Leddy Glenn
Martin 221
Office Hours: Tuesday/ Thursday 11-12, or by appointment
Phone: 543-4832
e-mail: glenn@cmsu1.cmsu.edu

Required Text:
Diana Kendall, Race, Class, and Gender in a Diverse Society: A Text Reader, (Mass: Allyn and Bacon, 1997).

There will be additional readings that will either be handed out by the instructor or available for you to check out from the reserve desk in the library.

Course Description:
This course provides an introductory exploration of the interrelations among gender, class, sexuality and race both historically and cross-culturally. This will be explored using an interdisciplinary approach and various kinds of materials, including literature, communication theory, life histories, media and law.

Course Outcomes:
After completing this course students, ought to be able to:

1. recognize and evaluate dominant racist, classist, sexist/gender, homophobic, ablest stereotypes in U.S. media and culture;

2. explicate how racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia are interrelated as they intersect and infuse U.S. economic and legal institutions;

3. appreciate diversity among and between different communities within the U.S.;

4. describe how diversity and privilege influences perception, gender identity, racial relations ad personal behavior among and between communities;

5. demonstrate an ability to analyze the ways diversity (inc., gender, race, sexuality, class, ect.) is socially constructed and reinforced through a variety of mediated discourses and texts.

Course Policies/Expectations:

1) Attendance and Participation
a) Due to the nature of the course (primarily based on readings with experimental activities) attendance is crucial; any student who misses more than three weeks (six days) of classes will fail the course.

b) Students should make every effort to participate in class; you are expected to come to class with assigned readings completed, prepared to participate in both the discussions and the activities; lack of sufficient participation will lower your final score.

c) Controversial subjects will be discussed in class, and personal information may be revealed; please demonstrate respect for the ideas and values of your colleagues through courteous discussion; in addition, please keep personal information confidential. Confidentiality is essential in order to ensure trust among class members.

d) As we discuss controversial issues, some discomfort should be expected; it is difficult to learn anything new without experiencing some dissonance; however, if any time you feel excessive distress over the material, feel free to ask for an alternative assignment.

2) Grading
a) The points for any particular assignments are earned through individual or team achievement as related to specific criteria for that assignment; grades are not curved.

b) The normal score for competent/ satisfactory work which meets expectations is a “C”; students desiring higher scores must meet higher expectations, please see instructor if unsure of expectations.

c) Students who miss completing a major assignment risk failing the course; incomplete will not be given, except in rare cases of a verifiable emergency.

d) Students have the right to challenge a particular score or exam item if they believe it to be unfair; all complaints should be brought to the instructor attention within (10) ten days of the occurrence of the grievance (see Student Handbook).

3) Makeup/Late Work Policy
a) Due to their nature, “pop” quizzes and in-class activities (those requiring oral, written, and/or group participation) cannot be made up.

b) Late assignments will not be accepted unless prior arrangement has been made with the instructor. Paper may be mailed over night, if the student cannot physically reach the university. Papers received after that time will not be accepted, regardless of the reason for the lateness (with the only exception a verifiable medical emergency).

4) Miscellaneous
a) It is impossible to cover every aspect of this course in the syllabus; additional important information will be provided to the student as the class progresses.

b) If you experience any problems with this course work, or some other concern, come see me (the sooner the better), and I will do my best to help you.

c) Students with a learning (or other) disability should provide documentation of their disability during the first week of class so that I can make arrangements to assist you in the successful completion of the course. “Accommodations aren’t special advantages, they’re an attempt to equalize opportunities and access.” –Carol Weinberg-

5) Academic Honesty
a) Students are expected to do original work in this class, cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated; suspected cases will be handled according to the steps outlined in the Student Handbook.

b) Cheating is defined as using or attempting to use, giving or attempting to give, obtaining or attempting to obtain, products or prepared materials that a student has been told to do alone and not in collaboration with others (such as the use of authorized notes during an exam, or fraudulently obtaining an exam or paper); plagiarism is defined as the use of someone else’s ideas without giving that person credit and copying of papers as well as not documenting sources.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal…” -Elizabeth Cady Stanton-

Femininity appears to be one of those pivotal qualities that is so important no one can define it. - Caroline Bird –

Assignments:

1. Exams (100 points; 25% of grade)
There will be (2) two major evaluation opportunities/exams (worth 50 points each), short answer, multiple choice, and essay on course content (lectures, discussions, readings and activities). Exams may be take-home or in-class.

2. Journal/ Workbook; (50 points, 12% of grade)
You will be keeping a notebook during the semester which will include your personal reactions to at least 16 class discussions, activities, readings, media events, etc. Journals will be taken up and graded (2) two times each semester; grading will be based on the quantity of your responses (a minimum of (1) one 8 by 11 page each, or its equivalent per entry). You should have at least 16 pages by the end of the semester.

3. Creative Projects (100 points; 25% of grade)
Each student will present for the entire class, a project on some outside reading/interview/topic on gender or issues related to human diversity. Projects can be presented individually, in dyads, or in small groups, as long as the form makes sense for the presentation, etc. All students will have the opportunity to work at any stage of the process with the instructor.

4. Project Discussion Paper (50 points; 13% of grade)
Each student will prepare one 3-5 page paper which will discuss how the topic or theme of the project was chosen, describe the process of putting together their project, explain benefits and challenges of doing the project, and a complete bibliography of sources used in the creation of the project. This paper will be turned in after the Creative Project is completed.

5. Structured Activities/Participation (100 points; minimum; 25% of grade)
At least 100 points will be earned through various in-class activities, designed to aid in awareness and application of course concepts and application of course concepts, and to adapt to different “learning styles.” Brief writing assignments will occur several times each semester. The purpose of which is to help students clarify their thought regarding readings before in-class discussion. In addition, there may be several short “pop” quizzes on the readings. Grading is based on observation and/or the satisfactory completion of a form based on the activity. Points in this category are not automatic with attendance- you have to actually participate!

360-400 points A
320-359 points B
280-319 points C
240-279 points D
below 239 points F

Total Points Possible: 400