Shemeem Burney Abbas



Courses at Purchase College

The West Meets the Non-West
POL 1120 / 4 credits

Shemeem Abbas

An examination of historical events, social movements, and intellectual ideas that have shaped modernity from 1500 to the present. The focus is on the evolution of ideas that have influenced both Western and non-Western civilizations.

Governments and Politics Worldwide
POL 2010 / 4 credits

An introduction to current political systems. The course examines political structures and processes (e.g., parliaments, political parties, elections, legislation, and formation of governments in different political systems) and analyzes the ideological foundations of these systems (e.g., liberalism, socialism). Discussions include social, economic, and political priorities set in each system; their strengths and weaknesses; and the impact of structural constraints.

Citizens Living Under Islamic Laws
POL 2105 / 4 credits

Focusing on South Asia and the Middle East, this course examines how postcolonial Islamic states currently use “Islamic laws” to negotiate power and control with their citizens. Examples include Hudood, Zina, and blasphemy laws, which result in fatwas (religious decrees) that sometimes lead to extrajudicial killings. Also offered as GND 2105.

Politics and the Media
POL 2210 / 4 credits / Spring 2014

An examination of the media’s impact on political life in the U.S. and its role in shaping public opinion. Both electronic and print media are surveyed and analyzed in terms of their impact on power, legal rights, and ethical obligations. Attention is also given to the media’s influence on political parties and how it shapes political attitudes and influences elections.

Free Speech, Heresy, and Gender in Islamic Societies
POL 2350 / 4 credits

In Islamic societies, heresy charges against women and men are leveled for different reasons, including Islamists’ opposition to democracy, modernity, women’s education and their employment. Instances of heresy leveled by Muslims against Muslims are studied. Also offered as GND 2350.

Islamic State, Gender and Sexuality
POL 3255/ 4 credits

An examination of how notions of gender and sexuality are defined in the postcolonial Islamic state. Laws, customs and cultural practices that enforce control are investigated in South Asian and Middle Eastern contexts. Also offered as GND 3255.

Politics and Memoir
POL 3307 / 4 credits

A study of memoirs by male and female authors, politicians, activists, and ordinary citizens describing childhood, communities, social changes, and revolutions. Works are drawn from South Africa, South America, Asia, Cuba, and the U.S. The rubric is the non-West’s interaction with the West, a north-south divide.

Politics of South Asia
POL 3430 / 4 credits

Examines the politics of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Kashmir, and Afghanistan. The British occupation from 1857 to 1947 is studied, together with the partition of Pakistan and India. Issues of religion, caste, gender, and militarization are an additional focus. Nuclear states, Pakistan, and India are also part of class discussions.

Human Rights and Literature
POL 3573 / 4 credits

An exploration of various perspectives on human rights. Students examine some modern nation states in relation to geographies of identity and human rights. Global literature is read in colonial and postcolonial contexts that describe state control through the infringement of citizenship and rights of speech, thus violating basic human rights.

Durst Master Class in Literature: Literature and Politics Post-9/11
Fall 2006

This course explores the Durst theme for 2006: Literature and Politics Post-9/11. Students will read a wide array of texts that explore Islam’s affinities and conflicts with the West, as well as meet with Durst speakers Art Spiegelman, Marjane Satrapi, and Tony Kushner.



Courses at the University of Texas at Austin

Creative Writing: Fiction
E325S / Contains Substantial Writing Component: Computer-Assisted Writing

This is a first-level course in writing fiction. The beginning of the course will stress the development of skills in the aspects of description, character, setting, plot and narration. We will study stories and texts by major writers; we will further investigate these authors' approaches to writing fiction. Students are required to participate in the discussion and lead discussion groups. All reading assignments must be done for the class. You will write short assignments throughout the course, which will be workshopped in class. The latter part of the course will involve the writing and rewriting of a complete short story.

Creative Writing: Poetry
E325S / Contains Substantial Writing Component

This course aims at exposing beginning poets to a wide range of possibilities in writing poetry.  We will study issues of starting a poem, generating material for poetry, the nature of poetic writing, imagery,  narrative, prosodic forms, rhythm, musicality,  figurative language, and revision.  The course will involve substantial writing exercises to cultivate the craft of writing poetry.  We will read model poems that best represent the aspect of poetry we are studying at a particular time; you will write numerous exercises focusing on that aspect whether it is meter, imagery or narrative. The class will alternate between short lectures, in-class exercises and workshops where students will critique each other's work. You will provide copies of your own poems for your peers and the instructor.

Gender and Sexuality in South Asia and the Middle East
E370W / Contains Substantial Writing Component

This course will examine South Asian and Middle Eastern culture and literature written in English from a variety of genres including novels, essays, memoirs, performance art, film and some translated texts. We will explore discourses on gender, sexuality and spirituality making connections between written narrative, oral culture and media images. We will explore perspectives on gender, ethnicity, race, class and spirituality. We will also do some background reading of theory to identify modern notions of sexual identity. One of the goals of the course will be to explore the role of culture and its representation in creating public contexts, identify formations and social movements. We will additionally make cross-cultural connections with the larger global movements.

Reading Women Writers
E314L / Contains Substantial Writing Component: Computer-Assisted Writing

This course will explore cross-culturally the impact of feminism on literary studies through the analysis of texts by women writers. A discussion on colonialism will be the focus of the course. We will investigate how the canon of literary study has undergone a change by the "feminist recovery" of writing by women. The course will introduce students to feminist issues for the study of genre, colonization, political and social context and the formal elements of literary texts. The course will examine the contexts of writing by women across cultures, and their audiences who have created the opportunities for women writers. We will focus on the relation between gender and categories of class, race, caste, faith and sexuality as well as the role of women's writings in the histories of their societies, and the building of national and international consciousness. We will also consider how women's writing has strengthened feminism as a global social movement. Films will reinforce the text.

Rhetoric and Composition
RHE306 / Contains Substantial Writing Component

RHE306 is a course in argumentation that will improve your ability to read and write in college and beyond. You will learn how:

Critical Reading and Persuasive Writing
RHE309 / Contains Substantial Writing Component: Computer-Assisted Writing

RHE309 is a course in argumentation that will improve your ability to read and write in college and beyond. You will learn how:

Creative Writing: Poetry
E318L / Contains Substantial Writing Component: Computer-Assisted Writing

This course aims at exposing beginning poets to a wide range of possibilities in writing poetry.  We will study issues of starting a poem, generating material for poetry, the nature of poetic writing, imagery, narrative, prosodic forms, rhythm, musicality, figurative language, and revision.  The course will involve substantial writing exercises to cultivate the craft of writing poetry.  We will read model poems that best represent the aspect of poetry we are studying at a particular time; you will write numerous exercises focusing on that aspect whether it is meter, imagery or narrative. The class will alternate between lectures, in-class exercises and workshops where students will critique each other's work. You will provide copies of your own poems for your peers and the instructor.