This course examines the historical development of gender norms, identities and roles as they have been shaped and changed by cultural, historical, and political factors, and it will help you increase your understanding of the significance that gender plays in societies.  You will learn about the history and contributions of women in the arts and sciences, and you will be able to think critically on these issues and place yourself, as a male or female, within these contexts.
 

General Education Credit

This class earns general education credit and transfers to IAI participating schools as an H9 900 course.  In addition, it will help you to attain the following eight goals, deemed central to IVCC's general education program:

1. To apply analytical and problem solving skills to personal, social, and professional issues and situations.

2. To communicate orally and in writing, socially and interpersonally.

3. To develop an awareness of the contributions made to civilization by the diverse cultures of the world, including those within our own society.

4. To understand and use contemporary technology effectively and to understand its impact on the individual and society.

5. To work and study effectively both individually and in collaboration with others.

6. To understand what it means to act ethically and responsibly as an individual in one’s career and as a member of society.

7. To develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally, and spiritually.

8. To appreciate the ongoing value of learning, self-improvement, and career planning.

Required Texts

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. New York: Fawcett Crest, 1985.
Kimmel, Michael S. The Gendered Society. 4th Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Coburn, Tara.  Style Book. Oglesby, IL: IVCC, 2010.
Pipher, Mary.  Reviving Ophelia.  New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.
Xanedu Readings Packet available in the IVCC Bookstore.

Desired Attitudes Toward the Course

Students will respect each other's personal beliefs and be committed to helping each other learn more about the course information and themselves.  Students will help each other improve their written and oral communication skills so that each student may be more confident in his or her own unique personal voice and see the authority in his or her own personal experience. Above all students will be responsible for treating their instructors and each other with honesty, caring, respect, and fairness. Not treating others--whether classmates or instructors--in this manner will result in, first, a warning summons to the instructor's office hours and, then, withdrawal or failure from the course.

Attendance

You are expected to attend class regularly.  As part of this course, you will be participating in periodic classroom assessment activities; therefore, attendance is an extremely important factor in determining your success in the class. You may submit late work; however, be aware that I grade late work at my own discretion and convenience. If you miss class, then you should contact a classmate for notes or see me for any assignment instructions.  Please do not expect me to give you a private encore lecture. 

You will not be automatically withdrawn from this course if you stop attending; you must see or e-mail me by noon on November 5th to process that paperwork.  Please keep in mind, as well, that withdrawing from the course could affect your financial aid, so you may want to consult with a financial aid advisor before withdrawing from this class. 

Note:  School-sponsored field trips will be considered excused, but only if you notify your seminar director in advance of the trip.  Your work—papers, journal writings, etc.—must be turned in in advance of the trip.

Grading Scale:  A: 100-90     B: 89-80     C: 79-70     D: 69-60      F: 59-0

Breakdown of Grades/Assessment Measures:

Paper and Presentation:   20%     
Unit One Examination:   15%
Unit Two Examination:   15%
Unit Three Examination:   15%
Unit Four Examination:   15%
Class Participation:   20%

The Paper and Presentation: The eight to ten page paper will be a media critique of a popular film, television show, music album, or novel.  It must use MLA style, meaning, among other things, that it will be typed with one-inch margins and will include a Works Cited. The presentation will link that piece of media to an assigned chapter in Kimmel, exploring the connection between information in the Kimmel text and the messages in the media.  The papers will be evaluated on content and writing style, as is described in the college's Style Book. (If you know or suspect that your writing skills need improvement, please consider taking your draft to the Writing Center, which is free for students, for assistance.) The presentation will be judged on formality, professionalism, content, the discussion it elicits, and appearance.   More specific instruction on the paper and the presentation will be available later.

The Examinations: Unit examinations will have an objective multiple choice portion which will cover assigned readings and lecture material.  Each will also have an essay portion which may also include assigned readings and lecture material but will include seminar material, as well.  Exams must be taken during the assigned times; exceptions will be made on an individual basis only in response to dire situations. 

Class Participation: Class attendance is required for this course and will enhance your understanding of readings and lecture material.  Areas evaluated include your participation in discussion, as well quizzes, journal or other writing assignments, and presentations.  Extra credit may be given within this category for attending educational events relevant to topics covered in lecture.  Additionally, preparation for class, participation during class discussion, and punctuality contribute to these categories of evaluation.

 

Expected Student Outcomes

The student will learn to communicate with others using the latest technologies, including communicating with instructor via e-mail and utilizing webpages for assignments and instruction.

The student will synthesize lecture, discussion, and text materials to come to a more solid world view on the impact gender has on peoples' lives and to see that human history--and its social movements--are an ever-changing process.

The student will read texts with understanding and appreciation, reacting to and analyzing what he or she has read, and the student will listen actively to lectures, asking questions for clarification on ideas or issues, if needed.

The student will be able to summarize or explain how women are/were treated in various cultures through various periods of history.

The student will work collaboratively and cooperatively with peers and the instructors in writing about and responding to texts, lectures, or comments made by class members.

The student will integrate and cite accurately information of other writers, using other writers' opinions, beliefs, and/or observations to support his or her own opinions, beliefs, and/or observations.

The student will gain an appreciation of his/her own inherent individual worth, his/her place in the world, and the necessity for tolerance of difference and diversity and communication among different gender, racial, and social status groups.

Skills Necessary for Successful Completion

1.  Keep current on reading and writing assignments.

2.  Discuss how the issues being covered in class affect or concern you.

3.  Relate concepts that you learn in class to your life.

4.  Successful completion of papers, homework, presentations, journal entries, and exams, etc..


Assistance

Tentative Course Schedule

Ongoing Reading Assignments:  Read two sections of Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale every week. Starting August 20th you will have a Handmaid quiz every week, usually on Friday, on those sections. The first quiz will cover the first two sections in the book. The last quiz (the eighth) will cover all remaining material from the book, including the historical notes. Read two chapters of Pipher's Reviving Ophelia each week, for Ophelia quizzes which will be given once a week starting after mid-term. 

Note: Reading assignments listed on this schedule for which texts are not listed above can be found in the Xanedu packet, are web page links, or will be distributed in class. Some of the web links go to class lecture notes, which are often in PowerPoint.  To view these, you will need to either have PowerPoint or download the free PowerPoint viewer from Microsoft's website.

Textures by Eos Development