Course Syllabus
World Society in Literature and Film
Global/World Society
0868, 072, 56847
Fall B, 2025
Fernando Fonseca Pacheco
Syllabus PDF
The course syllabus will provide you with the course schedule, course objectives, explanations of assignments and assessments, grading policies, and instructor contact information. Please read it carefully. You should have a deep familiarity with the schedule and process of the course.
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Basic Course Information
General Education
World Society in Literature and Film falls into the Global / World Society Area of the Gen Ed Program. Global / World Society courses explore societies and cultures outside of the United States. These courses take one of two approaches. Some concentrate on a single nation or region, examining in depth its political, social, historical, cultural, artistic, literary, geographic, and/or economic landscape. Others investigate globalization and its effects across nations and regions.
This course fulfills the World Society (GG) requirement for students under GenEd and International Studies (IS) for students under Core. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: Arabic 0868/0968, Asian Studies 0868, Chinese 0868/0968, English 0868/0968, French 0868/0968, German0868/0968, Political Science 0868/0968, or Spanish 0968.
https://bulletin.temple.edu/undergraduate/general-education/#GenEd_Courses]
Welcome Message
Welcome to World Society in Literature and Film. This class will provide an overview of how Latin American literature and film think, represent, convey, and tell the cultural, social, individual, and historic development of the region. In doing so, the class will address topics and styles which include magical realism, gender and sexualities, processes of memory and reconciliation, the construction of identities, Latin American migratory movements, and the presence of the past in present societies.
Meeting Time and Location
This course is asynchronous. We will not have meetings, but weekly activities will take place on Canvas. All the information will be available on Canvas and students are expected to follow and stay on top of the calendar and activities. You are welcome to email me if you have any questions or queries.
Instructor Information
My Name:
I am Fernando Fonseca Pacheco, PhD. I am an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
Please refer to me as Professor or Fernando. My pronouns are he/him/his.
Instructor Biography
I was born in Bogotá, Colombia. My undergraduate degree is in literature, and I did my graduate degrees in Latin American literature and culture. I have taught classes in English, Spanish, and Portuguese about film, literature and culture from the region. In addition, I have directed several study-abroad programs to places like Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. I am excited and happy to be part of this learning community with you. I know it is an intensive class and will require concentrated effort and organization from everyone. I look forward to working with all of you.
My Contact Information
Please reach out to me at any time for assistance with the course or just to chat about the field. The best way to reach me is to send me a message through the Canvas inbox or email me at tum97759@temple.edu. I will generally respond within 24 hours.
My Office
Mazur Hall, 446
Student Drop-In Hours
Seeking out individual assistance from your professor is a normal part of the learning process. I set aside 8:30 to 11:30 on Fridays for you to come to my office with no appointment necessary. We can discuss the course content, your progress on the assessments, your future in the field, or anything else you need to talk about. If my regular Drop-In Hours don’t fit your schedule, please email me to make an appointment. I want to help you succeed!
Purpose of the Course
Overall Purpose
This course is part of the General Education program. The General Education (Gen Ed) program consists of diverse areas of study and practice in which all undergraduate students must undertake coursework. These courses and the Areas they represent provide the place for students to develop academic and professional skills through the context of the course.
Overview of the Course
Learn about global cultures by studying their literature and film. The course is taught in English, but you will gain the fresh, subtle understanding that comes from engaging with different forms of human expression across the Globe. The course will delve into the literature and film of a region and/or cultures in different parts of the world. Some of the themes that we will examine through the lens of literature and film are the creation and challenge of national, regional and individual identities, family life and how it changes, pivotal moments in history, economic issues, social changes and diversity.
3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites/Corequisites
World Society in Literature and Film falls into the Global / World Society Area of the Gen Ed Program. Global / World Society courses explore societies and cultures outside of the United States. These courses take one of two approaches. Some concentrate on a single nation or region, examining in depth its political, social, historical, cultural, artistic, literary, geographic, and/or economic landscape. Others investigate globalization and its effects across nations and regions.
This course fulfills the World Society (GG) requirement for students under GenEd and International Studies (IS) for students under Core. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: Arabic 0868/0968, Asian Studies 0868, Chinese 0868/0968, English 0868/0968, French 0868/0968, German0868/0968, Political Science 0868/0968, or Spanish 0968.
Learning Goals
Upon successful completion of this General Education course, you will be able to…
- Identify and describe different factors (e.g., political, social, historical, cultural, artistic, literary, linguistic, geographic, economic) linking societies and cultures around the globe as seen through literature and film.
- Access, compare and analyze literary, film and academic materials related to world societies and culture within the frameworks established in the course.
- Develop observations and conclusions about selected themes as presented in literature and film in world societies and cultures.
- Construct contextualized interpretations using evidence and critical analysis from selected texts and films.
- Communicate and defend interpretations
General Education Competencies and Area Learning Goals
Gen. Ed. Program Goals
- Critical Thinking
- Contextualized Learning
- Interdisciplinary Thinking
- Communication Skills
- Scientific & Quantitative Reasoning
- Civic Engagement
- Information Literacy
- Lifelong Learning
Global / World Society courses are intended to teach students how to:
- Understand the influences (e.g., political, social, historical, cultural, artistic, literary, geographic, economic) on world societies or processes (e.g. globalization) linking world societies;
- Access and analyze materials related to world societies and cultures;
- Develop observations and conclusions about selected themes in world societies and cultures;
- Construct interpretations using evidence and critical analysis; and
- Communicate and defend interpretations.
Competencies: https://bulletin.temple.edu/undergraduate/general-education/#Program_Competencies
Area Goals: https://bulletin.temple.edu/undergraduate/general-education/#GenEd_Courses ]
The Learning Environment
How Class Will Be Conducted
The course is divided into units focusing on themes. Modules and materials are available every Tuesday at 8am before the Thanksgiving break. For each unit, we will have literary texts—mainly short stories and poems, and presentations to provide background and context. Each unit also includes two to three films, which often we will compare to the literary texts. You will notice that all assignments (quizzes, analysis, discussion boards, etc.) are mostly due on Monday by or before 11:59pm. At times, you will need to post an initial comment before Saturday 11: 59pm and follow up on one of your classmates’ posts. This is not so that we are all scrambling to finish all assignments in one day, but rather so that you can complete class readings and films at your own pace, have time to reflect on the questions/comments posed by your classmates and myself, and make connections between works and recurring themes.
FOR EACH MODULE OR UNIT, STUDENTS NEED TO READ CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS INDICATED IN THE MODULE OVERVIEW.
THE MODULE OVERVIEW WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE PATHWAY NECESARY FOR EACH WEEK AND THEMATIC UNIT.
Classroom Civility
Please be aware that some of the films/readings contain scenes of a violent and/or sexual nature. It is suggested that you reflect on WHY the director/author has chosen such strong depictions. What might they be trying to convey? Was the extreme depiction necessary? Why or why not? These questions will be a part of our class analysis and conversations. According to the Student Code of Conduct of Temple University it is the student's responsibility to foster an environment conducive to the continued intellectual and educational stimulation within the University free from harassment by other members of the community. We are going to deal with serious themes and issues. Our virtual classroom is a place where opinions and ideas are to be analyzed and discussed in an open and thought-provoking manner; however, inflammatory language, or any behavior which disrespects the professor or other students, will not be tolerated. E-mail correspondence should also remain professional and appropriate, including a greeting, a concise, clear message in professional language, and a closing (Best/Thank you/Sincerely/Regards, etc.) with your name
Materials
All the texts will be posted to Canvas (either as a docx file or links). You are required to purchase the two following books. For this course, the cost range, including all books, online access to films, expenses, and other materials, is approximately $40.
Required Texts
Eartheater: A Novel by Dolores Reyes, ISBN13 978-0062987730. Amazon page for the book as a reference.
If you are a local student, the two texts are available at Charles Library when requested through the BookBot. You can also request them using loan services such as EZ Borrow and Interlibrary Loan. You can also obtain the texts through the Free Library of Philadelphia (HERE). It is the student responsibility to have access to the material for the weeks in which we will read them and study them.
Links to other required readings, videos, etc., will be supplied electronically in Canvas in the appropriate module. These items will be provided to you at no additional cost.
Required Films
The required films are available for online streaming, sometimes for free or sometimes included in a subscription such as Netflix, and each student is responsible for accessing all films that they cannot access for free.
In many cases, the films can be streamed through the library reserve system.
The module of the week on Canvas will have the link for the students to access the films.
The website justwatch.com checks all the streaming platforms in one search, so this is a good place to check if a particular streaming service offers the film. Furthermore, every week I will publish the link to the IMDB page of the film. To the right of the page, you will find the watching options of the film (yellow link to the right, below the trailer).
If you are a local student, many films are available at Charles Library when requested through the BookBot. You can also obtain some of the films through the Free Library of Philadelphia (HERE). All the streaming services listed for each film in the syllabus range from about $2.99-$4.99 per film for rental, and higher for purchase. In some cases, films are available on Tubi, Netflix, Hulu, Max or Amazon Prime. If the film is not available through the library reserve, make sure to check all the options before purchasing or renting the film.
Software or Other Supplies
If you need access to basic software for creating documents, slideshows, or spreadsheets, you have free access to Microsoft 365.
Accessibility
It is important to me that every student can succeed at this course. Please reach out to me if ANY obstacle is in the way of your success!
Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) located in the Howard Gittis Student Center South, 4th Floor at drs@temple.edu or 215-204-1280 to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential. Students can learn more about the accommodation process and pre-register on the DRS website. Students may register at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not active until you register, so I recommend doing so as early in the semester as possible.
Information regarding accessibility for additional technologies is provided below:
Resources and Support
Sometimes the biggest factors impacting student success are things happening beyond the scope of the individual classroom. Temple provides a wide array of resources both to help you overcome academic challenges and those not directly related to the educational challenges of the course. Please reach out to me if you need help deciding which resources might be right for you.
Undergraduate Research Support
Disability Resources and Services
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry is in operation, as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.
Library Resources
Temple University Libraries provide resources to assist Temple students with their class projects and research needs. Visit the Libraries’ website to find millions of articles, books, video, and other resources, both in print and online.
The site also provides tutorials to help you start your research, as well as subject and course research guides to help you identify resources that may be particularly useful for this class.
Contact the library at any stage of the research process. You can chat with a librarian 24/7 or make an appointment with your subject librarian, who can help you explore a topic, craft a research question, and identify and cite sources.
Course Schedule
Table 1 - Week to Week Schedule
|
Week |
Dates |
Theme |
Materials & Activities |
|
1 |
October 14th to October 20th
|
Individual and historical narratives of identity See: Module Overview
|
Film: The Motorcycle Diaries Even the Rain
Reading: Syllabus of the class Child of the Americas “Borges and I”
All the readings are one to two pages
Activities: Watch video-lecture Discussion board Reading and film analysis Quiz
|
|
2 |
October 21st to October 27th
|
Memories and reconciliations
See: Module Overview
|
Film: Machuca La Llorona No
Reading: Vocabulary of the class “The trace in the bones”
Activities: Watch video-lecture Discussion board Reading and film analysis Quiz
|
|
3 |
October 28th to November 3rd |
Magical realism and the horror tradition See: Module Overview
|
Film: Birds of passage Tigers are Not Afraid
Reading: “Back When We Talked to the Dead” “The Trail of Your Blood in the Snow”
Activities: Watch video-lecture Discussion board Reading and film analysis Quiz
|
|
4 |
November 4th to November 10th
|
Art and migratory movements 1 Movie Review
See: Module Overview
|
Film: City of God I Am No Longer Here
Activities: Watch video-lecture Discussion board Reading and film analysis Quiz
Film Review. See the description, list of movies and more on Canvas.
|
|
5 |
November 11th to November 17th |
The detective and the noir tradition See: Module Overview
|
Film: The secret in their eyes Reading: “Death and the compass”. Short story. Start reading, Eartheater by Dolores Reyes
Activities: Watch video-lecture Discussion board Reading and film analysis
|
|
6 |
November 12th to November 23rd |
Gender and sexualities 1 See: Module Overview
|
Film: Roma The Heiresses The Strong Ones
Reading: “Cooking Lesson” Short story. Continue reading Eartheater by Dolores Reyes Activities: Watch video-lecture Discussion board Reading and film analysis Quiz
|
|
7 |
December 1st to December 6th |
Gender and sexualities 2 See: Module Overview
|
Film: A Fantastic Woman
Reading: Finish reading Eartheater by Dolores Reyes
Activities: Watch video-lecture Discussion board Reading and film analysis Quiz
|
|
Finals |
December 7th to December 8th |
Final Exam
See: Module Overview
|
Activities: Read the questions and the rubric. Choose two questions out of the four and answer them in an essay form based on the corpus and concepts of the semester.
|
Final grade will be published on December 11th.
Grading & Assessment Guidelines
Grading Scale
|
Percentage |
Letter Grade |
|---|---|
|
94-100 |
A |
|
90-93 |
A- |
|
87-89 |
B+ |
|
84-86 |
B |
|
80-83 |
B- |
|
77-79 |
C+ |
|
74-76 |
C |
|
70-73 |
C- |
|
67-69 |
D+ |
|
64-66 |
D |
|
61-63 |
D- |
|
0-60 |
F |
Course Minimum Grade
Although D- is a passing grade, a minimum grade of C- is required in General Education courses and, in many programs, courses required by the major.
For more information, please see Temple University's Academic Policies on Grades and Grading.
Assessment Summary
The assessments in this course have been created for two reasons: (1) For you to demonstrate your progress towards the learning goals for the course and receive useful feedback. (2) For you to practice skills and develop ways of thinking that will be of use to you in the future.
Table 3 - Final Grade Calculation
| Grading Item | Percentage of Final Grade |
| Reading and film analysis | 25% |
| Quizzes | 25% |
| Discussion Boards | 20% |
| Review | 10% |
| Final exam | 20% |
Reading and Film Analysis: Throughout each unit, students will answer questions to analyze, compare, comprehend, and contextualize the films, the texts, and the topic of the unit
Quizzes: Students will be required to complete brief content quizzes following most lectures, readings, and films. These quizzes will be on Canvas and will always be due on Monday night (just like all other assignments).
Discussion boards: Analytical questions will be posted on discussion boards, and students are required to participate and interact with their peers. As always, students must follow the instructions indicated in the Module.
Review: Students need to record a video presentation (9 to 12 minutes) reviewing and analyzing a film. A list of films will be provided for the students to choose one. The video presentation also should include a specific analysis of a topic, which should use the bibliographic sources of the workshop (above). Specific instructions and rubric will be posted.
Final essay: The final exam consists of an essay exam for the final exam. The students will receive the questions one week before and will choose to answer two of the questions. A week afterwards, students will submit the answers to the questions they choose. A specific presentation of the exam and a specific rubric will be posted. This final essay will be submitted through Turn It In via Canvas. Any plagiarism or academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the assignment.
Late Submissions/Missed Exams & Quizzes
Please notify me that you may miss a deadline or an exam/quiz as soon as possible. Please do not delay in informing; as soon as you suspect a problem, let me know. Depending on the timing and the specific assessment, I may ask you to give me a copy of your current draft. Whether you will be given an additional opportunity to complete the assessment will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
All late quizzes and assignments will be graded according to the following scale:
- Assignments turned in at any time of day on the day after the due date will receive a 10-point deduction
- Assignments turned in 2 or more days after the due date will not be accepted and will receive a grade of 0.
Late final exams are not accepted and will receive a grade of 0.
In the case of an excused absence (illness/emergency with documentation provided, please see me or e-mail me to plan to turn it in with no point deductions.)
Past incomplete assignments can only be made up with a medical note stating specific dates the student could not work on the course.
Class Attendance & Participation
According to the Student Code of Conduct of Temple University it is the student's responsibility to foster an environment conducive to the continued intellectual and educational stimulation within the University free from harassment by other members of the community. We are going to deal with serious themes and issues. Our virtual classroom is a place where opinions and ideas are to be analyzed and discussed in an open and thought-provoking manner; however, inflammatory language, or any behavior which disrespects the professor or other students, will not be tolerated. E-mail correspondence should also remain professional and appropriate, including a greeting, a concise, clear message in professional language, and a closing (Best/Thank you/Sincerely/Regards, etc.) with your name.
Assignment schedule and workload
As an intensive 3-credit course, the University requires that students spend 15-22 hours a week on course preparation and work. Readings, film and lecture viewings should be completed with enough time to thoughtfully respond to quizzes, analysis, complete activities on the due dates. Please be mindful of due dates on the course calendar and in your Canvas assignment feed.
School-Life Conflict
Many unpredictable things can happen over the course of a semester. If you find yourself struggling to balance your education and your other commitments, please reach out to me immediately so that we can work together to build a plan for your success. Some of the resources in the next section may also be of use to you.
Religious Holidays
It is your right to observe religious holidays without impacting your opportunity to learn and succeed in this course. Please reach out to me at the start of the semester so that deadlines can be reviewed in advance of your religious observations. You will still be held responsible for course content and any assignments, but you will not lose points for attendance and participation on days important to your faith.
Caregiver Responsibilities
I have great respect for students who are pursuing their education while responsible for the care of children or other family members. Please contact me if you encounter challenges that require you to miss a class session or if your caregiving responsibilities are interfering with your success in the course. Together, we may be able to find some flexibility to support your learning.
Withdrawal
If you are considering withdrawing from the course after the add/drop date, please don’t make that decision alone! Withdrawing from the course without talking to me first eliminates the possibility of finding a path to success for you. Furthermore, it is extremely important that you consult your academic advisor before withdrawing. They will be able to walk you through how the withdrawal would impact your progress towards your degree and your graduation date.
Please check the academic calendar for the last day to withdraw from a course.
For this class, a Fall 2025B class, the last day to drop is October 20th. The last day to withdraw a class is December 1st.
Incomplete
A student will be eligible for a grade of “Incomplete” only if the student: 1) has completed at least 51% of the work at a passing level, 2) is unable to complete the work for a serious reason beyond their control, and 3) files a signed agreement with the instructor outlining the work to be completed and the time frame in which that work will be completed. The student is responsible for initiating this process, and all incomplete forms must be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the start of study days in that semester.
Please refer to the following for further details: Temple University’s Incomplete Policy. (Policy #02.10.13).
Technology Guidelines
Technology Requirements
To participate in this course, you will need the equipment, software, and internet access necessary to reliably use Zoom and Canvas, as well as “productivity tools” like word processors and slide show creators.
Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application located in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources. The University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.
Note that there are technology resources available for students, including on-campus computers available for student use, the Tech Center computer labs and free laptop and battery borrowing at Charles Library, software that is available for free download and other specialty software that may be available for remote access through ITS.
Technical Support
For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Tech Support page.
Live Chat or Request Help: help.temple.edu
Phone: 215-204-8000
Email: help@temple.edu
Website: its.temple.edu
Location: The TECH Center, Room 106
Technology Usage
Excellence in any endeavor requires attention. To that end, we need to be mindful of the unnecessary use of technology in the class. To avoid distracting yourself or others, please only use your laptop, phone, or other device for activities relevant to the course. If you find yourself needing to take a call or participate in a text, please excuse yourself from the classroom and return as soon as you are able.
Class Recording
Individuals are not permitted to record, copy, publish, or redistribute audio or video recordings of any portion of the session to individuals who are not associated with the university without the express permission of the host/faculty member and of any other meeting participants who are recorded. Distribution without permission could be a violation of various privacy laws, including FERPA, as well as Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act and possibly copyright law.
Attending Zoom meetings using an AI proxy is not allowed.
AI Policies
The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, etc.) are not permitted in this class; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University’s Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in a grade of F for the assignment.
Students must assume that all graded assignments, quizzes, and tests are to be completed individually unless otherwise noted in writing in this syllabus. The professor reserves the right to assign a grade of "F" for the assignment or the course in cases of academic dishonesty.
Privacy and Data Protection
Please see the links below to become familiar with the privacy policies for each of the following:
Academic Guidelines
Academic Freedom
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. I have the freedom and responsibility to design and facilitate our learning environment to best achieve the promise of the course as outlined in its official description. You have the responsibility to engage with the course in good faith and freedom from mistreatment when your opinion differs from mine. Note that it is not an abuse of this freedom for me to require that you support relevant opinions with clear argumentation and solid evidence. For more on academic freedom, consult the official Temple policy on the matter.
Academic Integrity
Temple University believes strongly in academic honesty and integrity. Plagiarism and academic cheating are, therefore, prohibited. All work you submit for assessment should be your own efforts. For more on this topic, consult the relevant portions of Temple Bulletin and the Student Conduct Code.