MELC 318A/GLITS 314B
Please note: students may sign up for this course under either prefix - MELC or GLITS. It is the same course! If you have any questions about how the credits may count toward a major or minor in MELC, or a major in GLITS, please speak with the advisors in Humanities Academic Services.
LITERATURE AND THE HOLOCAUST
Autumn 2025
5 credits
A&H and DIV
T/Th 11:30-1:20
Professor Naomi Sokoloff
Office Hours: Wednesday 10:30-12:00 or by appointment
Office: Denny 220
e-mail: naosok@uw.edu
By examining fiction, poetry, memoirs, diaries, monuments, commix, and other aspects of popular culture, this course will explore literary responses to the Nazi Holocaust. How has literature imagined and reacted to the persecution of Jews and other marginalized groups – including Roma and Sinti, homosexuals, and people with disabilities? Among the topics to be covered: bearing witness and survivor testimony; the shaping of collective memory; the second generation; Holocaust education and children's literature; gender and the Holocaust; fantasy and humor in representations of catastrophe.
Students may opt to take this as a W course by completing additional writing assignments. Revision, editing, and reworking of essay assignments is an integral part of a W course.
Please note: the UW Stroum Center for Jewish Studies offers an annual prize for an outstanding student essay in the field of Holocaust scholarship.
Any student in this course who wishes to read some texts in Hebrew may contact the instructor and make arrangements to register for an additional 2-3 credits of independent study (MODHEB 490 or MODHEB 600).
Required Texts
Most materials, including poems and lecture notes, will be available at the course website. In addition, students should have access to:
Art Spiegelman, Maus I and Maus II
Doris Bergen, War and Genocide (available as e-book through UW Libraries)
Course Requirements
Students are expected to complete the reading assignments on time, to participate in class discussion, and to hand in brief writing assignments (homework or in-class exercises) on a regular basis. Some of these assignments are to be submitted on paper and some online through Canvas. There will be two in-class tests (no final exam). In addition, there will be a class presentation which is designed as a group project, but students have an option to work individually if they prefer.
Final grades will be determined as follows:
- Test 1: 20%
- Test 2: 20%
- Homework 20%
- In-class writing and activities: 20%
- Class Presentation: 20%
A number of opportunities to earn extra credit will come up during Autumn Quarter. The assignment: attend an event or exhibit then write a summary and your personal response (250-500 words). This will raise your final grade by .1 - for example, from 3.5. to 3.6. Maximum possible extra credit: .1 .
Grading Scale
4.0 = 98-100
3.9 = 96-97
3.8 = 94-95
3.7 = 92-93
3.6 = 91
3.5 = 90
3.4 = 89
3.5 = 90
3.4 = 89
3.3 = 88
3.2 = 87
3.1 = 86
3.0 = 85
2.9 = 84
2.8 = 83
2.7 = 82
2.6 = 81
2.5 = 80
2.4 = 79
etc.
POLICIES:
Academic Concerns and Incompletes
Per FERPA rules, I cannot discuss grades via email. Please make an appointment to talk in my office or via Zoom if you have concerns.
Incompletes will be awarded only in accordance with UW policy.
https://registrar.washington.edu/students/incomplete-grades/
There will be no make-up tests. Students who miss a test at the scheduled time, because of illness or other hardship, may complete an alternative assignment designated by the instructor. That assignment will not receive a grade but it will prevent the test grade from becoming a zero.
For missed in-class activities and homework assignments: When calculating final grades, the lowest grade will drop automatically. If you must miss more than one class session because of illness or other hardship: you may complete an alternative assignment. That assignment will not receive a grade but it will prevent the in-class or homework grade for that date from becoming a zero. As a general rule, the make-up assignments will be more challenging than coming to class. Assume a written quiz and/or oral exam on the topic missed (as designated by the instructor), to be completed in my office. It is the student's responsibility to communicate clearly and as promptly as possible with me to arrange the alternative assignment.
Assignments submitted on Canvas have due dates and closing dates. Work should be submitted by the due date. Work that comes in late will lose points, as designated in the assignment instructions. Work cannot be submitted after the closing date.
Please keep a copy of all graded work. This is very useful in case the instructor’s record of grades is lost or damaged, or in case the student wishes to discuss a grade. Protect yourself by keeping a copy.
The instructor may add or subtract some reading assignments from the syllabus during the quarter.
About the use of Copilot, ChatGPT, and/or other AI:
In this course, students are permitted to use AI-based tools (such as ChatGPT) on some assignments. The instructions for each assignment will include information about whether and how you may use AI-based tools to complete the assignment. All sources, including AI tools, must be properly cited. Use of AI in ways that are inconsistent with the parameters above will be considered academic misconduct and subject to investigation.
Please note that AI results can be biased and inaccurate. It is your responsibility to ensure that the information you use from AI is accurate. Additionally, pay attention to the privacy of your data. Many AI tools will incorporate and use any content you share, so be careful not to unintentionally share copyrighted materials, original work, or personal information.
Learning how to thoughtfully and strategically use AI-based tools may help you develop your skills, refine your work, and prepare you for your future career. If you have any questions about citation or about what constitutes academic integrity in this course or at the University of Washington, please feel free to contact me to discuss your concerns.
[This policy wording on AI is used in accordance with UW guidelines found at https://teaching.washington.edu/course-design/ai/sample-ai-syllabus-statements/]
Access and Accommodations
This course is open to all UW students. The MELC Department welcomes you and your pronouns!
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.).
I try to respond promptly to email from students, but I may not reply immediately. You may expect a response to take up to four or five days.
Disability
Your experience in this class is important to me. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs 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), you are welcome to contact DRS at 206-543-8924 (voice and relay) or uwdrs@uw.edu or disability.uw.edu.
Links to an external site. DRS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and DRS. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. More information is available at https://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs/ (Links to an external site.)
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/
In cases of academic misconduct, such as plagiarism or receiving inappropriate assistance on an assignment, offending students will be penalized in accordance with the policy of the College of Arts and Sciences. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism or how to properly attribute credit to source materials, consult with the instructor.
For additional guidelines on academic integrity, Incompletes, grade appeal, concerns about an instructor, equal opportunity, disability accommodations, absences due to religious observances, sexual harassment, and safety, see the information available at https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/syllabi-guidelines/ (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
Health and Well-being
The UW Food Pantry
A student should never have to make the choice between buying food or textbooks. The UW Food Pantry helps mitigate the social and academic effects of campus food insecurity. We aim to lessen the financial burden of purchasing food by providing students with access to food and hygiene products at no-cost. Students can expect to receive 4 to 5 days’ worth of supplemental food support when they visit the Pantry. For information including operating hours, location, and additional food support resources visit uw.edu/anyhungryhusky
We can be found on the North side of West Campus’ Poplar Hall at the corner of Brooklyn Ave NE and 41st.
Self-care
It is important that we take care of ourselves inside and outside of class by learning how to care for our body, mind and spirit. Toward that end, there are many different kinds of support services on campus, including the Counseling Center, Hall Health, and the IMA. If you are concerned about yourself or a friend who is struggling, Safecampus, at 1-800-685-7233, is a very helpful resources to learn more about how to access campus-based support services. Please save the number for Safecampus, 1-800-685-7233, into your cell phones.
Attendance and class participation are important to the learning process. However, if you have symptoms of contagious illness – such as sniffles, sneezes, a cough, a sore throat, or a fever – please do not come to class.
The provost has asked faculty to share these links with all students. You can find information here about medical services and mental health support at UW.
Course Concerns and Additional Notes
if you have any concerns about the class, try to resolve them first with your classroom instructor. If the matter is not resolved that way, there are other resources available to students to resolve complaints or grievances, including Humanities Academic Services https://hasc.washington.edu/ (Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site., the Bias Reporting Tool, https://www.washington.edu/bias/ (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site., the Office of the Ombud, https://www.washington.edu/ombud/ (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site., the University Complaint and Resolution Office, https://www.washington.edu/compliance/uciro/ (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site., and Disability Resources, https://depts.washington.edu/uwdrs/complaint-mediation/ (Links to an external site.)
By enrolling in this class, you make a commitment to regular and consistent class participation. Continued enrollment signifies that you have received a copy of this syllabus and that you have been notified of the requirements, examination schedule, and grading policies for the course.The instructor reserves the right to revise this syllabus at any time during the quarter. Students will be informed of the changes.