in 1940s, Sal Castro, Chicano teacher and central figure in1968 walkouts, and Chicano Youth Leadership Conference (CYLC). Examination of how historical, social, and political forces have impacted Chicana/Chicano educational experiences. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 0.0
Units: 0.0
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Most Helpful Review
It is interesting to see the differences of opinions about Professor Avila. Having taken a Chicano Studies course and a History course with him I find that most people are quick to pass judgement on this professor because they have received either a superior grade or an inferior grade based upon their normal standards. Having received both an inferior grade in a class which I thought was excellent (Chic. 180) and a superior grade in a class which was subpar (Hist. 164), I think that students shouldn't be so presumptuous about Prof. Avila. History 164 was a huge class and any professor would have had difficulty keeping in contact with all the students.It also covered such a vast amount of information that there was a necessity to speed up lectures, go beyond the time allotted for class and even cut off questions that were redundant. To future students Professor Avila is a difficult professor but he rewards enthusiasm and initiative. He wants you to be as excited about the topic as he is. From what I hear and from my experience all the Chicano Studies courses that he teaches are excellent. Furthermore, providing examples and explaining significance are vital. His assignments (even the essays)are like doing thorough I.D.'s. That is why some people think he does not allow for individual thought. Essay's have to be an argument and a lot of examples. You can have your own argument but you better provide many examples and tie them back all to the significance. Most students are too lazy to do the reading so they don't go in depth into any argument, whether brought forth by Avila or themselves. Lastly, although lectures seem fast with a lot of information they are essential. Be proactive during the lecture by asking a question relating to significance and have the professor repeat what he said. He will oblige your request from what I have seen.
It is interesting to see the differences of opinions about Professor Avila. Having taken a Chicano Studies course and a History course with him I find that most people are quick to pass judgement on this professor because they have received either a superior grade or an inferior grade based upon their normal standards. Having received both an inferior grade in a class which I thought was excellent (Chic. 180) and a superior grade in a class which was subpar (Hist. 164), I think that students shouldn't be so presumptuous about Prof. Avila. History 164 was a huge class and any professor would have had difficulty keeping in contact with all the students.It also covered such a vast amount of information that there was a necessity to speed up lectures, go beyond the time allotted for class and even cut off questions that were redundant. To future students Professor Avila is a difficult professor but he rewards enthusiasm and initiative. He wants you to be as excited about the topic as he is. From what I hear and from my experience all the Chicano Studies courses that he teaches are excellent. Furthermore, providing examples and explaining significance are vital. His assignments (even the essays)are like doing thorough I.D.'s. That is why some people think he does not allow for individual thought. Essay's have to be an argument and a lot of examples. You can have your own argument but you better provide many examples and tie them back all to the significance. Most students are too lazy to do the reading so they don't go in depth into any argument, whether brought forth by Avila or themselves. Lastly, although lectures seem fast with a lot of information they are essential. Be proactive during the lecture by asking a question relating to significance and have the professor repeat what he said. He will oblige your request from what I have seen.
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Most Helpful Review
I took him for Recent Chicana/o Lit - not sure if thats M180? Anyway, he's a really nice professor - very personable despite being the head of the English Dept. He's very approachable and friendly. I was initially worried about his class because in another Chicana/o Studies class we used a book he authored and it was an EXTREMELY difficult read. Clearly he is a brilliant man and very enthusiastic about literature and la gente. While I initially enjoyed his interpretations of the texts, it did become just a tad bit tedious by the 5th & 6th week. Loved some of the readings (Cisneros), but hated others (Zeta Acosta - yuck). The first graded paper was a quote intepretation and it was graded hard. I was really bummed because I thought I did better than what my grade reflected. I didnt know it at the time, but he had a reader grading the papers. I think perhaps someone must have tipped him off that the reader was grading WAY TOO HARD, and for the next paper, he actually allowed us to resubmit if we were unhappy with the grade. After that, the grading was a bit more reasonable. My faith in him (and in myself) was restored. All in all, he's a good professor to take, ESPECIALLY if your not an English major because he really shows you how to deeply examine the texts - its like mind expansion without having to take acid. He would be a cool person to smoke out with - he's pretty deep.
I took him for Recent Chicana/o Lit - not sure if thats M180? Anyway, he's a really nice professor - very personable despite being the head of the English Dept. He's very approachable and friendly. I was initially worried about his class because in another Chicana/o Studies class we used a book he authored and it was an EXTREMELY difficult read. Clearly he is a brilliant man and very enthusiastic about literature and la gente. While I initially enjoyed his interpretations of the texts, it did become just a tad bit tedious by the 5th & 6th week. Loved some of the readings (Cisneros), but hated others (Zeta Acosta - yuck). The first graded paper was a quote intepretation and it was graded hard. I was really bummed because I thought I did better than what my grade reflected. I didnt know it at the time, but he had a reader grading the papers. I think perhaps someone must have tipped him off that the reader was grading WAY TOO HARD, and for the next paper, he actually allowed us to resubmit if we were unhappy with the grade. After that, the grading was a bit more reasonable. My faith in him (and in myself) was restored. All in all, he's a good professor to take, ESPECIALLY if your not an English major because he really shows you how to deeply examine the texts - its like mind expansion without having to take acid. He would be a cool person to smoke out with - he's pretty deep.
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