Gender, Politics and Society

Summer 2016 – University of Toronto Mississauga
Dr. P. Kmiec
MID-TERM ASSIGNMENT
DEADLINE: July 20, 2016 (11:59pm) WEIGHT: 25% of total course mark
Submission: Blackboard and Turnitin.com
INSTRUCTIONS:
Answer TWO of the questions below. Each response should be maximum two pages (double-spaced, 12 pt
font, standard margins). Your answers should be original and demonstrate critical thinking. Your answers
must also be closely connected to our class discussions and readings. Each answer must include a
discussion of at least two course readings. Be sure that the readings you choose for your discussion are the
most relevant to both the topic and your particular discussion. A strong answer should make connections
between multiple course themes and topics, and use the best possible examples to demonstrate the main
points.
Note that some questions will require an argumentative answer, and others will have more of a discussion
and descriptive structure. In both cases, be sure to provide substantial evidence and examples to support any
key points that you are making.
Your submission must be in a word file (.doc or docx) and include your last name in the file name [For
example: “pkmiec_soc380_midterm.doc”]
Your responses must be submitted to both Blackboard and Turnitin.com. Turnitin.com log-in info is on the
course Blackboard site.
QUESTIONS:
1. Many of the selected course materials we have read and watched in this course are more than a decade
or even two decades old. Given the social, cultural, political, and technological change that has
occurred from the 1980s to today, why do you think that these readings and videos remain central to
our course? When it comes to theorizing about gender, what has remained the same and what has
changed?
2. How might our society be different if humans reproduced by laying eggs?
3. Is it possible for people to achieve equity within a society that upholds the mutually exclusive
categories of male and female? What arguments might be made on both sides of this debate?
4. The concept of intersectionality lies at the centre of contemporary feminist analysis. Using an original
metaphor for intersectionality, explain both the meaning and significance of this concept in theorizing
about gender.
TIPS FOR WRITING STRONG ANSWERS:
ü Read and follow all instructions closely
ü Include a thoughtful discussion of how multiple course readings, videos, and lectures provide insight
into your response
ü Place your original insight within the context of the course material. Don’t drift too far from either the
question(s) being asked or the content of the course.
ü Leave time to edit and revise your answers (in particular sentence structure, paragraph structure, and
referencing!)
MARKING SCHEME:
Each answer is worth 12.5 marks out of 25.
Each answer will be evaluated in the following areas:
/3 Level of analysis and critical thinking
/4.5 Clear connections made between course topics/themes
/2 Level of clarity in writing
/3 Formatting details and overall clarity (including proper use and format of all citations)
* AS WITH ALL COURSE WORK, MAJOR ERRORS MAY OVERRIDE THE ABOVE GRADING SCHEME *
Reminder: the university considers the lack of (as well as significant errors in) citations of your
sources a major act of academic misconduct. All papers that do not cite their sources will be reported
to the Academic Integrity Office. Please consult the resources posted on Blackboard and/or contact
your TA or professor if you have any questions about these policies and practices.

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