Text Box: Text: Brannon, L. (2002). Gender: Psychological perspectives (3^rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Course description: (Same as WOM 208) The process and consequences of gender development; review of current gender research and theory in the context of cultural, psychological, biological, historical and cross-cultural perspectives. The course focuses on female and male experience as it relates to issues such as cognition, value systems, achievement, interpersonal relationships, aggression and sexuality.

Learning Objectives: Students should understand the processes and consequences of gender development, and to review current gender research and theory in the context of cultural, psychological, biological, historical, and cross – cultural perspectives. The course will place special emphasis on the limitations of studying “gender differences,” particularly the problems that focus presents in current research and popular culture.

Moreover, this course is designed to help students build general proficiencies that will be useful to them in subsequent courses and in non-classroom settings. Specifically, students should develop a larger vocabulary, and the ability to think critically about reading and lecture material, as well as material presented in the larger culture. This course is also designed to help students present strong written integrations of material presented in class and readings.

Prerequisite: PSY 201 or 202 with C- or better, or consent of instructor.

Religious Observance: If you are unable to attend class due to a religious observance, contact me about any conflict by September 15, 2003 so that I may make alternate arrangements for you.

Disabilities: I will make reasonable accommodations for learning and other disabilities. Please contact Student Services so that your particular needs can be addressed.

Policies: Gender is a sensitive topic. I require that you respect others’ opinions and share your own in a reasonable manner. I also require that you question your own beliefs and opinions before you approach discussion. Please be attentive to your fellow students and to me, and participate actively in discussions and demonstrations. You are welcome to disagree (with the professors and/or your classmates), but do so respectfully.

I do not provide study guides to students. It is my belief that students must hone their note-taking skills, and use those skills to help guide studying. Moreover, I believe that students study better when they generate their own notes about topics in their own words and in their own handwriting. However, I am happy to help clarify topics that students don’t understand—all you have to do is ASK.

I do not routinely take attendance in my classes; however, you are strongly encouraged to attend every class. I will not provide you with my lecture notes. Thus, I encourage you to make friends with your fellow students to share lecture notes in the event that you miss a class. You are responsible for obtaining a college-approved excuse in the event that you miss an exam.

Please do not ask me about extra credit. You have the same opportunity to earn points in this class as every other student in this class; out of courtesy to other students, please do not ask me to make accommodations for you that are not available to them. You may consider this syllabus as my contract with you for the course content. I rely upon it as your contract with me. You alone are responsible for earning the grade that you want in this course.

Any written work that students turn in must conform to the following guidelines: It must be typewritten, double-spaced, in a readable (Times, Courier, or Arial, please), dark ink 12-point font, with reasonable margins. If written work comprises more than one page, work must be stapled (not paper-clipped, not enclosed in a report cover of any kind). Students may not turn in electronic copies without my prior approval. Papers must have the student’s name on them, and they must be well-written. I will subtract points for papers that have spelling and grammatical errors, and I will subtract points if students fail to note the preceding guidelines.

Assignments and exams will not be returned to the student. Students may come to office hours and review any written work they have submitted.

I will not tolerate any act of academic dishonesty and will follow University guidelines for sanctioning such behavior. Please review your copy of the University of Wisconsin’s Students’ Rights and Regulations handbook, pages 4-7.

Evaluation: I DO NOT GIVE GRADES. YOU EARN GRADES.

Your grade in this course will be determined by your performance on 2 ≈100-point take-home exams. The exam format will be essay. The last exam assignment will be given on the last day of class and it will be due by the beginning of the scheduled final exam time.

Additionally, grades will be based on your performance on the 10 highest out of 12 reflections on the readings (each worth 10 points). The lowest 2 grades on these reflections will be dropped; as a result, there will be absolutely no make-ups for any reason. You will turn in a reflection on the current week’s reading at the beginning of class. There will not be a reflection due on the date that the first exam is due. The format and expectations for reflections will be discussed in class.

Thus, unless there are changes to the schedule, there will be ≈300 possible points for the semester. Grades will be assigned pursuant to the following percentages of points earned:

Range	Grade	Range	Grade
≥92%	A	78-79.9%	C+
90-91.9%	A-	72-77.9%	C
88-89.9%	B+	70-71.9%	C-
82-87.9%	B	60-69.9%	D
80-81.9%	B-	>60%	F

Course Schedule and Activities: See attached tentative schedule of lectures, assignments, and exams. I may exercise my right to change these dates as the course gets underway. Exams will be held on their scheduled days unless you are otherwise notified; I will not change an exam date without reasonable notice.

You absolutely are expected to do the assigned reading before class, which will better prepare you for asking questions and understanding the material presented in class and in the text when you are studying for an exam.

Tentative Schedule of Events, Fall 2003

Date	Topic	Event
Sep 4	Syllabus overview
Sep 11	Ch. 1-2	Reflection 1 due
Sep 18	Ch 3	Reflection 2 due
Sep 25	Ch 4	Reflection 3 due
Oct 2	Ch 5-6	Reflection 4 due
Oct 9	Ch 7-8	Reflection 5 due
Oct 16		Reflection 6 due Exam 1 assigned
Oct 23	Ch 9-10	Exam I due
Oct 30	Ch 11	Reflection 7 due
Nov 6	Ch 12	Reflection 8 due
Nov 13	Ch 13	Reflection 9 due
Nov 20	Ch 14	Reflection 10 due
Nov 27	Thankgiving break, no class
Dec 4	Ch 15	Reflection 11 due
Dec 11	Ch 16	Reflection 12 due Exam II assigned
Dec 17-23	~~Final Examination Period~~	Exam II due