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Instructor: Ann Hibner Koblitz

Office: Engineering A, 205

Phone: 480-965-8483 E-mail: koblitz@asu.edu

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 3:15-5PM, Thursdays, noon-1:30PM; and by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Karin Sabin

Office: Engineering A, 213 or 229

E-mail: gradcat57@yahoo.com

Office Hours: Mondays, 9-11AM

Readings Available in Bookstore:

Barbara Findlen, Listen Up: Voices from the Next Feminist Generation (LU)

Amy Kesselman, Lily McNair, Nancy Schniedewind, Women: Images and Realities (KMS)

Course Content and Goals:

This course will examine such topics as the development of contemporary gender roles and stereotypes, women and work, changing educational opportunities, sexuality, politics, health, law, etc. Our goals are to achieve some understanding of the ways that gender shapes experience in our society, to uncover our own hidden assumptions about gender, and to become aware of the complex interactions of gender with other variables, such as race, class, age, ethnicity, sexual preference, etc.

Ground Rules:

Out of respect for your fellow students and yourself, please: 1) do the readings; 2) participate in class; 3) come to class promptly, attend regularly, and do not wander in and out of the classroom at will; 4) be courteous and respectful to one another, even in cases of disagreement; 5) refrain from indulging in side conversations; 6) keep smiling! Please TURN OFF all cell phones, pagers, PDAs, PDTs, etc. while in class. I reserve the right to confiscate devices that disrupt class in any way.

As you can tell from the list of topics above, this course deals with subjects that many people find sensitive and highly charged. Some of the readings contain strong language and graphic descriptions of violence and sexual situations, and many of the authors take political stances with which you might personally disagree. Please keep an open mind both to the readings and to the views of your classmates with whom you might have differences. Also, please remember that in a university classroom you must be able to differentiate between emotions and personal opinions on the one hand, and reasoned analysis of the course material on the other.

Academic Honesty:

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. You are expected to conduct yourself ethically during all activities associated with this class. Any attempt to represent the work of someone else as one's own or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of E (0 points) on the assignment. Please read the department's detailed policy on academic honesty attached to this syllabus.

NOTE WELL: The appropriation of information without proper citation from the Internet, the World Wide Web, and/or other electronic media constitutes a violation of our policy on academic honesty. If you are in doubt about the correctness of your methodology, please ask me in advance.

ALSO: It is in your best interest and that of your (honorable) classmates to report any incidents of cheating on the exams.

Course Requirements:

-- On 14 October there will be a scantron midterm consisting of multiple choice questions; this will be worth a maximum of 60 points.

-- There will be one 2-3 page written assignment (due in class on 4 November), which will be worth a maximum of 50 points. I shall distribute a handout on possibilities and guidelines later in the term. The schedule of mandatory late paper point deductions is: for papers received in the Women's Studies office between the end of class and 5PM Wednesday, 5 November, 10 points off; for papers received in the office by 5PM on Friday, 7 November, 25 points off. No papers will be accepted thereafter. You must have late papers date-stamped in the Women's Studies office (ECA 209); the office closes PROMPTLY at 5PM.

-- On 16 December (Tuesday) in our regular classroom at 6:40PM there will be a scantron final exam, also consisting of multiple choice questions; this will be worth a maximum of 100 points.

Extra credit possibilities:

-- On a random basis during the term, there will be at least twelve short quizzes in the first or last ten minutes of class. The quizzes will be based on the readings and lectures since the previous quiz, and will be graded on at least a four-point scale.

-- You may receive up to 20 points for thoughtful, relevant participation, either in class, office hours, or via e-mail.

-- During the course of the semester, you may choose to attend and write about one co-curricular event with a relationship to Women's Studies. This can be a lecture, film, WST brown bag, performance, roundtable, etc. Possibilities will be announced in class as they arise, and you are encouraged to announce any events that you might notice advertised in town or on campus. After the event, you must turn in a 1 page reflection which is worth a maximum of 10 points. The last day this assignment will be accepted is 25 November in class, but it is in your best interests to turn this in immediately after you have attended the event. ABSOLUTELY NO LATE EXTRA CREDIT PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Grading Scale:

180 or above= A

179-160 = B

159-140 = C

139-120 = D

Below 120 = E

Please note that your final grade will be based on the TOTAL number of points that you have earned. Do NOT convert your grades on individual assignments to percents. PERCENTAGES ARE ENTIRELY IRRELEVANT IN THIS GRADING SYSTEM.

Note that the total points possible for required elements of the course add up to 210. The quizzes, possible participation points, and the extra credit essay are extra. BUT YOU ONLY NEED 180 POINTS FOR AN "A". Since my grading policy has so many extra point possibilities, I do NOT give makeup exams, nor do I accept late work except under the circumstances outlined above.

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THESE POLICIES, so plan carefully.

On the bright side: If you need to miss an assignment for some reason, you can theoretically still receive a B or even an A if you do well on all other work.

Criteria for Grading:

A: Outstanding. Written work is careful and nuanced, conforms to standard written English, and displays consistency of usage and style. Student demonstrates near total familiarity with the readings. Student shows wide-ranging ability to make connections across readings and understand subtlety of argument. In addition, in classroom discussions s/he participates enthusiastically and with due attention to the readings.

B: Very good. Written work is clearly above average, with consistency of style and usage and only minor flaws. Participation is pertinent and thoughtful. The student demonstrates an ability to make linkages across disciplines and kinds of experience, and has clearly read all or nearly all of the assigned material.

C: Average. Directions followed. Student met minimal expectations, but missed several projects and did not always appear to keep up with the readings. Written work has many flaws. Student shows reasonable grasp of most concepts and demonstrates some ability to integrate experiences inside and outside of the classroom. There is at least some class participation.

D: Below expectations. Below what one would normally expect from a student at this level. Writing has major problems that impede understanding. Student fails to participate appropriately in the classroom, fails to turn in work, has excessive absences.

E: Well below expectations. Written work consistently falls below the college level, directions are ignored or misunderstood, help is not sought, absences and missed assignments are frequent, participation is inappropriate or nonexistent. Shows little or no grasp of concepts, and is unable to relate material from inside and outside of the classroom.

Appeals:

It is a good idea to hold onto all graded work in case there is a question about your grade. Grades are NOT negotiable, and no extra credit (other than that specified above) will be given. If you dispute a grade given to you, written complaints can be submitted within one week of receiving the grade. Be forewarned, however, that a disputed grade is just as likely to be lowered as anything else.

Dates to Remember:

19 September-- unrestricted course and complete withdrawal deadline

31 October-- restricted course withdrawal deadline

3 December-- restricted complete withdrawal deadline

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14 October-- midterm exam in class

4 November-- essay due in class

25 November-- last day to turn in your co-curricular event essay for extra credit

16 December-- final exam in our classroom at 6:40PM

CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED READINGS (readings are due on the dates noted)