This course will explore how notions of masculinity and femininity function
as potent resources in science, technology, and medicine. Specific topics will
include: the historical role of women in the practice of science; scientific
constructions of male and female 'nature' and their social and political consequences;
and on-going debates about gendered epistemologies of natural knowledge. Wherever
possible, we will focus our attention on concrete historical and contemporary
examples (e.g. biographical accounts, case studies in biological and medical
research, engineering culture, etc.).
My evaluation of your work will be based on the following:
1. Participating in seminar and conference work, including thoughtful contributions to discussions. CLASSROOM AND CONFERENCE ATTENDENCE are MANDATORY. Latenesses of more than 15 minutes will be counted as absences, so repeated lateness could lead to loss of credit (see below). THERE WILL BE NO RESCHEDULING OF MISSED CONFERENCES except in cases of medical/family emergency or (for non-emergencies) a full 24 hours notice. [Simply put I respect your time so please respect mine.]
2. Writing brief (100-200 word) thoughtful responses to class readings (and/or to your classmates' comments, which you should read) on the class Web Board every day before class. Web Board postings are due by 7:30 PM the night before each class meeting, unless you have otherwise been notified in class. Web Board orientation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 18 at 9:30AM in the Library Electronic Classroom; if you can not make this regular class session because of Rosh Hashanah, please arrange a one-on-one orientation with the instructor before this date.
3. Completing four written assignments: (a) two 3-5 page class essays (choice of assigned topics TBA), due (in class) respectively on September 27 and November 13; and (b) two computer assignments, due (in class) respectively on September 18 and October 4
4. Participating in a 20-30 minute group presentation, in which you and two classmates (i.e. assigned groups of three) take responsibility for summarizing one week's readings, providing context, and developing the discussion questions for seminar. A detailed description of this procedure will follow in handout and on the Web Page.
5. Writing a conference proposal and working bibliography, due in your conference meeting during the week of October 23rd (A) or October 30th (B).
6. Completing a conference project, due in class on Thursday, December 13th.
7. Completing a class worksheet, due in my office by 5PM, Friday December 21st
SOME IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL NOTES
No one should have any trouble receiving full credit for the course, but I reserve
the right to deduct credit under any ONE of the following circumstances:
-- All assignments not turned in;
-- Three or more classes missed;
-- Failure to participate in a group presentation;
-- Two or more Web Board posts missed;
-- Two or more conferences missed;
-- Conference project not completed.
Regarding my policy on essay, conference draft, and final conference paper deadlines...
Think of these as indicators of what you can expect from me, as well as what I expect of you. If you do not provide me with reasonable and sufficient time to read and think about your work, my ability to provide meaningful written feedback will suffer and consequently, so will your own educational experience.