ENGL 386 A: Asian American Literature

Spring 2026
View in MyPlan View in Time Schedule
Meeting:
TTh 12:30pm - 2:20pm
SLN:
13974
Section Type:
Lecture
ADD CODE FROM INSTRUCTOR PD 3
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

ENGL 386: Asian American Literature

Satisfies the following GE Requirements: 

Diversity (DIV)
Arts and Humanities (A&H/SSc)

Instructor:  Shawn Wong, Professor, Department of English & Byron and Alice Lockwood Professor in the Humanities

Email: homebase@uw.edu

Office Hours: TTh 11-12, B423 Padelford Hall (4th floor), or by appointment via Zoom.  Appointments are recommended.

 

“The UW building in which we are learning about literature and social difference stands on the lands of the Coast Salish peoples, where generations of their ancestors told stories.  I encourage you to read the stories of the Coast Salish people about the land we share."  Recommended reading:  Jesintel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders (University of Washington Press, 2022).

Course Description:

An Introduction to Asian American Literature

Examines the emergence of Asian American literature as a response to anti-Asian legislation, cultural images, and American racial formation. Encourages thinking critically about identity, power, inequalities, and experiences of marginality.
This course is not meant to be a comprehensive survey of Asian American literature, rather the goal is to read writing that represent the range and scope of Asian American literature and Asian American communities.  Through this examination, it will be possible for students to read any Asian American writing and understand the social, historical, and cultural context by which to critically understand the literary work and the community it represents.
Required reading: 
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu (a novel)
Uncle Rico's Encore: Mostly True Stories of Filipino Seattle by Peter Bacho (a memoir)
No-No Boy by John Okada (a novel)
Yokohama, California by Toshio Mori (a collection of short stories)
Catalog Description:
Examines different forms of Asian American expression as a response to racial formations in local and global contexts. Teaches critical thinking about identity, power, inequalities, and marginality.
GE Requirements Met:
Diversity (DIV)
Social Sciences (SSc)
Arts and Humanities (A&H)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
February 28, 2026 - 6:37 am