Web course: Introduction to Queer Theory, 5 sp
Introduction to Queer Theory, 5 sp
6.1-6.3.2009
Course description and aims for the course:
The emergence of Queer Theory during the 1990’s has opened up new approaches for treating gender and sexuality as subjects to be studied in their own right. The term Queer Theory refers to the writing that has taken gender and sexuality as its subject, and has specifically addressed the ways in which lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered individuals raise questions about conventional understandings of gender and sexuality.
Historically Queer Theory has been inscribed in a number of ways, and consequently, this course is not an attempt to define what Queer Theory is, but, rather, is concerned with providing a discussion of the genealogy of Queer Theory, and making the student familiar with key concepts and debates within the field of queer theory.
Registration:
NOTE: A maximum of 21 students will be admitted to the course! The applicants will be selected on the following grounds
1)Previous Gender- or Women’s studies
2)Motivations for taking part in the course
3)Time of registration
Registration for the course to M.A. Eva-Mikaela Kinnari
The following information is necessary: – Name, University, subject(s) – Previous Gender- or Women’s studies – Motivations for taking part in the course
REGISTRATION ENDS 31.12.2008!
Set up of the course:
The course is an online course using the Moodle- learning platform. All the materials (articles, video-clips etc.) for the course are available on the internet.
The course is divided into 6 thematic modules with related readings and assignments, as well as group discussions. The students are divided into smaller working groups. Depending on the number of course participants, one or several students will act as group-leader(s) for one of the six modules on a rotating basis. The group-leaders responsibilities include moderating the group-discussion as well as writing a summary of the discussion.
The students write Wikis for each module. The Wikis can be modified any time during the course up until the end of the course when they are combined into a longer essay. This essay forms 40 % of the required work for passing the course.
The students also take part in group discussions, the basis for the discussion are the articles and other materials for the module as well as the individual students Wikis which are read by the other group members. At the end of each group-discussion the members give an assessment in the form of “stars” on the scale 1-5 to evaluate their own as well the as groups level of activity and input (interesting questions, new insights etc.) during the discussion.
The modules are set up as follows: 1. Reading + watching video-clips, 2. Writing Wikis, 3.Group discussion
Grading and feedback:
The course will be graded on a scale of 1-5. The teacher will not give feedback on individual assignments during the course (except if necessary if the student has clearly misunderstood something, which might lead to them failing the course or hindering the work of their working group). The teacher will also not give feedback on the group-discussions (see exception above).
The teacher will give individual feedback on the essay handed in at the end of the course within 2 weeks.
Course requirements:
To pass the course students must read all the articles and other written materials, as well as watch the video-clips. The student must also do all the assigned assignments as well as hold the position of group-leader once during the course. The final essay must be handed in on 6th of March at the latest.
The course work is weighed as follows:
Readings: 30 %
Group-discussions: 30 %
Wikis + final essay: 40 %
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Teacher: M.A. Eva-Mikaela Kinnari
Department of Women’s Studies
Åbo Akademi University
e-mail: ekinnari@abo.fi
