Overview

Topics

Introduction to Gender Studies

Sylvia Plath and the 1950's

The Poisonwood Bible & Barbara Kingsolver

Toni Morrison's Beloved


Course Goals

1. To examine traditional stereotypes about gender in our culture and see how contemporary writers have either challenged or perpetuated these stereotypes
2. To gain a working knowledge of nineteenth and twentieth century "women's movements" in order to enrich our understanding of both male and female perspectives on American history.
3. To expand our ideas about the power of literature to describe the human condition by reading literature which acts as both a "mirror" of our own lives and a "window" into the lives of people who are different from us.
4. To strengthen reading, writing, and vocabulary skills as preparation for college coursework -- in particular, literary analysis skills
5. To promote independent learning through writing and reading assignments, small group activities, student-led seminars, and presentations.

Reading assignments to include the following genres:
Short stories from the 19th century to the early 21th century
Essays and articles from current newspapers and magazines
Poetry from different historical eras
20th and 21st century American novels
Writers to be chosen from the following list:
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Kate Chopin
Virginia Woolf
Sylvia Plath
Anne Sexton
Simone de Beauvoir
Germaine Greer
Toni Morrison
Alice Walker
Marge Piercy
Julia Alvarez
Sandra Benitez
Audre Lorde
Barbara Kingsolver
Carole Shields
Jamaica Kincaid
Jhumpa Lahira


GRADING
I use a regular system of cumulative points, with standard percentage weights. I will update my grades online every other week so you will know where you stand. The points in a semester usually break down in the following manner:

Homework and journal entries:                     15%
Oral presentations and seminar discussions: 10%
Lit comprehension quizzes/tests:              25%
Major writing assignments:              50%



CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS

1. Come to class on time. No exceptions.
2. Adhere to the attendance policy and inform me when you need to be absent from class.
3. Keep up with the readings assignments on the unit syllabus. This can be found on my website. Whenever possible, reread. Be prepared for unannounced comprehension quizzes.
4. Written homework will be graded down a full grade for every class period it is late. If you are having trouble completing an assignment for whatever reason, talk to me. Communication can solve many problems. (I love to work with students on their writing! Come see me!)
5. Listen to others with respect and state your ideas out loud. I strive to build an atmosphere of mutual respect and full participation. Talking about race, class, and gender can be delicate, and everyone needs to feel safe participating in our discussions.
6. You will receive a thin ring binder for your reader-response journal. Whether you write journal entries by hand or on your laptop, you must keep them in this notebook so that the journal is cumulative. Hang on to your notebook; it will record your impromptu ideas on the topics we are covering in this course.
7. One requirement of this course is attending or creating an off-campus event which broadens your cultural horizons. Start thinking about this.