Assessment

Gender and Identity: Socy 302 Assessment

We will have two assessments in this section of the course. In order to write my exam you need to complete both assessments and achieve above 40% average.

1. essay (four to five typed pages)

Choose from one of the following topics:

Critically discuss the different viewpoints put forward on sexuality by the essentialist and social constructionist position.

OR

Deconstruct the gendered concept `masculinity’. You may draw on referenced examples from the movie Thelma and Louise, as well as movie reviews to illustrate your answer.

Due date: 24th ‘April 2008 12 noon to the department administrator Niel 2. Group presentation and essay

You will write a short 4- 5 page essay on one of the feminist perspectives after you have worked in a group and delivered a group presentation. Part of your presentation requires you to give a one page handout to your class mates and to me. This is compulsory for assessment purposes. You must also use overheads or the board as they will need this information for the exam. Remember you are teaching them the theory you are researching, thus you need to do it thoroughly and present it well. If you bring me your summary TWO days before your presentation I will make copies for you, else it is your responsibility. You will be assessed on your presentation in terms of delivery and content.. Marks will be deducted if there are no handouts. Within contemporary theory there are a variety of feminist perspectives and a number of theorists within each one, namely liberal, radical, marxist and so on. Your task is to teach one feminist perspective to the class as well as write up a paper for assessment. I will allocate you into groups and give you a perspective to study and teach. This is what you need to do. Questions to include

Identify the main thesis of the perspective you are analysing. What are its key theoretical ideas. Start by understanding the key concepts such as equality or patriarchy or duality, public/private, class What are the strengths of this theory? How does it help you understand the world you live in today as a man or woman? What critique do authors offer? What do you think is the downfall of this theory (your idea based on your lived experience) Identify one or two main contributors to this perspective and detail their ideas.

Presentation guide Read the texts I have provided

• Draw on at least 4 texts from the library in books or in journals such as Signs, Feminist Review Only one internet reference allowed
• You need to draw on original material (i.e. written by the theorist you identify) as well as material written by other authors on this theorist.
• Your presentation is a group one and is required to be on overheads or the board. Feel free to drawn on poems, art, movies etc. I am happy to provide you with overheads and a pen.
• Your presentation counts for 15 marks (see below)
• You need to develop a one page typed handout for each of your class mates to be given to them when you do your presentation.
• Remember you are teaching them the theory you are researching, thus you need to do it thoroughly and present it well. You need this section for the exam.
• You will be assessed on your presentation in terms of delivery and content.. Marks will be deducted if there are no handouts.
• You paper is an individual effort and is required to be 4-5 typed pages, 12 point Times new Roman with a complete reference page.
• Failure to reference and include a reference page will receive 0%
• Assessment guide Group presentation 15 marks Introduction 5 marks Main argument 50 marks Conclusion 5 marks Reference in the essay 10 marks Reference page 10 marks Spelling, presentation 5 marks (please use a spell check) Total: 100 marks This is part of your course assessment and DP Group 1 & 2 Perspective - Liberal Feminism (choose two) Theorists - Mary Wollenstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor, Betty Friedan, Naomi Wolf Group 3 & 4 Perspective – Radical Feminism (choose two) Theorists – Shulasmith Firestone, Kate Millett, Mary Daly, Adrienne Rich, Andrea Dworkin, Catharine Mackinnon Group 5 & 6 Perspective – Marxist Feminism (must do all below) Theorists – Look at the origin in Engels, Simone De Beauvoir, Michele Barrett Group 7 & 8 Perspective – Socialist Feminism (do both) Theorists – Juliett Mitchell, Zillah Eisenstein Group 9 & 10 Perspective – Black Feminism/African Feminism (choose three) Theorists – bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, Angela Davis, Alice Walker

Due date: 15th May 2008 12 noon to the department administrator Niel

Essay writing tips

The writing of an academic essay is based on research. There are key steps that must be followed to present well structured and content rich essays. The following are important steps: Step one: planning Note the due date Plan when you will brainstorm your topic, go to the library, write your first draft, edit, rewrite and edit. Step two : understanding the topic Analyse the topic make sure you understand the essay question

(Paragraph rule One idea is explored per paragraph. The first sentence of the paragraph should tell the reader what the main point is. Then discuss this point using readings and your own thoughts. The last sentence of your paragraph refers to what is coming next. This is called a linking sentence)

Step three: researching the topic Write down all your own thoughts and ideas on the topic. Go to the library. Don’t rely on the internet Summarise and reference what ever you read Step four: summaries Look at the topic again and check if your summaries are directly related to the topic. Discard those that are not. Do you need more information? In what specific area? If so do the literature search again.

Step five: the essay plan Write an essay plan 8-10 points long. Begin with the introduction. Remember an essay contains an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Remember to use different paragraphs. Step six : writing Now begin to write your essay in a number of well organised paragraphs. Remember each paragraph should make sense on its own and should link to the next one. When you are drawing on the readings do not plagiarise. Reference any idea which is not your own. Do not overquote. Step seven: editing Read your essay and if possible get someone else to read it. Read it to see if it makes sense and then read it again to pick up spelling, grammatical and other errors. Edit and fix mistakes. Editing is very important. If anything does not make sense to you then redo that paragraph. Then read the whole essay again. Do not use sexist language, use `person’ instead of `man’, unless quoting directly. Sexist language is exclusionary. Do not use slang. Also write out words in full. E.g. `Do not’ instead of `don’t’. When using abbreviations write out the name in full, e.g. African national congress with ANC after in Brackets e.g. African National Congress (ANC). Thereafter you can use the abbreviated form only.

Step seven: presentation Type on 12 point Times new roman font Do not use pictures in the essay or on the cover page Do a cover page with all your details on as explained in workbook one Number your pages Staple your essay Make a copy for yourself. Hand in on time. A late penalty of 5% per day will be deducted