WS601 Graduate Student Web Sites

Theories, issues and major paradigms underlying feminist scholarship. Development of women's studies as a discipline. Emphasis on multicultural approaches and perspectives.

WS601 Foundations of Feminist Scholarship - Fall 2000
Dr. Pat Huckle
Women's Studies Department
Office: AH 3168
Hours: Monday, 2- 4, and by appointment
email: huckle@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 619-594-1561

The purpose of this course is to introduce graduate students to the wealth of feminist scholarship available, and to encourage development of critical analytical skills in
assessing these sources. Students should be able to:

• Access the range of feminist periodicals and evaluate the contributions to central issues in the women's movement
• Synthesize and evaluate relevant information available through the Internet and other electronic forms of communication
• Analyze complex perspectives on the status of women for their limitations and contributions to activism and the study of women's lives.
• Comprehend how the academic discipline of women's studies has evolved and affected viewpoints within the academic world and in wider communities
• Reflect critically on the viewpoints of the diverse materials presented
• Move toward development of the student's own critical stance, reflected in a web design project

Required Texts:

Ruth Rosen, The World Split Open: How the Modern Women's Movement Changed America, Viking 2000.

Marge Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time, Fawcett Columbine, 1976.

Women's Studies Quarterly, Fall/Winter 1999, Special Issue on Expanding the Classroom: Active Learning and Activism, The Feminist Press.

Frontiers: A Journal of Women's Studies, Number 1/2, 2000. Special Issue on Asian American Women

WS601 Fall 2000

Evaluation: Note that you are always encouraged to meet with me about any aspect of the course. And, email (huckle@mail.sdsu.edu) is the easiest way to be in touch with me. We will be using Internet-based software called Blackboard to conduct much of the business of the course, about which you will hear more in class.

Critical Reflection papers (40% of final grade). Students are expected to prepare a series of critical reflections (1-2 pages) on assigned readings. You should:
identify the main theses of the authors (you may select a specific focus from within one reading, or compare articles); reflect on critical questions presented; address significant concerns and further questions we should all ask of the reading; draw conclusions about how this reading contributes to feminist scholarship and/or activism.

Papers are due Sunday night, posted to Blackboard. Each student should review the papers of others before class to prepare for discussion. You will be asked to do 6 to 8 of these short papers. No late papers will be accepted. You will also be asked to take responsibility for leading discussion.

Journal review. (20%) We will meet with Martha McPhail, reference librarian, to discuss SDSU periodical holdings and research strategies. You are asked to select three feminist journals, or three special issues of one feminist journal. Your short (3-5 pages) paper should identify the target audience, synthesize the main contributions of the journal(s) to feminist scholarship; address the relevance of the journal(s) to contemporary issues and paradigms; identify ways in which the journal(s) are likely to be useful (or not) to you and your colleagues. Due Oct. 16

Feminist Collections: A Quarterly of WS Resources may be found at:

http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/fcmain.htm

Web project (30%). Your final contribution to the course and your colleagues will be the design of a web site for an audience of feminist scholars and activists, around issues of special concern to you. You will develop a rationale for your site, identifying your target audience and your thematic approach. References to course readings are expected to give substance to your choices. (5 page paper, and web site). There is a workshop on web construction on September 25, from 2-3:30 p.m. Also, you are free to assist one another or work collaboratively. Former students in WS 601 created web sites, which may be seen at: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/wsweb/gradwebsites.htm

Note that while it is now easy to construct a basic site, you are expected to create a substantive resource requiring extended thought. Please meet with me in September to discuss possible topics/approaches. You will present your web site in class November 13 or November 20, with papers due on December 4.

Participation (10%) All students are expected to make regular contributions to the class discussions, both during regular classes and on the Blackboard discussion site. This portion of your grade reflects my assessment of your level of commitment to the discussion process.
WS601 Fall 2000 - Mondays from 4 to 6:40 - Adams Humanities 3150

Course Outline:

Aug 28 Introduction. "Emerging Women" and the beginnings of Women's Studies

Sept. 4 Labor Day (please make an appointment to see me during this week)

Sept. 11 Contemporary Feminism: Generating a Movement Read: Rosen, Preface and Parts 1 and 2

Sept. 18 Getting Complicated: Feminist Movements Read: Rosen, Parts 3 and 4, and Epilogue

Sept. 25 Reflections of Feminist Issues Read: Piercy (first half) (web site workshop 2-3:30)

Oct. 2 Differences and changes. Read: Piercy (2d half) and WS Quarterly, "Tellings of Our Activist Pasts: Tracing the Emergence of Women's Studies at San Diego State College, by Catherine Orr. Also, "Seizing Academia for Social Change," by Siobhan Ring.

Oct. 9 Pedagogical Strategies in Women's Studies. Read: WS Quarterly, part one and Frontiers, "De/Colonizing the Exotic: Teaching 'Asian Women' in a U.S. Classroom."

Oct. 16 Feminist Resources: students will make oral presentations to the class about their journal review (5-10 minutes) Paper Due

Oct. 23 Crossing Institutional Boundaries. Read: WS Quarterly, pages 77 - 168

Oct. 30 Reflecting Back, Moving Ahead. Read: WS Quarterly, pages 169-211, and pages 241-253.

Nov. 6 Other Voices, Other Standpoints. Read: Frontiers, pages 1 to 110

Nov. 13 Web site presentations

Nov. 20 Web site presentations

Nov. 27 More Voices. Read: Frontiers, pages 111 - 236

Dec. 4 Faculty panel. Web site papers due

Dec. 11 Faculty panel

Patricia Huckle, San Diego State Univ., Women's Studies Dept.,San Diego CA 92182 web site: http://rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/huckle/index.html