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GOVT 374 Feminist
Contributions to Political Theory Spring
2005 |
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Dr. Valerie Lehr 229-5677 Office Hours: W |
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In this course, we will explore the ways by which feminists have read, critiqued, and reconceptualized political theory in order to better account for the experiences of women and to use these experiences to transform political thought. We will explore writings on such concepts as freedom, democracy, human rights, and liberalism. |
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Required Texts: Carole Pateman, The Sexual Contract, 1988. Nancy Fraser, Justice Interruptus, 1997. Patricia Hill Collins, Fighting Words, 1998. Valerie Lehr, Queer Family Values, 1999. Seyla Benhabib, The Claims of Culture, 2002. Nancy Hirschmann, The Subject of |
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Course Requirements: 1) Paragraph summaries of chapters: For each text that we read about which you are not writing a paper, you should write one paragraph summaries of main idea for each chapter (you do not need to do this for introductions, prefaces, or anything under 10 pages). If you are not certain about the author’s arguments, try to summarize what you can and end your paragraph with at least one question that you think would help you to understand the argument. These are due each week in class on Wednesday. These are worth 10% of your final grade. Without a very good excuse, I will not accept late summaries. 2) One 3 page paper on one of the first two texts. In this paper, you will briefly summarize what you see as key arguments and raise two issues/questions for class discussion. You should provide some brief speculation on how you might answer one of your questions. Your papers will provide the foundation for our discussions on the day that they are due. This is worth 15% of your final grade. 3) Two 4-6 page papers on two of the last 4 texts. In this paper, you will do the same kind of analysis that you did with your short paper, but you should now make connections to previous texts/discussions as you raise issues/questions and discuss them. You must bring a draft of this paper to class on the third day of our discussion of the text. It will provide the foundation for our class discussion on that day. You will then have a week to revise your paper. Each draft will be graded. Each of two papers and your ability to discuss the ideas in it is worth 20% of your final grade. 4) One 10-12 page integrative paper in you use readings in addition to those assigned to explore a concept or an issue in some depth. I will provide a detailed assignment early in the semester. You will present your paper during finals week. This is worth 25% of your final grade. Class Participation – 10% of your final grade. This is a seminar class which will be highly dependent on your discussion of the ideas in these texts. It is, therefore, critical that you both attend class regularly and participate. If you miss more than 2 classes, your grade on this portion will go down by 1.0 for each additional missed class. If you miss more than 4 classes, you will fail the course. |
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Assignments: 1/19 Pateman, preface and pp. 1-75. 1/24 Pateman, pp. 76-115. 1/26 Pateman, pp. 116-188. 1/31 Pateman, pp. 189-234. 2/2 Fraser, pp. . 225-235, 11-39 2/7 Fraser, pp. 41-98. 2/9 Fraser, pp. 121-149 and "Toward Justice and Reconciliation". 2/14 Fraser, pp. 173-235. 2/16 Collins, introduction, pp. 3-76. 2/21 Collins, pp. 79-123. 2/23 Collins, pp. 124-186. 2/28 Collins, pp. 187-250. 3/2 Lehr, Intro, Chs 1 & 2 3/7 Lehr, Chs. 3 & 4 3/9 Lehr, Chs. 5 & 6 3/21 Integrative Papers discussion. You should come to class with a paragraph in which you discuss one or two questions that you find compelling and might want to write your final paper about. You should also bring at least two citations for essays or books that you think would be helpful. 3/23 Benhabib, preface, pp. 1-48. 3/28 Benhabib, pp. 49-104. 3/30 Benhabib, p. 105-147. 4/4 Benhabib, pp. 147-187. 4/6 Hirschmann, preface, pp. 1-74. 4/11 Hirschmann, pp. 75-137. 4/13 Hirschmann, pp. 138-169. 4/18 Hirschmann, p. 170-239. 4/20 Preparation for paper presentations -- conferences. 4/25 Preparation for paper presentations -- conferences. 4/27 Draft of integrative paper due. 5/4 Scheduled
final day -- |
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