ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING
Assignment details will be handed out in class. All assignments should be handed in on paper and also be posted to our site (http://commons.trincoll.edu/amst-queer-america/). Missing more than two class meetings will result in losing five points from your final grade.
- Participation & Attendance :: 20%
- Lead Weekly Discussion [see details & schedule below] :: 15%
- Paper Topic Proposal [1-2pp] :: 10% [2/27]
- Annotated Bibliography [4 sources] :: 10% [3/6]
- Literature Review for Research Paper [5-6pp] :: 10% [3/27]
- Research-in-Progress Presentation :: 5% [4/10]
- Research Presentation :: 10% [5/1]
- Full Research Paper :: 15%
Lead Weekly Reading Response
Lead Class. Introduce the class with an overarching, broad question that you developed by reading the assigned texts and film for the week. As a guide, think about the title for that group of readings.
Posts. Write three paragraphs summarizing the arguments of any one of the readings for the week in depth. The aim of this assignment is to help you hone your skills putting academic readings into your own words.
First & second paragraph: What is the author’s main arguement? What field is the author in and how does it frame her/his/their work in certain ways (note: do a Google search if the article does not say)? What evidence do they use to base their claim? What other key ideas does the author put forth?
Third paragraph: What is the most interesting contribution of this piece to your understanding of queer America? What remains unclear and/or what is inspiring? What questions are you left with?
Comments. You will comment on three of your colleagues’ WRRs over five weeks of the semester, or fifteen total comments. These comments only need one be one paragraph in length and answer the following questions:
What did you learn from this post? What questions are you left with? How does the WRR affect your understandings of queer America?
Of note. You will sign up in advance to make sure that an even number of your cover various readings and various dates. Each reading should be covered by at least one person and we will work that out in advance of each class.