WMBP1501 Seminar on Contemporary American Literature A

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program

Lecture Code WMBP1501 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 現代アメリカ文学演習Ａ

Subject Name
（Katakana）ゲンダイアメリカブンガクエンシュウA

Subject Name in
English Seminar on Contemporary American Literature A

Instructor MATSUNAGA KYOKO

Instructor
(Katakana) マツナガ　キョウコ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  First Semester,  2Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2T) Tues5-8：Faculty Office

Lesson Style Seminar Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive)

・More details will be made available via Momiji
・Lecture, discussion, oral presentation.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 05 : Literature

Eligible Students

Keywords

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This course is designed to acquaint students with Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being (2013), a novel published two years after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant accident. The focus of the course is to learn about the historical and cultural background of the text and to practice reading literary texts critically. We will examine intersectionality, intertextuality, and the complexities of layered narratives in the text, exploring various issues including, but not limited to, violence, war, terrorism, disasters, nuclear power plant vulnerability, environmental issues, Buddhism, and philosophy.

Class Schedule lesson1  Introduction
lesson2  Ruth Ozeki and  A Tale for the Time Being (background information)
lesson3  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson4  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson5  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson6  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson7  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson8  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson9  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson10  Read and discuss  A Tale for the Time Being
lesson11  Reading relevant literary criticism
lesson12 Reading relevant literary criticism
lesson13  Presentations
lesson14  Presentations
lesson15  Review

Writing Project Due

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being.  ISBN: 9780857867971

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Visual Materials, Microsoft Teams

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Students are expected to read all the assigned materials, write response papers, and prepare for discussions before attending classes.

Requirements N/A

Grading Method Participation (30%)
Response Papers and Discussion Leaders (20%)
Presentations (10%)
Writing Project (40%)

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message I will explain about the syllabus and rules for the class in the first week of class. The schedule provided is tentative and subject to change.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2025Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program
Lecture Code	WMBP1501	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	現代アメリカ文学演習Ａ
Subject Name （Katakana）	ゲンダイアメリカブンガクエンシュウA
Subject Name in English	Seminar on Contemporary American Literature A
Instructor	MATSUNAGA KYOKO
Instructor (Katakana)	マツナガ　キョウコ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, 2Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2T) Tues5-8：Faculty Office
Lesson Style	Seminar	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face, Online (simultaneous interactive)
・More details will be made available via Momiji ・Lecture, discussion, oral presentation.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	05 : Literature
Eligible Students
Keywords
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This course is designed to acquaint students with Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being (2013), a novel published two years after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant accident. The focus of the course is to learn about the historical and cultural background of the text and to practice reading literary texts critically. We will examine intersectionality, intertextuality, and the complexities of layered narratives in the text, exploring various issues including, but not limited to, violence, war, terrorism, disasters, nuclear power plant vulnerability, environmental issues, Buddhism, and philosophy.
Class Schedule	lesson1 Introduction lesson2 Ruth Ozeki and A Tale for the Time Being (background information) lesson3 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson4 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson5 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson6 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson7 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson8 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson9 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson10 Read and discuss A Tale for the Time Being lesson11 Reading relevant literary criticism lesson12 Reading relevant literary criticism lesson13 Presentations lesson14 Presentations lesson15 Review Writing Project Due
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being. ISBN: 9780857867971
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Visual Materials, Microsoft Teams
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Students are expected to read all the assigned materials, write response papers, and prepare for discussions before attending classes.
Requirements	N/A
Grading Method	Participation (30%) Response Papers and Discussion Leaders (20%) Presentations (10%) Writing Project (40%)
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	I will explain about the syllabus and rules for the class in the first week of class. The schedule provided is tentative and subject to change.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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