Northeastern
Spring 2007 syllabus for
SPCH 4623 and SPCH 5623
Rhetoric of Women’s Movements
(last updated 04.19.07)
Instructor: Amy Aldridge Sanford, PhD
Office: Leoser Center (Tahlequah Campus) Ext.: 2896
E-mail: aldridga@nsuok.edu (This is the best way to contact me)
Office Hours: See Contact Info on webpage.
Your professor’s philosophy of education: I am a facilitator of learning. The participants in any given classroom enter with different paradigms and truths. I aid in the exploration of those truths. I do NOT believe that the instructor is THE holder of Truth; therefore we must all participate to co-construct knowledge and create synergy. When a student starts to feel uncomfortable in his/her existing paradigm that means s/he is growing as a scholar. My desire is that all of my students feel the joy of discomfort from time to time.
Grading
Philosophy: I prefer intrinsic
motivations, and therefore, am not a fan of letter grades. I believe this extrinsic reward is too often
the only motivation for students to complete assignments. A college education should be viewed as a
privilege and an opportunity to become learned and scholarly. However, until there is a better system, grades
will be assigned in this class. Work
that meets the minimum requirements of an assignment, is completed on time and
displays average involvement with the course content is deserving of a
“C.” Higher grades are awarded to work
that goes above and beyond the minimum standards to produce papers and
presentations that reflect superior intellectual effort, excellence in critical
analysis and overall creativity in the approach towards any given
assignment. In other words, grades are
earned in this class. An “A” is
attainable but will require more than minimal effort.
Required Text:
Kolmar, Wendy K. and Frances Bartkowski. (2005). Feminist theory: A reader. Boston: McGraw Hill. ISBN: 0-07-282672-X.
Recommended Text:
Foss, Sonja K. (2004). Rhetorical criticism: Exploration and practice. (3rd ed.) Waveland Press. ISBN: 1577663187.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association (APA). (5th ed.)(2001). American Psychological
Association. ISBN: 1557987912.
Description of Course: This is a special topics course on the rhetoric of the women’s movements. It will be taught like a graduate seminar course. Emphasis will not be placed on lecture, but on class discussion, co-construction of knowledge, and analytical thought by the students.
Pre-requisites: Officially there are no pre-requisites for this class; however, a course in rhetorical criticism will be helpful to you.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, you will have…
Class Attendance: You are expected to attend class, but are allowed three hours of unexcused absences in this course. For every hour of unexcused absence over the three hours, there will be a 20-point deduction from your final point total. Absences will be excused only under the following circumstances:
I consider an excused absence one in which the absence is beyond your control. (For example, the time of a check up or a dental appointment CAN BE controlled). I will not excuse an absence in which you have to take somebody else to the doctor, hospital, dentist, court, etc. That is why I give you the three hours of unexcused absences. Use them wisely. I think good attendance is very important. All written documentation is due the class period before the final.
Missed/Late
Assignments:
Getting the Homework: If you miss class, please consult with one of your fellow students for the notes and/or homework. Write down to of your classmates’ names and phone numbers here:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you cannot reach either one of them after a few attempts, you should contact me.
Written Work: Assignments are due at the beginning of the hour. It is late after that. For each class session that an assignment is turned in late, you will be assessed a penalty of 10 points for that particular assignment.
E-mailing assignments/computer problems: You will need to submit most of your assignments in hard copy. On occasion, it will be possible to submit assignments via e-mail. Please note: your computer breaking, printer not working, etc. will never be accepted as an excuse for late work. It is your responsibility to begin work early enough to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. In addition, e-mailed work is recorded as “turned in” according the time stamp in the introduction to your message. “I got your address wrong” or “my e-mail wasn’t working” will not be accepted as reasons for late assignments.
Presentations: If you miss an assigned speech, we may not have time to allow you to present it later. If you know you are going to miss an assigned speech, trade speaking dates with someone in the class, and let the instructor know about the change. Failure to make a presentation will result in a zero for that assignment.
Class Participation: You are expected to attend class regularly and be prepared so that you may intelligently discuss assigned material. Proper preparation means reading the assigned chapters and completing daily assignments. Warning: This professor is well known for counting students absent when they are not prepared for class.
Food and Drink: I realize many of you probably do not have a lunch hour. Feel free to bring food and drink to
class. Just be sure to dispose of it
properly when you are finished.
Classroom Climate: The success of this course is directly
related to the sense of community that we will develop in this classroom. Participation is essential to this
process. I encourage you to share your views
and listen to those of others. Debate
and discussion are an important part of the learning process. While there will no doubt be disagreements, I
expect the members of this community (including myself) to challenge ideas in a
manner that reflects respect and recognition of opposing viewpoints without
attacking individuals. There is no doubt in my mind that
controversial topics will come up during the course of this class. They always do. If you are a person who is
easily offended by the topics of sex, alcohol, abortion, the death penalty,
racial stereotypes, and other potentially controversial topics, then it is
advised that you enroll in another communication course not taught by this
instructor.
Outline of Course: All of the following assignments and point totals are considered
tentative and may change over the course of the semester due to your progress
and interests. The readings provided here are for educational purposes
only. We will use them for teaching,
scholarship, research, criticism, and comment.
You cannot financially profit from these works.
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Readings |
Movies |
Due |
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WHAT IS FEMINIST THEORY? WHAT IS FEMINISM?
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K&B: “Reading Feminist Theory” (pp 2-6); #1 Treichler and Kramarae; #6 Delmar, #7 hooks; Treckel
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I was a Teenage Feminist |
Due 2/5: Defining Feminism essay (see below)
Due 1/29: RR1 (Foss) |
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FIRST WAVE 1792-1920
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K&B: “Introduction” (pp 62-63); #9 Wollstonecraft; Griffin K&B: #11 Stanton; #13 Truth; #17 Anthony; #19 Douglass
K&B: #27 Jones; Tonn & Kuhn |
The story of
Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony I also recommend
a great docu-drama: Iron Jawed Angels |
Due 1/31: RR2
(Intro, #9, and Due 2/7: RR3 (11, 13, 17, 19)
Due 2/21: RR4 (27, Tonn & Kuhn)
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FINAL PAPER: PROPOSAL |
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Due: 2/14: Proposal due for final paper |
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A BRIEF HERSTORY |
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Due 2/26: RR5 (GenderSpeak) |
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SECOND WAVE 1963-1975
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K&B: “Introduction” (pp196-197); #42 Friedan; #44 NOW; #45 Freeman |
Guest Speaker: Thea Nietfield |
Due 2/28: RR6 (Intro, 42, 44, 45)
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FINAL PAPER: OUTLINE |
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Due 3/7: Outline for final paper due |
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PROFILES |
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Due 3/12 and 3/14: Profiles OR Women’s History Month project (see below) |
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1975-1985
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K&B: “Introduction” (pp 290-291); #74 Gilligan; choice from Part V
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Free to be…you and
me Stepford Wives (1975) |
Due 4/2: RR7 (Intro, #74, choice)
Due 4/9: RR8 (Dow, Stepford Wives) |
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FINAL PAPER: PRESENTATION |
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Due 4/11: Final Paper Presentations |
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THIRD WAVE 1985-1995 |
Faludi, Backlash Ch 5 A recommended article from Bitch magazine Spring 2007: Gamber |
Fatal Attraction |
Due 4/18: RR9 (Faludi, Fatal
Attraction) |
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FINAL PAPER |
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Due 4/23: Final Paper due |
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1995-today
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K&B:
“Introduction” (pp 530-531); #95
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The Vagina Monologues Wife Swap |
Due 4/23: RR10 (Intro, 95, 100)
Due 4/30: RR11 (Fairclough, Wife
Swap) |
Grading:
Defining Feminism Essay (10%): In an essay not to exceed 2 pages (double spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman, at most 1” margins), define what feminism is to you. Feel free to draw on the assigned readings and the movie from the WHAT IS FEMINIST THEORY? WHAT IS FEMINISM? section of the above schedule. You may also quote from additional sources. In addition to defining feminism, you must answer one question: According to your definition of feminism, are you a feminist? Please include a bibliography of any sources used.
Reading Responses (20%): Reading responses are reflections you have on the reading (focusing particularly on artifacts and rhetorical devices since this a rhetoric class). They should be one to two pages and thoroughly thought out. Mark up your book/articles while you are reading and discuss the most interesting things to you in your reading response for that chapter. Reading responses should include brief summaries of the text (be sure to use page numbers when directly quoting from the readings), your analysis of the material, and examples when appropriate. This will add depth to your responses. At the end of your response, write some possible discussion questions. Students will be chosen at random to share their responses and lead the class in discussion. This will also affect your participation grade.
Profiles (10%): Teach your classmates more about a person who played a significant role in the women’s movement pre-1960. You may choose one of our textbook authors (including those we have not read) or venture out and find someone else. The figure may be either female or male. Provide historical data on the individual, but spend the majority of your presentation focusing on the rhetorical artifact(s) that person provided and the effect on the national discourse. Presentations should be 5 to 7 minutes. Please include a bibliography of any sources used. Please see the rubric for grading criteria. Visiting the Communication Lab (ext. 2875) will help your performance.
OR
Women’s History Month Project (10%): Plan and implement a project during the month of March that promotes women’s history. An individual, dyad, or group may do the project. Pre-approval from Amy required.
Final Paper (30%): You must choose an artifact (e.g., book, play, website, speech, movie, television show, song, poster) and write a feminist rhetorical criticism about that artifact. You should model your paper after the rhetorical criticisms you have read in class (see Griffin, Tonn & Kuhn, Dow, and/or Fairclough). Graduate students’ papers should be at least 14 pages in length (not including cover pages and reference pages). Undergraduate papers must be a minimum of 8 pages (not including cover pages and reference pages). They should be formatted in APA style (i.e., double spaced, 12 point TNR font, 1” margins). Ideally I’d like to see some of your papers submitted to a scholarly conference. Please pay attention to deadlines throughout the semester pertaining to this paper.
Final Paper Presentation (10%)
In a 6-8 minute speech, educate your audience with the material you gathered in your final paper. This gives your cohorts an opportunity to learn from your research efforts and rhetorical criticism. Remember, you are the expert in this room on your particular topic. You will be required to submit both an outline and bibliography before your presentation. You may only use the outline during your presentation. Please see the rubric for the grading criteria. Visiting the Communication Lab (ext. 2875) will help your performance.
Class Participation (20%):
Students will receive a zero (no credit), 5 (half credit), or 10 (full credit) during each class to represent his/her participation during that class session. Simply talking does not guarantee full credit for class participation. Students are expected to make intelligent verbal contributions to the class. A student’s discourse should reflect his/her knowledge of the text and his/her ability to synthesize that knowledge with further theoretical implications and application.
"A
grade (is) an inadequate report of an inaccurate judgment by a biased and variable
judge of the extent to which a student has attained an undefined level of
mastery of an unknown proportion of an indefinite amount of material."
(Author Unknown)
Class Grievances:
I am willing to meet with you to discuss our class and/or particular assignments. I ask that you please wait 24 hours after you have received a graded assignment to come see me. Before we discuss your work, you are required to type out a document detailing what particular elements of your work you feel merit discussion.
Students with Disabilities: If any member of the class feels that he or she has a disability and requires special accommodations, of any nature whatsoever, I will work with you to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class. Please advise me of such disability and the desired accommodations at the close of the first class period. Students with disabilities who need accommodations to achieve course objectives should visit the Office of Student Affairs, Ext. 2120.
Plagiarism: According to Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary (1983, 2nd Ed.), to plagiarize is “to steal or pass of ideas or words of another as one’s own…to use created productions without crediting the source…to commit literary theft…to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source” (p.1371). Students in this course will be responsible for authenticating any assignment submitted to the instructor. If asked, you must be able to produce proof that the assignment you submitted is in fact your own work. Therefore, it is recommended that you engage in a verifiable working process on assignments. Keep copies of all drafts of your work, make photocopies of research materials, write summaries of research materials, keep logs or journals of your work on assignments and papers, learn to save drafts or versions of assignments under individual file names on computer diskettes, etc. In addition to requiring a student to authenticate his/her work, the instructor may employ various other means of ascertaining authenticity—such as engaging in internet searches, creating quizzes based on student work, requiring students to explain their work and/or process orally, etc.
NSU’s policy on Academic Misconduct (from http://www.nsuok.edu/policies/academic/misconduct.html): Academic misconduct includes cheating (using unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise), plagiarism, falsification of records, unauthorized possession of examinations, intimidation, and any and all other actions that may improperly affect the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement, or assisting others in any such act or attempts to engage in such acts. Academic misconduct in any form is inimical to the purposes and functions of the University and therefore is unacceptable and prohibited. Any faculty member, administrator or staff member may identify an act of academic misconduct and should report that act to the department head/college dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs or administrative supervisor. Students violating the standards of academic honesty are subject to disciplinary action including reduction of a grade(s) in a specific course, assignment, paper, or project; a formal or informal reprimand at the professorial, dean, or academic vice president level; expulsion from the class in which the violation occurred; expulsion from a program; or expulsion from the University.
Inclement
Weather/Disaster Policy: The following are basic premises for the inclement
weather policy at Northeastern State University:
1.
Classes are expected to be held if at all possible.
2. It is the student's responsibility to receive the
information when weather is questionable.
3. Neither students nor faculty are expected to
risk life or limb.
4. Faculty members are obligated to hold classes if
the University is not closed, unless the faculty member is unable to get to
campus.
Policy:
During times of inclement weather, decisions concerning day classes will be
made by 6:00 a.m. in order for the media to be notified and for students to
receive the announcement before they leave home. Decisions concerning night
classes will be made by 3:00 p.m.
The
following media will be notified regarding closing of the campus:
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Radio Stations |
Television Stations |
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KRMG 740 AM Tulsa |
KJRH Channel 2 Tulsa |
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KAYI 107 FM Tulsa |
KOTV Channel 6 Tulsa |
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KTLQ 1350 AM Tahlequah |
KTUL Channel 8 Tulsa |
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KEOK 102 FM Tahlequah |
KFSM Channel 5 Fort Smith |
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KBIX 1490 AM Muskogee |
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Common
courtesies: