Course Requirements:
1) Active participation in-class and on the discussion boards on ELMS.
2) Creative Queer World-Making Project:
What does your queer world look like? Demonstrate this through the use of art, poetry, prose, analysis, graphs etc. This project is on-going, and should be developed as we read more theoretical and creative material.
3) Five informal journal entries.
4) Three formal paper, typed in 12 pt. font, double spaced, and formatted in MLA style:
a) Close Reading Paper (2-3 pages): a close examination of a specific passage from an assigned text
b) Theoretical Engagement Paper (3-4 pages): a close examination of a text through the lens of one or more of the theoretical readings.
c) Final Paper (7-9 pages): this paper will have three elements: a) creative section (2-3 pages): for this section, write a creative autobiographical piece or fictional first-person piece in the style of one of the authors or poets we have read over the course of the semester; b) rationale section (3-4 pages): write an explanation of the literary elements (metaphor/ analogy/genre-blurring/style/symbolism/imagery/ syntax) you have borrowed from your author and why; c) theory and analysis (2-3 pages): analyze your creative section through the lens of one (or more) of the theoretical texts we have read in the class. The paper as a whole should have an overarching thesis.
Grade Weights:
Participation/ Discussion Board Posts 20%
Queer World-Making Creative Project (on-going) 5%
Close Reading Paper 10%
Theoretical Engagement Paper 20%
Final Paper 25%
Journal Entries 20%
Important Dates/Major Grading Events:
Feb 5th: Journal Entry 1
Feb 23rd: Close Reading Paper
March 5th: Journal Entry 2
March 26th: Theoretical Exploration Paper
April 2nd: Journal Entry 3
April 16th: Journal Entry 4
April 30th: Journal Entry 5
May 8th: Queer World-making Project
May 17th: Critical Analysis Paper
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate familiarity and facility with fundamental terminology and concepts associated with the analysis of literature.
2. Demonstrate critical thinking in the evaluation of queer and trans theoretical and literary work, in terms of the intersections of gender, sexuality, geographical location, and race.
3. Describe how the figurative use of language in queer and trans literatures is related to contemporary ways of thinking, cultural heritage, and cultural values.
4. Critically examine how queer and trans cultural productions converse with contemporary global and racial politics.
5. Demonstrate the ability to formulate a thesis about a text and to support the thesis with textual evidence, close reading, and argumentation.
1) Active participation in-class and on the discussion boards on ELMS.
2) Creative Queer World-Making Project:
What does your queer world look like? Demonstrate this through the use of art, poetry, prose, analysis, graphs etc. This project is on-going, and should be developed as we read more theoretical and creative material.
3) Five informal journal entries.
4) Three formal paper, typed in 12 pt. font, double spaced, and formatted in MLA style:
a) Close Reading Paper (2-3 pages): a close examination of a specific passage from an assigned text
b) Theoretical Engagement Paper (3-4 pages): a close examination of a text through the lens of one or more of the theoretical readings.
c) Final Paper (7-9 pages): this paper will have three elements: a) creative section (2-3 pages): for this section, write a creative autobiographical piece or fictional first-person piece in the style of one of the authors or poets we have read over the course of the semester; b) rationale section (3-4 pages): write an explanation of the literary elements (metaphor/ analogy/genre-blurring/style/symbolism/imagery/ syntax) you have borrowed from your author and why; c) theory and analysis (2-3 pages): analyze your creative section through the lens of one (or more) of the theoretical texts we have read in the class. The paper as a whole should have an overarching thesis.
Grade Weights:
Participation/ Discussion Board Posts 20%
Queer World-Making Creative Project (on-going) 5%
Close Reading Paper 10%
Theoretical Engagement Paper 20%
Final Paper 25%
Journal Entries 20%
Important Dates/Major Grading Events:
Feb 5th: Journal Entry 1
Feb 23rd: Close Reading Paper
March 5th: Journal Entry 2
March 26th: Theoretical Exploration Paper
April 2nd: Journal Entry 3
April 16th: Journal Entry 4
April 30th: Journal Entry 5
May 8th: Queer World-making Project
May 17th: Critical Analysis Paper
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate familiarity and facility with fundamental terminology and concepts associated with the analysis of literature.
2. Demonstrate critical thinking in the evaluation of queer and trans theoretical and literary work, in terms of the intersections of gender, sexuality, geographical location, and race.
3. Describe how the figurative use of language in queer and trans literatures is related to contemporary ways of thinking, cultural heritage, and cultural values.
4. Critically examine how queer and trans cultural productions converse with contemporary global and racial politics.
5. Demonstrate the ability to formulate a thesis about a text and to support the thesis with textual evidence, close reading, and argumentation.