General Studies (GNST) 201 S05
Inquiry Seminar in Communication and Culture
Gender, Sexuality, and Television
Fall 2007
TR 11:00-12:15

Instructor:	Dr. Dawn Johnston
Office Location:	SS 234
Office Phone:	403-220-3199
E-Mail:	debjohns@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	TR 10:00-11:00

Additional Information

Because this course examines representations of gender and sexuality in television, it is entirely possible - quite likely, in fact - that some of the material will be sexually explicit, and may challenge your comfort level with regards to portrayals of gender roles, sexuality, and sexual orientation.  This material is crucial to the course, so please consider your course selection carefully if you are concerned about your response to the material.

Course Description

This course engages students in the academic research process by examining some of the cultural milestones on television -- the programs or episodes that acted as turning points in significantly changing the way we think about gender and sexuality through popular culture. We will also look at the transitions -- the phases in our television history where we can see television, as a medium, responding to larger cultural shifts in thinking about gender and sexuality.

Objectives of the Course

The successful student will develop a deeper understanding of:

• how television, as a producer and reflector of cultural attitudes, has engaged in themes relating to gender and sexuality
• how knowledge is created, refined and circulated in an academic environment
• how to ask good questions and refine those questions through a recursive process of research and writing
• how to locate, read, evaluate, present and write about primary and secondary sources
• how to integrate source material into an original argument
• how to improve written work through drafting and redrafting
• how to profit from and critique other students' work
• how to enjoy being part of a knowledge-making community

Textbooks and Readings:

Required Readings: 

Keller, James R. and Leslie Stratyner.  The New Queer Aesthetic on Television.  Available in the University Bookstore

Online journal readings are posted on Blackboard.  Please note that you will be responsible for downloading and printing those readings for the designated classes.  These are required readings, but have been posted electronically rather than packaged as a custom readings package in order to reduce the cost to students. 

Assignments and Evaluation

All of the assignments in this course build toward the production of an academic research essay on one topic.  The goal is to immerse students in all of the important steps of the research process, and to allow for the kind of valuable feedback from peers and instructors that can genuinely improve the quality of the final research paper.   

Paper Proposal:        10%                            October 4

Annotated Bibliography: 10%                      October 18

Reading Presentation: 10%                        October 23 and 25

Draft of Paper: 15%                                      November 15

Final Paper: 30%                                          December 6

Final Presentation: 15%                               December 4 and 6

Participation: 10%                                        Ongoing 

Your paper proposal, due October 4^th, should be a short (1-2 pages) proposal for the research project you plan to undertake.  It should provide a background/context for your choice of topic, a specific research question, and an indication of how you plan to approach your research. 

Your annotated bibliography, due on October 18^th, should demonstrate your identification of 8-10 scholarly sources related to your research question.  You will be required to provide a properly formatted citation for each source, along with a 3-4 sentence description of the source and its value for your research. 

Your reading presentation, which will take place in class on October 23 or 25 (signup sheets will be available in class in preceding weeks), is designed for both your benefit and that of your classmates.  You are required to select one of the scholarly sources that you are using for your research and present it to the class.  This five-minute presentation should provide a synopsis of the reading, an analysis of its major argument(s), and a description of how/why this source works for your research paper. 

The draft of your paper, due on November 15, is one of the most important assignments in this course, as it will provide you with the opportunity to get specific feedback on your research and writing thus far, and allow you to make both substantial and minor revisions before your final paper is due. 

Your final paper is due in class on December 6.  This paper represents the culmination of your research throughout the semester, and should demonstrate your thorough engagement with your research question.  The paper should be 1500-2000 words (approximately 6-8 pages), should be properly formatted according to MLA or APA standards, and will be evaluated for its clarity, coherence, style, research, and overall effectiveness in answering your research question. 

Finally, you will be expected to make a five-minute presentation of your completed research to your classmates during the final week of class.  You will have work-shopped pieces of your essay at various stages throughout the course, and this is the chance to show your classmates where your research eventually took you.   

Because this is a seminar course, your participation is crucial.  To participate, you must be in attendance, have completed readings in advance, work as part of a small group, and attend at least two one-on-one meetings with the instructor.  In such a small class environment, your absence and/or lack of preparedness for class will hinder the experience for all your classmates.  Take advantage of the opportunity to work in a seminar environment - it's a real privilege in the first year of university! 

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  No

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see the U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be posted on Blackboard in the first week of classes.