General Studies (GNST) 201 S01
Inquiry Seminar in Communication and Culture
Fall 2008
Friday 10-12:50

 

Instructor:	Dr. Rozmin Jaffer
Office Location:	SS - 209
Office Phone:	TBA
E-Mail:	mailto:rusted@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	By Appt.

 

 Course Description

A seminar designed to introduce first year students to intellectual discovery from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will have the opportunity to interact with other students and faculty member while exploring a topic in depth in a small class setting. Writing, research and other academic skills will be learned in the context of this exploration.

Objectives of the Course

You will explore the ways in which international development is understood and taken up in the literature. This course will give students the opportunity to consider the various roles that women and the environment have historically taken within the development ‘establishment'. We will delve into various critical issues relating to women in developing countries today.

Textbooks and Readings  

Visvanathan, N et. al. The Women, Gender & Development Reader 

This textbook can be read online at no charge through the MacKimmie Library. We will choose various readings from this book and these can also be printed by the student. 

In addition the above textbook can be bought from either the Bookstore or the Used Bookstore. You will find these books in the development studies area of the bookstore.

Other related materials indicated for particular classes will be either on reserve in the library. 

Assignment Overview

In this course all the assignments are pieces of a single large research project.

Let's start with the final assignment first, as it's the target for the entire course.

Final Project: Due November 14 (40%).

Your final project should be between 1750 and 2000 words (7-8 pages double spaced). You will argue a specific thesis supported by a term's worth of reading and research.  It should be clear from reading your paper why the issue is important and what your research has to contribute to the debate.  A minimum of ten references would be a good ballpark figure; you may find yourself using lots more.

 Final presentation: Due Some time after November 14 (10%)

This is an oral presentation of your final project, presented some time after November 14.  It is quite different from, and larger than, your reading presentation: it is your presentation of your entire project, not just a single piece of reading.

Draft of Research Proposal:  Due Oct 24 (15%)

You will bring enough copies of your draft proposal for your group and one for me to look at when I drift by.  Share them around, comment on each other's work, and take it away again to rewrite in final form for the Oct. 28 deadline.  There are no separate marks for the draft: this is just an opportunity to get feedback on the final project and to discuss the joint writing of the brief cover page.  If you like, one person can volunteer to draft this and then everyone can have a go at it on Oct. 23.

Annotated Bibliography:            Due Oct 10    (10%) 

Collect you source articles for your research question and create annotated bibliography. You will receive more information in class.

Present research work to your Peers:   Due Oct 3 (5%)

This is a linked to the research proposal. Choose two articles or pieces of scholarly work and share with your group. Present the key points of the article and how it relates to your research question and inquiry.

4 Written summaries of class readings: Due at the beginning of class  (20%)

Over the course of this term, you will write a 1.5 to 2 page summary of 4 class readings of your choice. Your mark will be based on the quality of your comments and how we you use critical thinking skills. In addition marks will be based on how well you articulate various key points within the reading. You will hand these summaries in at the beginning of class.

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 will be penalized. Each day late will be reduced by a grade. 

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: http://www.efwr.ucalgary.ca/

Grading System

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

(Revised, effective September 2008)

 

	Grading Scale
A+	96-100
A	90-95.99
A -	85-89.99
B+	80-84.99
B	75-79.99
B-	70-74.99
C+	65-69.99
C	60-64.99
C-	55-59.99
D+	53-54.99
D	50-52.99
F	0-49

 

Where a grade on a particular assignment is expressed as a letter grade, it will normally be converted to a number using the midpoint of the scale.  That is, A- would be converted to 87.5 for calculation purposes.  F will be converted to zero.

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 circulated in class.