"...talking about gender without talking about race and class--or talking about race without considering class and gender--is simply another way of obscuring reality instead of coming to terms with it." (Rothenberg, 1988: p.1).

So, we're going to try to do a course that centers on the interplay of race, class, and gender in American society today. The readings we have chosen range from personal accounts of experiences of racism and sexism to academic analyses of the dynamics of oppression. The class sessions we have designed involve a variety of teaching and learning styles, but focus heavily on careful class discussions of readings and their connections with our personal experiences. The grading system is designed to encourage thoughtful & integrative reading, serious participation in class discussions, and willingness to take chances. We want you to challenge each other, to challenge us, and to challenge yourselves. We want to leave this course knowing more about racism and sexism, more about each other, and more about ourselves.

Since we want to run this course as much as a seminar as possible, ideally we need all of you to do all of the reading, to attend all the classes, and to be familiar enough with the readings and relaxed enough in the class that you feel comfortable participating fully in discussions. Thus, we have tried to develop a grading system that is designed to serve two major functions: (1) to shape your behavior in directions that will encourage thoughtful reading and maximum class participation; and (2) to give you as much control over your grade as possible.

In order to encourage an integrative and thoughtful reading style, we have decided to base a major percent of your grade on short papers about the readings rather than on multiple choice exams. There will be no examinations in this course. In order to keep you reading to identify the significant points, evidence, arguments, etc. in the assigned readings, we will ask you to write short (2 page) summary and reaction papers that will be graded Pass/Add. Our criteria for a passing paper are straightforward: (1) the paper must be turned in by the class session in which we discuss the reading, and (2) the paper must make it clear to the reader that you understood the main points made by the author. We will not "grade" the paper in terms of the quality of your writing or in terms of your acceptance of the author's position; all you have to do is show us that you understood the main points. If you don't, we will indicate what you missed and ask you to add to the paper to cover the points you either misunderstood or neglected. What we will do is give you TWO POINTS for each of the reading papers that you complete. Thus, if you do all of the readings, you will have 50 points toward your grade (you will need 90 points total for an A, 80 for a B, etc.). The 50 points therefore comprise almost two thirds of what you need for an A.

Another 28-56 points will be available for class participation, ONE POINT for those days when you are just there, or TWO POINTS if you are active and informed and participate well enough that you contribute to other people's learning.

So, if you do all of readings papers and attend all the classes, and participate meaningfully in the discussions, you will have 106 points, more than enough for an A. Realistically, it is unlikely that you will all be able to schedule your lives to do all of those things, so we offer another way to get points. You may write one or two 5-10 page papers on books relevant to issues of racism and sexism. We will grade them Pass/Add and give you TEN POINTS for each Pass. The first book report is DUE MARCH 6. The second is DUE APRIL 17.

Here's a summary of the point system we've just described:
 

Two points each for readings	50 points
Two points each for class to which you contribute	56 points
Ten points for each paper on a relevant book	20 points
TOTAL	126 points

You will need:
 

	90 points for an A;
	80 points for a B;
	70 points for a C;
	60 points for a D.

NO CURVE, NO +/- STUFF. IF YOU ALL GET 90 OR MORE, YOU ALL GET A'S. IF YOU ALL GET 59 OR LESS, YOU ALL GET F'S. YOU PICK YOUR GRADE, YOU DO THE WORK, YOU GET THE GRADE YOU PICKED.
 

The papers on the readings are due at the beginning of class the day the reading is to be discussed. Remember, you are reading to get the MAIN POINTS, and the papers are graded Pass/Add.

The readings may be found in three places:

B. Issues of diversity
 

II. Defining racism and sexism
 

III. Race & gender in the larger social structure
A. General
 

B. The economy
 

C. The law
 

D. Social structure and the individual
 

IV. Race & Gender in the Culture--Socialization Issues
  A. Gender socialization--learning male and female
 

VI. Tactics for Change
 

VII. Course Evaluation
 

Th 4/30 Attendance mandatory. Bring course outline and #2 pencil. Be prepared to discuss the successes and failures of the course.