WMS 201 Suad Joseph
Winter 2006 220 Young Hall, UC Davis
SPECIAL TOPICS IN FEMINIST THEORY AND RESEARCH
READING JUDITH BUTLER
Paper Project and Course Structure
Paper Project:
Write a paper focusing on your own research, using one of the key concepts developed by Judith Butler in one of the books we read in the seminar. The paper must summarize and evaluate scholarly criticisms of the Butler concept you chose to use. Make an effort to go beyond Butler’s concept, adapt it, revise it, refute it, engage it critically in reference to your own work. The paper can be a research proposal, an evaluation paper for your MA or PhD exams, a chapter of your MA or PhD thesis, a paper for publication, etc. (I don’t mind if you are doing a related paper for another seminar, but it cannot be the same paper). The key is for the paper to focus on research you are already engaged in or committed to engage in. The paper is due IN CLASS, MARCH 9. NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED. NO INCOMPLETES WILL BE GIVEN.
The paper should be 10-15 pages long (absolute maximum 4,500 words), typed, double spaced, Times New Roman font, 12 point font, 1" margins. Social Science style citations in text (ex Butler, 1987, p13) and full citations in bibliography, Social Science style EX:
Judith Butler
1987 Subjects of Desire: Hegelian Reflections in Twentieth-Century France. New York: Columbia University Press.
Course Structure:
The Course will be organized around discussions. Each week a group of 2-3 people present a critical summary (first) and evaluation (second) of the Butler book for that week. For the evaluations, you are asked to research and summarize scholarly criticisms of that Butler book AND offer your own evaluation. The presentation has three parts: 1.) Summary of the book; 2.) Summary of scholarly criticisms of the book; 3.) Your own critical evaluation of the book. Make and bring copies of your presentation for all seminar members. Every seminar member is expected to participate in discussion.
Writing Groups:
The class will be divided into writing groups of 3-4 students. Each writing group will meet weekly PRIOR to the seminar to prepare your presentation AND to weekly give each other feedback on your paper project. Please make a schedule so that EACH week, one person presents on their writing project up to that point. You should have time for each person to present TWICE. Writing Group members are required to write and turn in IN CLASS, MARCH 9, a one-page, 300 word evaluation of the paper project of each member of the writing group.
Grading: Based on paper project, with consideration for seminar and writing group paraticipation