California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
English Department
Dr. Johanna Rubba
LAST UPDATED 9/19/11

This document is a contract. If you remain enrolled in this course, I will assume that you have carefully read the document and ALL pages linked to it, and are committed to performing in accordance with them. I will assume that you will ask for clarification on points that are not clear to you. In return, I commit myself to adhering to the policies outlined here. If changes are made, I will inform you in a timely manner and explain the reasons for the changes.

Site Map
Syllabus and Reading Schedule      ~      Homework Assignment Schedule      ~      Term Paper Information
Course Concepts (Important Terms and Ideas)      ~      Annotated Bibliography of Course Readings
A helpful handout: How to Read Research Articles      ~      Plagiarism Warning

• Course Information:
  • Schedule: MW 2:10-4 pm ~ Location: 02-013 (Education basement) ~ Instructor: Dr. Johanna Rubba ~ Office: 47-35B (Faculty Office Building, top [red] floor, middle hallway) ~ Office Phone: 805-756-2184 ~ E-mail: jrubba@calpoly.edu ~ OFFICE HOURS: T 3:10-5 pm, W 10:10-11 am, R 3:10-4 pm and by appointment**
  • English Department Contacts: Location: 47-32   Phone 805-756-2596  Fax 805-756-6374
  • Prerequisites: A course in critical thinking, and ENGL 290 or permission of instructor (the critical-thinking course is a must)
  • **The best way to contact me and get a prompt response is through personal visits in office hours or e-mail (jrubba@calpoly.edu). I cannot guarantee a response to phone messages, unless on a very urgent matter. (Apologies for the inconvenience.) Please make every effort to visit me in office hours. If you cannot come to office hours, please set up an appointment as follows: Go to my online schedule, look for times when we are both possibly available, and e-mail me, suggesting several times that are good for you, and I will confirm one by return e-mail.
  • How to find my office: Regardless of which direction you're coming from, enter the building at the top of the hill. Doors 32 and 35 are in the middle of the building, almost across from each other, near the water fountain. 32 is the English Department office; 35 is my hallway; 35B is the next-to-last office on your right.
    
    
•   Course Description:
  • Questions we address in this course: What is "gender"? What does language have to do with gender? Can language be sexist? If so, what kind of harm comes from it? How can we prove whether it is or is not sexist? Are the stereotypes true -- that men interrupt women all the time, women talk too much, men never ask for directions, and you can tell if someone is gay or lesbian by how they talk? Is "man" (as in "Stone Age man") generic, or not; are women who use the title "Ms." man-hating feminazis?
  • This course will strive to answer these questions to the extent that current research allows. We will study (a) gender differences in language behavior, that is, how language is used to express gender identity; and (b) the role of language in constructing gender in our society, that is, in building gender categories; teaching children and adults how to behave in gender-appropriate ways; conveying sex-role stereotypes; and encoding and reinforcing bias in favor of or against one or another gender or sexual orientation. We will study how females and males, heterosexual, homosexual, and in between, are affected by such language practices.
  • In the process of studying these phenomena, we will see how linguists seek evidence to prove claims of gender differences in language behavior or of gender bias in language.
  • Warning: This class will feature presentation and discussion of aspects of biology and sexual practices that some may find offensive. If you are sensitive to this type of information, it might be best for you to drop this course.
    
    
• Learning Objectives:
  • Attain an understanding of how language and gender interact
  • Learn techniques for revealing hidden values and assumptions through linguistic analysis (critical thinking)
  • Gain greater depth of understanding of gender-related issues in our society and other societies
  • Learn by doing: apply the Course Concepts to samples of actual language use
    
    
• Required Texts:
  • Language and Gender: An Introduction, FIRST EDITION, by Mary M. Talbot, 1998 Polity Press/Blackwell. NOTE: There is a new edition of this book. The new edition will NOT work for this course. The correct edition is available at El Corral.
  • Reading Packet (a collection of research articles and commentary): THIS IS CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION. I will let you know when it is ready to order. It will be available ONLY through University Readers, and must be ordered online. See the bottom of this page for ordering instructions. ALL of the readings, including those we need early in the quarter, are on the course site on Blackboard > Course Materials > Course Readings. You can do your own calculation as to whether it is more cost-effectve to buy the reader or to print out the articles. In any case, you will need to bring a copy of each article to class on the day we discuss it.
    • So: You will obtain the first five packet readings from Blackboard. The remainder will be available in the packet from University Readers, as well as on Blackboard.
      
      
• Course Requirements:
  • Attendance: Excess absences will harm your participation grade. Visit my Attendance Policy page for details.
  • Participation: Being a seminar, this class will rely heavily on student contributions to class discussions. Participation counts as part of your grade.
  • Language Example: Each student will bring in one example of language use that illustrates a few Course Concepts. The student will present the example to the class and talk about which Concepts apply and how they apply. The whole class can then discuss the example further, perhaps bringing in more Course Concepts.
  • Reading Response Worksheets: One of these will be required for most of the readings, and they will be graded. They must be handed in on the date when the article is discussed; I cannot accept late worksheets. The worksheets ask you to summarize the main points of the reading (answering set questions) and to apply several Course Concepts to the reading.
  • Midterm and Final Exams: There will be a midterm and a final exam with short questions as well as essay questions. Exams will test your understanding of the Course Concepts and your ability to apply the principles of language and gender theory we study in class to typical examples of either language (in a real-world text) or language behavior. They will also test your understanding of all assigned readings. The final exam will be given during the assigned time: Wed., 12/7. 1:10-4 pm. The final exam will be comprehensive, especially in the essay section, where you may need to draw on Courses Concepts from any point in the course.
  • Term Paper: This will be a data-based study: You will formulate a hypothesis or research question, go out and seek relevant data, then analyze the data and determine whether or not it supports your hypothesis or answers your research question. Many of the course readings are models of such studies, and in fact I encourage you to replicate studies we read. There will be peer group presentations and discussions of your papers near the end of the quarter. This means the analysis has to be well under way by then (do not expect the class to analyze your results for you!)
  • Reflective Essay: This is a short essay in which you set out the ways in which the course has affected your thinking about the issues we studied. It will be due during exam week, and is to be turned in via e-mail. The Reflective Essay counts into the participation grade.
    
    
• Value of Course Requirements:
  • Participation& Language Example:   30 pts. =   10%
  • Reading Response Sheets:                 30 pts. =   10%
  • Midterm:                                             60 pts. =  20%
  • Final:                                                 105 pts. =  35%
  • Term  Paper:                                       75 pts. =  25%
  • TOTAL                                            300 pts. = 100%
    
    
• Instructions for ordering the Reading Packet:
  • To purchase the course pack online, please follow the instructions below:
  • Step 1: Log on to https://students.universityreaders.com/store/.
  • Step 2: Create an account or log in if you have an existing account to purchase.
  • Step 3: Easy-to-follow instructions will guide you through the rest of the ordering process. Payment can be made by all major credit cards or with an electronic check.
  • Orders are typically processed within 24 hours and the shipping time will depend on the selected shipping method and day it is shipped (orders are not shipped on Sundays or holidays). If you experience any difficulties, please email orders@universityreaders.com or call 800.200.3908 ext. 503
    
    
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