Syllabus for WMST200

(Fulfills the civic responsibility requirement.) An interdisciplinary study of the status, roles, and experiences of women in contemporary society. Sources from a variety of fields (such as literature, psychology, history, and anthropology) focus on the writings of women themselves.

Course Introduction

Hello everyone!

Welcome! What follows are some important points you need to know about taking Introduction to Women's Studies in our online environment.

The required textbook for this course is: Hunter College Women's Studies Collective. 1995. Women's Realities, Women's Choices: An Introduction to Women's Studies. New York: Oxford University Press.

If you have not received your textbook by the first week of the course, please notify me via e-mail immediately!

All Distance Education students are required to take a proctored exam during the 12th week of the Asian Division DE term. Students who find that they cannot schedule the proctored exam during the 12^th week must coordinate a time to take the proctored exam with me and also inform the DE office. For more information, visit the DE website at http://de.ad.umuc.edu and click 'Proctored Exams' on the right side of the page.

Failure to take the proctored exam will result in an F(a) grade being issued for the course. To reiterate, YOU MUST TAKE THE PROCTORED EXAM. See the DE Timetable at http://de.ad.umuc.edu for further details.

It usually takes two to three weeks for me to receive your proctored exam after you have taken it. When I receive it, I will grade it, and send you an e-mail message.

Our virtual week goes from Monday through Sunday. I take Fridays off and I am not usually available on that day. Information on how to contact me is provided below.

I usually return e-mail within 48 hours. When you respond to me, please use your e-mail Reply option, and include the following information:

In addition, please see the "Guidelines for Conference Participation," under Essential Course Documents in the Conference area.

The WebTycho Help and Support Site is located at http://tychousa.umuc.edu/help.nsf. You can also access the Help and Support Site at any time from the classroom by clicking on "Help" and then "Help and Support Site" in the upper right-hand corner of the classroom screen.

When you contact WebTycho Help and Support, have your login ID, password, and your class and section numbers available, along with any other information that you think they will need to help you. Cut and paste the actual error notices that pop up for even better responses.

Okay, now that we have gone over the basics, ask me about anything that may be unclear, and good luck on a successful course!

Course Materials

The required textbook for this course is: Hunter College Women's Studies Collective. 1995. Women's Realities, Women's Choices: An Introduction to Women's Studies. New York: Oxford University Press.

Grading Information

There are 100 possible points in this course, divided into four major groups. They are: (1) conference participation, (2) proctored exam, (3) student-selected projects, and (4) class presentation.

Twenty points (or 20 percent) of your total grade is based on your participation in conference discussions. Each week there will be required readings from your text and outside sources, as well as conference discussions. Discussion assignments will be posted under the Conference Heading.

Expect to spend 7 to 10 hours minimum per week on this course. You should log into the course at least 2 to 3 times per week. Logging on frequently, even for a short visit, will result in higher success with lower stress for you. You will be graded on how well you participate in the conferences. Everyone is expected to participate. The quality not the quantity of your responses matters most. Please don't put off responding; participating early in the week is strongly recommended.

The deadline for participation in conference discussions will vary weekly. You MUST participate in the conference discussions on or before the scheduled deadline to receive credit. Participation after the scheduled deadline, without a legitimate excuse, will result in a grade of zero for that week.

In short, your class participation will be evaluated according to the following criteria: (1) providing intelligent, thoughtful, and serious responses to conference discussions; that incorporate, when applicable, women's studies terminology, concepts, theories, and/or research; (2) participating in conference discussions on a regular basis, therefore at least two to three times a week; and (3) completing discussion assignments by the scheduled due date.

In addition, please see the "Guidelines for Conference Participation," under Essential Course Documents in the Conference area.

The proctored exam, which is worth 35 points of your total grade, will consist of applied essay questions. This OPEN-BOOK, OPEN-NOTE exam is based on a 100-point scale and percentaged according to the number of points noted. For instance, let's say that the exam is comprised of 10 essay questions worth 10 points each. You score a 90 on the exam, which is worth 35 points (or 35 percent) of your total grade. Therefore, your final exam score would be 90 x .35 = 32.5.

Thirty points (or 30 percent) of your total grade is based on student-selected projects [See Project Descriptions section in your syllabus for more information].

Fifteen points (or 15 percent) of your total grade is based on a class presentation. [See Project Descriptions section in your syllabus for more information].

You are responsible for keeping up with the class, completing all assignments on time, and taking the proctored examination in the timeframe provided. Missed deadlines may be made up if the absence can be shown to be caused by an emergency or unforeseen technical difficulty and you inform me via e-mail in advance of special circumstances.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT AND THE TOTAL POINTS FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT ARE PROVIDED BELOW.

Assignments	Total Points
Conference Participation	20
Proctored Exam	35
Student-Selected Projects	30
Class Presentation	15
	100

Grade	Points
A	100-90
B	89-70
C	79-70
D	69-60
F	59 or less

Thirty points (or 30 percent) of your total grade are based on assignments that you select from the choices listed below. YOUR SELECTIONS MUST TOTAL 30 POINTS EXACTLY. Some of these projects require consultation with me.

Write an original short story based on a topic relevant to this course. Any type of format is acceptable (e.g., romance. sci-fi, action/adventure, horror, etc.), as long as it allows you to integrate women's studies' terminology, concepts, theories, and/or research. The written portion of your story is worth 20 points. Graphic illustrations (e.g., original drawings or paintings, photos, etc.) are worth an additional 10 points. NO CLIP ART, PLEASE!

[Recommended length: 5-6 pages]. REQUIRES CONSULTATION WITH ME!

Select any type of social problem that is relevant to this course and is of interest to you. Illustrate via an original drawing or painting, your perception of the impact of the social problem that you selected. Those of you who are musically inclined may opt instead to compose a song. Aspiring actors, actresses, poets, and comedians may wish to compose an original short play, poem, or comedy routine. Photo-essays, games, and collages are also acceptable

Your depiction of the specific type of social problem that you selected may be negative or positive, contemporary or futuristic, or a combination of the preceding. Creative and imaginative portrayals are encouraged.

In addition, you must submit a 2-3 page written description and explanation of your work (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain).

This may be either an individual or group project. Should you elect to work in groups, I want documented evidence that all members were equally involved in the project. REQUIRES CONSULTATION WITH ME!

Analyze the content of one of your favorite books. [See "Book Report Instructions" in the Course Content area].

Locate FIVE web sites that you think are relevant to this course, and compile a list of FIVE links to other sites that you think would be worthy of visiting.

For each one of the five websites that you choose: (1) provide an "address" for each (i.e., http://www.____), (2) describe what's there (including links internal to the site), and (3) explain why you think that it is a useful site (i.e., Where do you see it fitting in with respect to the information offered in this course? For example, what women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research best apply here? Explain).

For each of the five links, all you need to do is provide the name of, and the "address" for, each link. Your list implies interest itself.

You may keep a journal for three weeks (10 points) or six weeks (20 points). Your weekly journal entries must include (1) your reactions to at least one of the required readings for that week; (2) your reaction to at least one class discussion that took place during that week, and (3) your analysis of how course materials relate to events that you take part in or observe outside of class that week. This third section of your journal, for example, might include news clippings, magazine advertisements, comics, photographs, and the like.

Analyze the content of ONE of your favorite songs or music videos. Your discussion should include the following: (1) the words to the song, and (2) an analysis of the song or the music video that you selected (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain). [Recommended length: 2-3 pages]

Analyze the content of FIVE advertisements. Your discussion should include the following: (1) the name of the product, where it was advertised (e.g., print media, radio, or TV), and the amount of space or time devoted to this product; and (2) an analysis of the ads that you selected (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain. [Recommended length: 2-3 pages]

Analyze a feature-length movie. Your discussion should include the following: (1) the name of the movie, (2) a brief description of the main plot, (3) a brief description of the main cast of characters (e.g., age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, marital status, etc.) and the various subplots that surrounded them; and (4) an analysis of the movie that you selected (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain). [Recommended length: 2-3 pages]

Analyze the content of ONE of your favorite soap operas. Your discussion should include the following: (1) the name of the soap opera, the day and time that you watched it, and the channel on which it appeared; (2) a brief description of the main plot, (3) a brief description of the main cast of characters (e.g., age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, marital status, etc.) and the various subplots that surrounded them; and (4) an analysis of the soap opera that you selected (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain). [Recommended length: 2-3 pages]

Analyze the content of ONE of your favorite talk shows. Your discussion should include the following: (1) the name of the talk show, the day and time that you watched it, and the channel on which it appeared; (2) a brief description of the guests appearing on the show (e.g., age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, marital status, etc.), the major issue addressed and how it was resolved; and (3) an analysis of the talk show that you selected (e.g., What women's studies terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain. [Recommended length: 2-3 pages]

Analyze the content of ONE of your favorite one-hour television sitcoms, that deals with one the following genres: drama (e.g., NYPD, The Practice); action/adventure (Xena: Warrior Princess, Walker: Texas Ranger); comedy (e.g., My Wife and Kids, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpson's); sci-fi (e.g., X-files, Star Trek Voyager); or horror (e.g., Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Your discussion should include the following: (1) the name of the show, the day and time that you watched it, and the channel on which it appeared; (2) a brief description of the main plot, (3) a brief description of the main cast of characters (e.g., age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, marital status, etc.) and the various subplots that surrounded them; and (4) an analysis of the television sitcom that you selected (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain. [A one-hour show is worth up to 20 points, and a half-an-hour show is worth up to 10 points; Recommended length: 2-3 pages].

Write down TEN jokes relevant to this course (e.g., men's jokes about women, women's jokes about men). Analyze the content of the jokes that you selected (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain. [Recommended length: 2-3 pages]

Analyze the content of FIVE comic strips. Your discussion should include the following: (1) the name of the comic strips, along with the date that it was printed and where it appeared (e.g., newspaper, magazine, internet, etc.; (2) a brief description of the characters appearing in each strip (e.g., age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic background, marital status, etc.), and the major issue surrounding them; and (3) an analysis of the comic strips that you selected (e.g., What women's studies' terms, concepts, theories and/or research do you think best apply here? Explain. [Recommended length: 2-3 pages; please attach a copy of each comic strip].

Want to dabble in some ORIGINAL research? Pick a topic and research method and do it. REQUIRES CONSULTATION WITH ME!

Is there something that you would like to do that is not listed above? If so, submit a detailed description of what you would like to do, along with a suggested point value. REQUIRES MY WRITTEN PERMISSION.

1. Make a copy of your project prior to turning it in. Keep this copy for your records.

2. The objective grading criteria for the student-selected projects is as follows: integration and correct application of sociological content (90 percent); and organization, neatness, and grammar (10 percent).

3. The scheduled due dates for the student-selected projects are as follows: If you choose to do two projects, the first project is due Week 7 (Sunday, March 13th), and the second project is due Week 11 (Sunday, April 24th). If you choose to do only one project, it is due Week 11 (Sunday, April 24th).

4. Failure to submit a student-selected project by the scheduled due date, without a legitimate excuse, will result in a total deduction of points.

We are all organizers, and no organizer should ever end a meeting or a book or an article [or a course] without ideas for practical action. After all, a movement depends on people moving. What are we going to do differently when we get up tomorrow? ...

If each person promises that in the twenty-four hours beginning the very next day she or he will do at least one outrageous thing in the cause of simple justice, then I promise I will, too.

Being outrageous, to Steinem and others who have adopted her formulation, means refusing to accommodate prejudice and discrimination--including sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, racism, ageism, classism, and/or ableism--and challenging preexisting social assumptions and practices. In the spirit of Gloria Steinem's essays, you are required to perform a positive, "pro-woman" act that represents, for you, something that you would not have or could not have done prior to this course.

It is up to you to determine what "liberating" and "pro-woman" mean to you. Your outrageous/liberating act must be something that you do during this term; you may not use something you did before taking this class. In addition, you are prohibited from performing acts that reinforce social prejudice and/or discrimination, including (but not necessarily limited to) the following: sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, racism, ageism, classism, and/or ableism. In short, your outrageous/liberating act cannot be harmful to yourself or others (either mentally, emotionally, physically, or socially), and it must be legal. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you plan your act before you carry it out. Because it cannot harm you or others, you must carefully consider the possible outcomes of your act before the enactment. Also, select something that you are willing to share with the class.

1. This may be either an individual or a group project. Group projects require consultation with me.

2. Make a copy of your entire presentation prior to turning it in. Keep this copy for your records.

3. Please note that your grade on this project is competitive. The students with the best presentations set the criteria for all other students. Up to 15 points will be awarded for each presentation.

4. The objective grading criteria for your presentation is as follows: integration and correct application of course content (60 percent); graphic display (15 percent); ability to facilitate an interesting and intellectually-stimulating class discussion (10 percent); and organization and neatness (15 percent).

5. Class presentations are scheduled for Week 15. Your presentation must be posted by no later than Tuesday, May 17th. You will be required to participate in some of the discussions led by your classmates.

6. Failure to post your class presentation by the assigned date, without a legitimate excuse, will result in a total deduction of points.

Source: Steinem, Gloria. 1983. Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. New York: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston; Steinem, Gloria. 1995. Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. New York: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston.

Instructor's Note: I am indebted to Ann Mussey, who teaches women's history and lesbian history at Portland State University, and Dr. Amy Kesselman, Professor of Women's Studies at the State University of New York (SUNY), for their ideas regarding the Outrageous/Liberating Act Assignment.

Course Schedule

Week	Session Dates	Readings, Assignments, and Due Dates
1	JAN 24-30	Introduce Yourself Web Tycho Scavenger Hunt
2	JAN 31-FEB 6	Introduction to Women's Studies, p. 3-22
3	FEB 7-13	Chapter 1: Imagery and Symbolism in the Definitions of Women
4	FEB 14-20	Chapter 2:Idea's About Women's "Nature" Chapter 3: Women's Bodies
5	FEB 21-27	Chapter 4: Women's Personalities
6	FEB 28-MAR 6	Chapter 5: Social Roles, Gender, Race, and Class
7	MAR 7-13	Chapter 6: Daughters and Sisters Chapter 7: Wives 1 of 2 SSPs due Sunday, March 13th March 14-27 Break (Mandatory)
8	MAR 28-APR 3	Chapter 8: Motherhood Chapter 9: Choosing Alternatives
9	APR 4-10	Chapter 10: Women and Religion
10	APR 11-17	Chapter 11: Women and Education
11	APR 18-24	Chapter 12: Women, Health and the Health Care System 2 of 2, or 1 of 1, SSPs due Sunday, April 24th Proctored Exam Appointment Week
12	APR 25-MAY 1	Proctored Exam Week
13	MAY 2-8	Chapter 13: Women and Work Chapter 14: Women and Political Power
14	MAY 9-15	Chapter 15: Changing the Present: A Look to the Future Last week to officially withdraw from this course
15	MAY 16-22	Class Presentations due Tuesday, May 17th

Additional Information

This syllabus is subject to change at my discretion in order to accommodate instructional and/or student needs.

Academic Policies are not course specific and are therefore created and housed separately from this syllabus. You may access and print Academic Policies from the Syllabus sub-menu in your classroom.