Frosh Comp 3B05 - Gender in Writing Monday/Wednesday 2:15-3:30 Building 50, Room 51B Instructor: Linda Garber [LGLG@LELAND.STANFORD.EDU] Stanford University Winter 1993 The subject of this course is gender politics; the object is to improve communication skills by writing a lot, both formally and informally. The Subject Since we are all, to quote my friend Tim, "persons of gender", I assume that the subject of this course is relevant to all of us. Of course, we are also persons of various individual histories, classes, ages, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual preferences, and of both genders; I assume that we bring different, valuable perspectives to the personal experience and the political analysis of gender. During the first quarter, we will cover topics including stereotypes, nonsexist language, economics, work, and sexual violence. Readings will be drawn from mass media and feminist and men's movement sources. Always bring your reader to class with you. The Object There are two basic principles guiding this class: 1) The only direct route to becoming a better writer is practice; 2) We can learn a lot by listening, reading, and responding to each other's ideas and writing. You will receive credit for two kinds of writing this quarter: 1) Formal essays; 2) Two types of journal entries: Writing journals, in which you comment on your own work and progress; Reading journals, in which you keep notes on assigned reading, sometimes using specific methods that will be explained when they're assigned. Only formal essays will receive letter grades, but your final grade also will depend upon completion of the writing and reading journals, participation in class discussions, and attendance at two individual or group conferences. Formal essays Must be typed or word-processed, double-spaced; should have a title, but need not have a separate title page; must be turned in with a hand-written or printed-out first draft, which you have proofread and edited. Proofreading on a typewriter or computer screen (even with a spell-check) is not enough to catch errors of grammar, syntax, and meaning; should be identified with the last four digits of your phone number. Please do not put your name on your formal essays. For certain assignments, anonymity will be desirable when students read each other's work. Reading and Writing Journals May be typed, word-processed, or neatly handwritten in black or blue ink on 8 1/2 x 11" paper; should follow guidelines specifically explained for each assignment. At different (and perhaps unpredictable) times, you will be asked to write in your reading and/or writing journals during the class period. Make sure to bring 8 1/2 x 11" lined paper to every class meeting. Hard and Fast Rules 1) Assignments are due at the beginning of class, which begins at 1:15 sharp. 2) You may have one late paper without incurring a grade penalty, but only if you request an extension by the class before the paper is due. Plan ahead! Otherwise, late papers will be penalized 1/3 grade per day. (e.g., A to A-; B- to C+). 3) You may have one unannounced absence from class; otherwise please let me know ahead of time if you can't attend on a particular day. More than one unannounced absence and/or more than three absences overall will affect your grade. Absence never excuses you from completing an assignment. I hate rules like these as much as you do, but the smooth running of the class depends upon attendance and full participation. I am a reasonable and compassionate person, but make no mistake: I will enforce grade penalties. I - Wednesday, January 6 - Introduction / Stereotypes Introductions and anxieties What is a stereotype: "The Enemies of She Who Call Her Various Names" (NOTE: This poem is a litany of offensive names that men call women; assigning it has made me the subject of an article in The Stanford Review, a right-wing "independent student newspaper", and led to a crackpot letter to my supervisor and the university president, calling for my dismissal. Nothing has or probably will come of it, but assign this poem advisedly!) and "Sure You Can Ask Me a Personal Question" Clustering II - Monday, January 11 - Self-Evaluation / Showing-Telling Self-evaluation writing exercise Showing/telling Grading rubric Basic steps of writing a research paper Wednesday, January 13 - Gender Stereotypes Read-Around Groups (RAG), Personal Narrative #1 - "Describe a time when you benefitted or were discriminated against because of your gender." Research Paper Topics - brainstorm III - Monday, January 18 - NO CLASS - Martin Luther King's Birthday Wednesday, January 20 - Gender Stereotypes / Topic to Thesis Free write/discussion: Varon, "The State of the Gender" Alda, "What Every Woman Should Know About Men" Kimmel, "Issues for Men in the 1990s" How to move from topic to thesis, and use of research in doing so Friday, January 22 - Library Tour meet in lobby of Green Library for tour with Kathy Kerns - bring preliminary cluster on research topic IV - Monday, January 25 - Gender and Language RAG Personal Narrative #2 - opposite situation of Personal Narrative #1 Introduction - gendered language Note cards Wednesday, January 27 - Gender and Language Free write/discussion: Miller and Swift, "One Small Step for Genkind" McFadden, "In Defense of Gender" Evaluate "best" papers re: gendered language V - Monday, February 1 - Outlines: Why and How? Literature review DUE Sign Up for Conference #1 (Friday, 2/5) Cluster and sources --> Outline Wednesday, February 3 - Argument / Gender, Work, Economics Free write/discussion: Woo, "The Gap Between Striving and Achieving" Funiciello, "The Poverty Industry" Friday, February 5 - Conference #1 Discuss lit review, thesis, outline VI - Monday, February 8 - More Arguing RAG Argument Essay Wednesday, February 10 - Outline / Gender, Work, Class RAG Outline Free write/discussion: Galbraith, "The Higher Economic Purpose of Women" Syfers, "I Want a Wife" Clatterbaugh, "The Feminization of Work in the '90s" VII - Monday, February 15 - NO CLASS - Presidents' Day Wednesday, February 17 - From Outline to First Draft Revised argument essay DUE Outline returned Sign up for conference #2 (Wednesday 3/3) VIII - Monday, February 22 - Violence Against Women Free write/discussion: Caputi and Russell, "Femicide" Hirsch, "Fraternities of Fear" hooks, "Feminist Movement to End Violence" Ewing, "The Creed of Violence and the Language of Non-Violence" Wednesday, February 24 - First Draft First Draft DUE - RAG in pairs IX - Monday, March 1 - Second Draft Second (or First) Draft - RAG in different pairs Course Evaluation Wednesday, March 3 - Conferences Conference #2 - re: first draft - NO CLASS X - Monday, March 8 NO CLASS Wednesday, March 10 Final Draft DUE - NO CLASS note: RAG means "read-around groups" - i.e., students reading and responding to one another's work