UH 3043 Fax: 217-206-6217
Sexual Orientation and Public Policy
STUDENT PROJECTS and Papers
Your STUDENT PROJECTS add up to 40 points (40%) of your final grade for the semester.3. TEAM-TEACHING (10%)1. Current Event News Article and Analysis (8%)Late assignments will be graded down one letter grade: a "B" grade becomes a "C" grade.
2. Two Generations Paper (22%)
3. Team-teaching (10%)
1. Current Event News Article and Analysis (2 papers; 8%)
Paper #1: 09-11-07 (Week 4)
Paper #2: per sign up sheetEach student will write a paper which analyzes a current event relating to class readings twice during the term. Your task is to make connections between concepts presented in the class readings and examples found in the news. This assignment requires close reading of the news item you select, presenting your analysis in a coherent way, and, for Paper #2, being prepared to discuss your article during class discussion.
Paper #1 is due Week 4, and may include any topic from Weeks 2-4.
Paper #2 is due according to the sign-up sheet I will hand out.CURRENT EVENT NEWS ARTICLE AND ANALYSIS
Purpose: This assignment demonstrates your ability to connect events across time, and to recognize significant issues which are tied together.
Definitions: A current events news article is defined as a timely (within the month of the due date) print news source (including the Internet). Its main idea must be relevant to the topic of the week. Article must contain news. Videos and YouTube are not included. Articles about a television show, a music group, a movie, etc., are only relevant the week we cover cultural representations. An article is also defined by its length---it is not a one or two paragraph news summary, but has some substance.
Directions: From the approved list of resources below, you must find an article about a current event that connects to the class topic and materials for the week. The news source must be printable.
1. Find a news article from the list below (newspaper, magazine, internet sources, etc..)
2. Read the article thoroughly
3. Underline or highlight the MOST important information (main ideas) in the article.
4. Complete the required summary and analysis below.
5. Staple the highlighted copy of the article to your paper.Length and Quality: Your paper should be, at a bare minimum, two paragraphs and no more than two full pages. Since this paper is not lengthy, I expect to see a well crafted paper. Organize carefully, and do not hand in your first draft.
Organization: The first paragraph should summarize the main ideas of the news article in your own words.
The rest of your paper should be devoted to responding to the article with your informed opinion or commentary. By informed opinion, I mean you have read the class materials and have incorporated what you learned into your analysis of the topic and your news article. For example, "the lawmakers who propose to ban gay adoption in the State of X are ignoring the research on gay parenting." Or, "I disagree with Congress including sexual minorities in the hate crimes legislation because even though the readings show that hate crimes against sexual minorities are the second largest group of hate crimes in the US, I believe that law should only criminalize behavior, not attitudes, thoughts or speech."
For Paper #2, be prepared to discuss your news article and your analysis during class discussion.
___________________________________________________________________________________
OUTLINE AND FORMAT FOR CURRENT EVENT NEWS ARTICLE and ANALYSISCurrent event news article and analysis
Name Date
Title of Article:______________________________________
Name of the Publication:________________________________
Date of Publication: ___________________________________
Author(s) name:_______________________________________Paragraph 1: Summary of the main ideas of the article in your own words.
Paragraph 2+: Your reflection and commentary on the issues contained in the article. What is your informed opinion about this topic and your article? Connect your article to the class readings. Be sure each paragraph has a topic sentence which contains the main idea of the paragraph.
Tape the highlighted article to 8.5 x 11" paper, and then staple it to the back of your assignment.
________________________________________I suggest you subscribe to the Advocate.com Daily News Update for the semester. For this assignment, you can use it or news from any sources in the box below.
An excellent list of news sources comes from Steve Sander's website. I have updated and revised the news section here, but take a look at his site for more resources on particular LGBTQ issues.
Best sources for daily or weekly news reports: Advocate.com headlines
Datalounge (filtered for threads on politics)
Gay Financial Network daily news, especially the politics channel
Gay.com news channel
Gay News Blog news from across America and around the world updated throughout the day
Gay Rights Watch "all the gay you can take in a day"
Gaywired (Scroll down to the "up-to-the-minute" news)
Magportal.com (Society, Politics & Culture/Gay & Lesbian): current online articles from various magazines
Open Directory Project LGB News and Media index
PlanetOut Planet Out Community Headlines, U.S. and international, via Yahoo News
Smartbrief: top headlines on Gay and Lesbian Leadership. Bi-weekly free email subscription.
Weekly LGBTQ newspapers
Washington Blade excellent coverage of national/political news
Gay City News (NYCity)
Yahoo World/Gay & Lesbian Issues more links to magazines, audio/video, opinion, related web sitesOther news sources and resources:
The Advocate magazine
Feminist News updated daily, from the Feminist Majority Foundation
Gay & Lesbian Review (formerly Harvard Gay/Lesbian Review)
GayLawNews international digest reports, organized by month/year and subject
Gay/Lesbian International News Network updated sporadically
Gender Advocacy Internet News serving the transgender and gender-variant community; news by
free email subscription;
Human Rights Campaign news from the nation's largest LGBTQ organization
Independent Gay Forum commentary from a moderate/conservative perspective
Lesbian News online magazine
National Center for Transgender Equality news, newsletters and free email policy updates.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force news from the oldest and most progressive LGBTQ advocacy group)
Sexual Orientation Issues in the News resource center for journalism educators from USC's
Annenberg School for Communication
Transgender Law and Policy News international news on transgender issues
You must hand in hard and e-copies of everything on the day of the discussion. If we discuss an news article in class, it is likely to be on the tests.
CHECK LIST for CURRENT EVENT NEWS ARTICLE ASSIGNMENT
substantive printable story
2. TWO GENERATIONS PAPER (22%)
You may write your paper individually or in pairs. You will both receive the same grade.
You will interview two LGBTQ people from two different generations (at least 10 years age difference) on a selected topic and make connections between their experiences, your research and the course. The paper should be 8-10 pages, plus a References page. See below.
This assignment has four sub-parts over the semester:
TILT (2%) DUE Week 5 09-18-07
Paper Topic Proposal (2%) DUE Week 7 10-02-07
Annotated Bibliography (9%) DUE Week 11 10-30-07
Two Generations Paper (Content) (9%) DUE Week 15 12-04-071) TILT (2%) DUE Week 5 (09-18-07)
Follow this link to a library research tutorial which takes about 1.5 hours. Register as "Guest" and complete Censorship and Freedom of Speech module. E-mail me your 3 "Quiz Summaries" scores. No hard copies, please.2) PAPER TOPIC PROPOSAL (2%) DUE Week 7 (10-02-07)
This is a brief statement of the topic and a description of the two people you expect to interview, not more than one page. A good proposal takes thought and time. Choosing a topic that is focused and specific is critical at this stage. One place to start is with the syllabus, by browsing through the required and recommmended readings to get ideas.
Your topic proposal will help me suggest revisions and resources for you and will help you as you reseach, interview and then write the paper. I often require revision of your topic proposal, with a new due date.
PROPOSAL CONTENT
1) State the specific issues you wish to explore.
2) Brief description of the two people you expect to interview.
3) List at least three preliminary questions you might ask in your interviews. For example, if your topic is employment, a possible question might be "Are you out at work?" If your topic is K-12 education, one question might be "Did you know any openly LGBTQ teachers or students at your grade or high schools?"POSSIBLE TOPICS
Family (relationships with partner, parents, siblings, in-laws, etc.)
LGBTQ parenting (adoption, foster care, custody, etc.)
Psychological Issues (coming out, identity, internalized homophobia, etc.)
Educational institutions (K-12, teachers, higher ed., safe zones, curriculum, etc.)
Work (discrimination, best corporations, DP benefits, the military, etc.)
Religion and spirituality (welcoming organizations, LGBTQ clergy, etc.)
Health (health, health care profession, mental health, etc. )
Violence (includes hate crimes)
Other? You need my approval for any other topicsRESOURCES for you3) ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (9%) DUE Week 11 10-30-07
Choosing a Topic
Selecting a Research Topic
Your Research Paper: Topic
E-mail me if you need clarification or help....
CHECK LIST for TOPIC PROPOSAL
An annotated bibliography is a list of secondary sources with a brief description of each entry. The assignment is to prepare an annotated bibliography on the topic you have selected.
Each entry in the annotated bibliography should have 2 short paragraphs, with one paragraph summarizing or describing content and one paragraph in which you evaluate it. The entry should begin with the citation for the piece in proper APA format, as it will appear in the reference page of your paper.
Your annotated bibliography must contain at least 5 secondary sources, 3 of which must be PRINT.
HARD COPY PRINT RESOURCES (at least 3)
At least 1 scholarly book
You might find print sources through online databases. Regardless, you must be able to demonstrate that the source exists in hard copy.
OTHER RESOURCES (at least 2 more: print or electronic form)
*The definition of what constitutes a “good” ( but not scholarly) magazine, newspaper or website is subjective. Good popular periodicals include national newspapers such as the New York Times and Washington Post as well as specialized magazines that focus on policy issues such as the CQ Weekly and National Journal. Additional good magazines will vary depending upon your topic, but might include magazines such as Scientific American or other science magazines; prominent business periodicals such as Business Week; politically inclined periodicals such as American Prospect, The Nation, and Mother Jones; and some magazines of general interest such as The Atlantic Monthly. Many of these sources are on-line as well as in print.E-mail me if you need clarification or help....Good websites are maintained by organizations which have developed expertise in a specific area. Sometimes they have references and sometimes they do not. Organizations such as GLAAD, LAMBDA, HRC, NGLTF offer analysis of issues. You will find some of these NGO websites in the syllabus. Web based resources should be evaluated using the tools found in the TILT assignment.
RESOURCES for you
How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography
Writing an Annotated Bibliography
Annotated BibliographyCHECK LIST for ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
4) TWO GENERATIONS PAPER (CONTENT) DUE Week 15 (12-04-07)
PRELIMINARY MATTERS
CONTENT of the TWO GENERATIONS PAPER
Writing the paper is a 6 step process.
1) Select a topic, identify two people to interview, and create three very preliminary questions. This is the Topic Proposal assignment, above.
2) Research your topic which results in the Annotated Bibliography assignment, above.
3) Confirm your choice of people to interview, set dates for the interview and get their consent to tape.
4) Formulate and write out questions which will help you learn about the cultural, economic, religious, legal, etc. forces and events which have shaped or limited these people's lives. 10-20 questions are too many. Focus on 3-5 questions which are carefully thought out and follow on one another. Have "Plan B" questions worked out, in case things don't go as planned.
Ask open-ended questions such as "What do you think about____?" rather than leading questions such as "Don't you think that ____?" Follow up with questions like "You mentioned ___; could you tell me more about that?" If your interviewee does not mention things you expect, ask "Did ___ happen?" or "Was ___ a consideration?"
5) Conduct Interviews. Explain the nature of your project and assure the interviewee that zhe* may remain anonymous in the paper if zhe wants. Tell zhim there are no "right or wrong" answers and that you are interested in zher opinions and experiences. Tell zhim to ask for clarification or feel free to criticize any line of questioning. Ask permission to tape record the interview and explain why you are doing this. Offer to give zhim a copy of your finished paper, if you are comfortable with that.
(*Follow link for essay on the use of zhe, zher, zhim)
6) Think through your material, generate your own analysis and make connections to your research. The final paper should NOT be a transcript of your interviews. Rather it should synthesize and summarize your tapes and notes of what the interviewees said, with occasional use of verbatim quotes of important responses. Use big themes to organize this part of your paper. Compare and contrast the responses of the two people, and how we might explain those similarities or differences. Connect your interviews to your own research and possibly other class materials.
Organize your paper in some coherent fashion. Consider the following outline.
I. INTRODUCTION (1-2 pages)
-Biographical profiles of your interviewees (age, race, class, sex, religious
affliation, plus any other factors that are significant)
-Design of the study (procedures, methods, questions)II. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TWO GENERATIONS (3-4 pages)
-Step back from the details, to see a big ideas and themes. What patterns
and themes can you identify?
-Describe and explain any similarities and differences.
-What do you conclude about the forces that affected these people and how
they reacted to them?
-Substantiate with quotes from the interviews.III. MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH YOUR RESEARCH (3-4 pages)
-What connections do you make between the interviews and your research?
-Do your interviewees fit into the theories and findings of your research?
-Substantiate with quotes from your research.IV. CONCLUSION (1 page)
-What have you learned? What questions remain?E-mail me if you need clarification or help....
CHECK LIST for TWO GENERATIONS PAPER
Week 11 (04-03-07) through Week 13 (04-17-07)A) THE ASSIGNMENTC) INTERACTIVE AND CREATIVE TEACHING FORMATYou will be teaching once during the semester. Plan on no more than 40 minutes of class time per team--a lower grade will result if you exceed the time limit. Note that some of the readings listed are to be read only by the teachers--not by the rest of us. The task of the the teachers is to lead us out of ignorance!
Each student must:
1) teach part of the class. Teaching is not just "testing" students, or standing in
front of the class. You must each somehow transmit knowledge to the class.
2) read the class materials required for all students;
3) do your share of the recommended or extra materials listed for each topic;
4) conduct independent research in the library (books and journals) and on the Internet using the ideas you learned from TILT. No Internet junk, please.
5) prepare typed class notes and a bibliography (from # 4 above) to hand in (hard and e-copy) no later than a week after your team-teaching; and
6) print and fill out a peer grading form. Be honest. This is due, by e-copy and in a sealed envelope, by the last day of class.B) SELECT A TEAM TEACHING TOPIC
11-06-07 (Week 12)
--AIDS NOTES DUE: 11-13-07 (Week 13)
--HEALTH CARE NOTES DUE: 11-13-07 (Week 13)11-13-07 (Week 13)
--YOUTH NOTES DUE: 11-27-07 (Week 14)
--PARENTING NOTES DUE: 11-27-07 (Week 14)11-27-07 (Week 14)
--EMPLOYMENT NOTES DUE: 12-04-07 (Week 15)
--THE MILITARY NOTES DUE: 12-04-07 (Week 15)The best team teaching presentations will:
1) actively engage students (C grade or worse if presentation is not
interactive);
2) be creative;
3) demonstrate knowledge of the extra readings;
4) demonstrate your own research on the topic.Consider interactive methods such as dividing the class into small groups with a issue or dilemma to discuss or solve. Or ask students to role-play. Or use a talk show interview format in which you present the material (Oprah or Ted Koppel interviews a gay activist and an "expert" who opposes gay rights). Or use a game format (Jeopardy, Family Feud, etc.) in which you assign roles/teams to students and have them draw cards with different questions or experiences. Or create a board game. Spice things up with prizes like candy, fake money, crowns or other goodies for your classmates for right answers or excellent role plays. Use your imagination and make it active and engaging for everyone. You may use video clips ( no more than 5 minutes of the 40), monopoly money, skits to enact, improvised role-plays, prizes: you decide!
I will use this evaluation form when I grade your team teaching project. I also take the peer evalution forms very seriously in grading; not all team members necessarily get the same grade.
I will circulate a sign-up sheet in the next few weeks. Team teaching material will be on the tests.
CHECK LIST for TEAM-TEACHING
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