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GWS 100
Introduction to Gender & Women's Studies
Instructor:
Dr. Kay McEvoy Course Description: GWS 100 is an interdisciplinary course that introduces students to the field of Gender and Women's Studies. Students consider both female and male experience and study the concept of gender as a critical category informed by race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, and culture. Students gain an understanding of how individuals in various cultures learn, negotiate, and accept or resist their gender roles, as well as the significance of gender historically and in contemporary life. This course satisfies the W&J Diversity requirement and is a prerequisite for the Gender & Women’s Studies minor. Student Learning Outcomes: In this course, you will
Texts: Reconstructing Gender (5th edition) edited by Estelle Disch and Born in the Big Rains by Fadumo Korn. Assignments: The assignments and their worth in the grading scale are as follows: Class Preparation and Participation – 20%; Homework – 20%; Mid-Term Exam – 20%; Final Project – 20%; and Final Exam – 20%. NOTE: Late work is not accepted under any circumstances.Grading: All work will be graded on a 100-point scale. Final grades will be determined according to the following scale: A 95-100 | A- 90-94 | B+ 87-89 | B 84-86 | B- 80-83 | etc. Below 60% is a failing grade. Attendance: Your final average grade for the course will be lowered by five percentage points for each absence beyond three. For example, if you miss three classes and your final average grade is 90% (A-) your fourth absence will cause you to have an 85% (B) instead. There are no “excused” absences, so you do not need to contact me if you have missed or will miss a class. You will be marked absent regardless of your reason for missing class. Any work missed due to class absence will earn a grade of zero. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is unethical and offensive, not to mention stupid. Do not use words that are not your own without quoting them and citing your source. The college’s policy on academic misconduct will be followed in all cases of plagiarism. Additional Policies Ø Verifiable disabilities that affect course performance will be accommodated—let me know as soon as possible. Ø Rude or inappropriately-behaving students will be dismissed from the room. Conduct yourselves as you would in a professional setting. Ø Turn off and stow all electronic devices. If I see you with one during class, I will be seriously annoyed. Ø Feel free to bring drinks to class (in spill-proof containers) but leave your lunch in the Commons—no one wants to spend 50 minutes being assaulted by the smell of chicken fingers and fries.
Preparation & Participation: Your preparation for and participation in class are extremely important (20% of your grade). This means that, in addition to doing your reading and writing assignments, you must be committed to participating orally in class at every meeting. Your participation in class will be evaluated on a daily basis and will be an important aspect of determining your final grade. At the end of most weeks, you will receive a participation score for that week, based on criteria listed below. Your end-of-term class preparation and participation grade will be determined based on the average of these scores. A -- You are well-prepared for class and make numerous attempts to contribute to class activities and discussions. Your contributions demonstrate careful, complex reflection on the materials and topics for study. B -- You show evidence of preparation and make some attempts to contribute. Your contributions have merit but are not always helpful to the discussion. C -- You show some evidence of preparation but respond only when called. You contribute to class discussion reluctantly. D -- You show little evidence of preparation and respond with difficulty when called. F -- You do not contribute at all during the class period, or you are absent from class.
Helpful Hints for Success in Class Meetings Ø It is essential that you come to every class meeting on time and that you are prepared to participate actively in class activities and discussion. This means that you must complete the assigned readings before coming to class. Keep in mind that you may have to read an essay more than once to understand it. The best practice is to take notes while reading and to prepare 1-2 questions or comments in advance of the class meeting. Ø We expect students to engage in respectful yet diverse discussion. You should come to class with a positive attitude and be willing and ready to contribute to thoughtful and lively discussion. It is important that we all respect the points of view of everyone in the class even though we may not necessarily agree with them. Do not interrupt another person when she or he is speaking. Ø If you do not understand a reading, or are confused about anything having to do with the course, please do not hesitate to contact your instructor. Do not wait until it is too late.
Odds and Ends: Keep all your work—hard copy and electronic—not just throughout this class but after it is over. You never know what might come in handy later. If you think you would like me to serve as a reference later, please keep in mind that I only write letters for students who have taken at least two of my courses or are known to me in some other capacity (such as being my advisee). Course Schedule--Look here for readings and assignment due dates.
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