Homework for 2/18 and 2/23

Hi everyone,

As you know, we will not be having class on Thursday. This post is important, because it includes your homework for both Thursday and Tuesday, 2/23. First, your homework for 2/18:

In order to receive attendance credit for class on 2/18, I would like for you to do the following:

1. Each of you will be assigned a group on the Discussion Board. In your group, I would like for you to upload your essay (you can do this by clicking on your forum and choosing "Add New Thread," then adding an attachment). Try to do this by midnight tomorrow (2/17).
2. Please read and respond to each group member's paper. You may download the essay and make comments, but I would also like you to write a short response (you may do this at the end of the essay or in the response box for your reply on the DB). Your response should be at least 250 words, and should incorporate the following:
- What is the writer's angle into the topic? That is, how does the writer believe his/her media represents gender/sexuality? And, is this clearly stated and followed through on?
- Assess the writer's use of evidence. Is the writer relying on summary too much? Or does the writer link summary to analysis? (Writing about media can be tricky, because in some ways, you do need to provide some summary for the reader. However, as the reviewer, keep in mind that we want to see how the evidence the writer has chosen helps show the writer's thesis. Therefore, if there is summary, it must connect to the thesis through careful analysis.)
- As the audience, is there anything you want to know more about?
- What do you believe is working best in the essay thus far (and why)? What do you think the writer needs to spend more time on (and why)?

As you will have a fairly significant amount of work for Tuesday, I would recommend that you try to get your essay uploaded, and your responses completed, as soon as you can. I will not be able to give you a full attendance mark until this is completed, nor will I be able to give you feedback on your essay.

Next, your homework for Tuesday, 2/23:
1. I am going to give you an extension on the essay. It will now be due Thursday, 2/25. This is so we can have some time in class Tuesday to discuss your papers, if necessary. So, if you have questions as you continue to work on your paper, please bring those questions to class.
2. Because I am giving you an extension on Essay 2, I would like for you to submit a research proposal for Essay 3 as your next blog entry. Please see the essay assignment for more information.
3. Read Yep, pp. 37-41, and Fausto-Sterling, from Sexing the Body. We will be watching a video in class that covers the issues both discuss.