Cuyahoga Community College
Metropolitan Campus
Liberal Arts Division
Spring 2007
WST 1510
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN”S STUDIES 03 Credits
*Concurrent enrollment in WST 1820 for 01 credit is recommended for CSU
potential transfers
Dr. D. Salem Metro MLA 103F (Office)
Office hours: MW 8-11 am.; TTh 8-9:30/11 - 12 or by appointment.
Phone: 216-987-4515 FAX: 216-987-4520 Email address:
dorothy.salem@tri-c.edu
You can find all forms and materials on the Blackboard website accessible through http://My.tri-c.edu
Course
Description:
an introduction to the field of women's studies, which transcends
traditional disciplinary boundaries. The course will analyze gender’s role in
shaping human societies of the past and present: their history and experiences,
their expression through the arts and literature, the philosophy of feminism,
and comparative conditions of women in diverse cultures. Women's Studies courses
help students to discover and communicate new knowledge about women and to
re-interpret existing knowledge.
Women's Studies courses will provide the knowledge and self-awareness to prepare
students effectively for their lives in the workplace, family, and community;
link students to the community and workplace; encourage transfer to universities
by creating academic cooperation with Cleveland State University, which has a
major in women’s studies; and meet the diversity requirements at several
transfer institutions
Course Text:
Kesselman, et.
al., Women: Images and Realities, 3nd edition, NY: McGraw-Hill,
2003 or 4th, 2008.
Objectives: Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the social processes that shape the values and beliefs about gender in the United States.
Apply methodology and content from various disciplines in analysis of gender in
a global and historical context.
Read, summarize, and evaluate articles reflecting culturally diverse authors and
content.
Describe the institutional and cultural changes that lead to changes in women?s
roles and self-awareness (cause and effect relationships).
Describe the principles and perspectives of women's studies through thoughtful
and articulate discussion or through logical, well-developed written
assignments.
Modify thinking based on the new information and apply new facts and ideas to
individual life situations.
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between science, society and
technology and their influence on changing life chances for women.
Examine how dynamics of group interaction based on class, ethnicity, and
experience shape the definition of gender.
Analyze how gender influences education, socialization, and political behavior
in American society.
Recognize incidents of sexism in media advertising or publications.
Interpret literature and visual arts as they relate to women's issues.
Identify the various definitions of feminism and the popular response to the
term.
Compare and contrast individual and collective experiences of women in the
family, workforce, politics, and sexuality.
Identify the cycle of domestic violence and abuse and evaluate techniques to
address such behaviors.
Use the computer to obtain information for class assignments.
Grading:
The Student will be assessed through the following methods:
The total grade is based on 600 possible points.
Exams (100 pts. each) on reading materials and lecture topics and will include both objective and short essay format to test the student’s general understanding of concepts and readings. If the student attends/watches regularly and takes notes on class lecture and reading summaries, good performance on the exams should follow. These will be taken at the Testing Centers during the weeks noted on Schedule. Students can bring one note card up to a half sheet of typing paper size with any details written on it. Note card will be turned in with the exam.
Written Projects:
100 pts Choose only one of the three below.
1. Experiential Exercises (25 pts each): Complete four of the five. a]Body
Image, b]Myself and My Mother, c] Man/Woman Associations, d]Victim Viewpoint, e]
Assertiveness. See descriptions on each. Some require a small group or another
person to participate. See complete descriptions under Assignments
2. Stereotyping exercise (100 pts): Analyze magazines, advertisements
(television, visual displays, radio), sports, works of art, or services related
to women. There must be at least ten examples from which to make comparisons and
conclusions. Make copies or attach clippings, which depict what you are
analyzing. Analyze how these cultural representations portray women (what do
they do, how do they look, positioning, etc.)? What differences are represented?
How do these representations compare with reality? (Apply what you have learned
in the pertinent readings).
3. Personal Journal/Clipping analysis (100 pts): Keep a journal during the
semester. Write about your gender experiences during the week or perceptions you
have at work, home, school, in religious environments, etc. Cut out and
highlight newspaper or magazine articles that apply to women. Minimum: one entry
and one article per week (ten total)
Volunteer service (100 points):
Perform at least 5 hours of volunteer service at a department or agency that
meets women's needs. Provide documentation of your service along with a brief
explanation of your choice of agencies. (50 points) Write a 1-3 page report
about your experience and attach one article from the internet related to your
agency’s issue (s) (50 points). For suggestions, contact your instructor.
Reading Summaries (20 points each):
Students will complete 5 of the readings in Kesselman, Women: Images and
Reality, which are
not
assigned on the Readings list. They should be turned in through the Assignments
page on Blackboard and follow the guidelines on the Article Review Sheet or they
can be handwritten and turned in during class on the form for the Article Review
located under Course Materials. They should be read and reviewed within a week
of the assigned topic.
Discussion Board (100 pts.) This is the easiest way to earn points. Participate on Discussion Board in responding to the Forums. There will be ten (approximately one per week) forums put up. If you participate well in that format, you will receive full credit. Students attending class regularly can earn part of their grade through class participation, but will still have to respond to 5 forums on Discussion Board.
Extra Credit: Attendance at College or community events associated with Women’s Studies topics can count for 5 points each (10 total) if the student provides a program or something to verify attendance and evaluates how the event was related. If you hear about an event, let other students know through Discussion Board.
Grading scale:
540-600=A
480-539=B
420-479=C
360-419=D
Below 360=F
POLICIES
Attending (in-class) students:
Regular attendance is required. An instructor may withdraw a student for
excessive absence if the student has missed the equivalent of three hours of
instruction unless arrangements satisfactory to the instructor can be made by
the student to demonstrate that he/she can make acceptable academic progress.
Attendance is directly correlated with achievement, but is solely the
responsibility of the student.
Withdrawal:
Students may withdraw from any semester course prior to April 13th for any
reason. Specific withdrawal dates are available by term in the Campus Admissions
and Records Offices or published in the Schedule booklet. Withdrawal from a
course prior to the last day of the second week of the semester will have no
notation made in permanent records, withdrawal thereafter will be noted with a
W.
If a student misses class time for the equivalent of one week of instruction, an
instructor has the option to withdraw the student for excessive absence. The
instructor may elect not to exercise this option, however, and it is the
student’s responsibility to make sure that an official withdrawal takes place.
All transactions involving withdrawal from courses shall be done in writing and
on forms provided by the college. A student’s failure to attend classes shall
not constitute an official withdrawal.
Keep your
records!!
Incompletes:
A notation of “I” indicates that a student has not completed all course
requirements as a result of circumstances judged by the instructor to be beyond
the student’s control. To receive an Incomplete the student must have completed
half of the work. A student must complete all course requirements no later than
the end of the sixth week of the academic term in which the Incomplete was
noted. Failure to complete such requirements will result in an F (failing)
grade. See Schedule booklet for the last day to remove incomplete grades.
Make-up Exams:
The student must be take all exams in the campus testing centers. Contact
instructor re: individual circumstances.
Additional Academic Policies:
Time required: One semester hour of college credit requires two hours of
significant student study outside of class for each one-hour of class time per
week. This is a 03/04 credit hour CCC/CSU course, which will require an average
of 6-8 hours per week outside of class in studying. Together with class and
outside study, this course should require an average of 9-12 hours of effective
student effort per week for the entire semester.
Cheating on any exam or assignment will result in an automatic zero. Remember
the purpose of education is to learn skills and information. If you cheat, you
are cheating yourself. Plagiarism on written class projects is stealing one’s
words and using them as your own. Quote specific wording or paraphrase and give
credit to the original author.
The College Policy on Plagiarism can be found
at:
https://portal.tri-c.edu/facdev/docs/academic%20dishonesty.htm
If you need accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share, or if you will need assistance in the event of an evacuation, please discuss this with me in private or contact the Access* Office.
.
*ACCESS Programs coordinate services to students with disabilities at CCC and help to ensure that College programs and activities are accessible to qualified individuals with disabilities, as mandated by Federal Law. ACCESS provides academic, career, personal and financial aid advising, special accommodations for students with disabilities, as well as opportunities for socialization and attendance at cultural events. Services provided by ACCESS include tutoring, test proctoring, interpreters, adaptive equipment, readers and/or scribes for exams, alternative test-taking arrangements, alternative format for printed materials, and textbooks on tape.
Study skills can
help a student's reading, homework, and tests. The College has courses to
develop these study skills. If you are having difficulty, come in during office
hours (bring notebook) to ascertain study skills or related difficulties. Tests
are changed each semester to avoid cheating. Advice for course: Be there. Be
Prepared. Think.
Miscellaneous
Behaviors:
The College assumes all students in attendance are adults with an understanding
of courtesy to fellow class members. Private discussions show discourtesy to
class members. Cells phones should not ring during class. Participation in class
discussions is encouraged within the class structure. When you leave a message
on answering machine, speak slowly and clearly leaving me a current phone
number. Any written work submitted outside the Blackboard site MUST have your
name on all pages. If you send me an email, put your name and course number in
the subject line.