Whose Power Is This?:
Issues of Pornography in Feminist Theory

Intermediate Composition
English 3010
T Th 1:00 - 2:35 p.m.
313/029 State Hall
Taught Spring/Summer 1999 at Wayne State University
Instructor: Samantha Blackmon

Course Description:
Through a survey and analysis of feminist theory and pornography of the 20th century this course will prepare you for academic writing in your other college courses. In this course we will put an emphasis on the relationship between reading, writing, and critical thinking while concentrating on how the issues of sexuality, gender, and power are at play in American society. We will rely on previously written texts to learn to collect, interpret, and disseminate information through newly produced texts.

Texts (required, available at Marwils Bookstore):
Schaum, Melita and Connie Flanagan, eds. Gender Images: Readings for Composition
On Reserve at Adamany Undergraduate Library:
McElroy, Wendy. XXX: A Womans Right to Pornography
Recommended:
Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers

In Addition:
* 3 Blue Books
* Journal-- the style of your journal is largely up to you, but must be able to hold looseleaf pages. You will bring this to each class session.
* Portfolio-- a folder with pockets to keep your written work in.
* Two Computer Disks-- one to serve as a back-up for your work, the other to be submitted to me with your typed assignments.

Course Requirements and Grading Policy:
Final Course Grades will be determined on the basis of (8) in-class writing exams and One Page Response to Readings (400 pts.), (1) 4-5 page essay (100 pts.), Classparticipation and forum discussion (which include freewrites, collaborative responses, etc.) (200 pts.), class participation and quizzes (as needed) (100 pts.), and an 8-10 page final research paper (200 pts.). All assignments are to be typed according to MLA guidelines.
Grading Scale:
1000-950 pts. A
949-900 pts. A-
899-866 pts. B+
865-833 pts. B
832-800 pts. B-
799-766 pts. C+
765-733 pts. C
732-700 pts. C-
699-666 pts. D+
665-633 pts. D
632-600 pts. D-
599-below E

Course Policies

Week One: Introduction
Tues.,. 5/11- First Day of Class/ REMINDER: Late Registration
Icebreaker/ Brief overview of the class

Thurs., 5/13- Syllabus Quiz- Intro. to the Course/ In-class diagnostic writing

Week Two: Enter Stage Left
Tues., 5/18- GI: Erotica vs. Pornography GI: Pornography and Censorship

Thurs., 5/20- XXX: Chapters 1&2 One Page Response to Reading Due

Fri., 5/21- Last Day to Add Courses

Week Three: Please Baby!: Begging for Power?
Tues., 5/25-GI: Pornography and Freedom hooks, bell Whose Pussy is This: A Feminist Comment (handout) / In-Class Writing Exam

Thurs., 5/27- Film Screening She's Gotta Have It

Week Four: Power In the Pussy
Tues., 6/01-hooks, bell Power To the Pussy: We Dont Wannabe Dicks In Drag Talking Sex: Beyond the Patriarchal Phallic Imaginary (handouts)

Thurs., 6/03- Paper #1 Draft- Peer Editing/ One Page Response to Film Due/ Discussion of Final Project Topics (bring topics to class)

Week Five: My First Love Had a Staple In Her Navel
Tues., 6/08- DSC:, The First Amendment, Under Fire from the Left DSC: Looking at Pictures DSC: How Dirty Pictures Changed My Life Paper #1 Due

Thurs., 6/10- GI: Forbidden Pleasure GI: One Mans Pleasures: A Response/ One Page Response to Reading Due/ MOO Session

Week Six: Research, Research, Research
Tues., 6/15- Independent Research for Final Projects
Thurs., 6/17- More Research and Writing

Week Seven: It Cant All Be Fun :<
Tues., 6/22- Research Project Peer Editing
Thurs., 6/24- Research Project Peer Editing

Week Eight: All That and They Talk Too!!
Tues., 6/29- XXX: Chapter 7
Thurs., 7/01- XXX: Chapter 3/ One Page Response to Reading Due

Week Nine: Will I Really Go Blind??
Tues., 7/06-XXX: Chapter 4
Thurs., 7/08-XXX: Chapter 5/ One Page Response to Reading Due

Week Ten: The Money Shot!!
Tues., 7/13- XXX: Chapter 6/ Research Papers Due
Thurs., 7/15- XXX: Chapter 8/ One Page Response
to Reading Due

Week Eleven: Lights, Camera, Action !!!
Tues., 7/20- Odds and Ends
Thurs., 7/22- Final Paper Presentations/ In-Class Writing Exam

Week Twelve: Thats All Folk!!!
Tues.,. 7/27- Final Paper Presentations
Thurs., 7/29- Evaluations for you and me :-)
Fri., 7/30- Last Day to Drop Courses; Study Day

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