Writing Assignments

 

Students are required to complete the following two writing assignments for this course. The journal article review paper is due on February 11, and the argumentative/analytical paper is due on March 11.

In writing these papers, try to expand your understanding of sexual diversity by examining issues and differences with which you are least familiar.

1. A journal article review - 3-4 pages, typed double-spaced

a. Select a journal article that discusses an issue of sexuality that you would like to examine more thoroughly (this article may or may not be related to your group presentation topic). A good way to identify an article is to be alert to the report of research findings in the text that you find interesting and maybe challenging (there are many journal articles cited in the references of the text). You may choose an article from any of the journals related to sexuality in the library.

b. Include the following in your review of the article:

  • Purpose and Major Hypothesis(es)
  • Methodology
  • Findings and conclusion
  • Your analysis of the article's purpose, methodology, findings and conclusion - this section should be more than a few sentences and should represent at least one-third of your paper. Include in your analysis a discussion of how Michael Wiederman's tools of critical analysis for Understanding Sexuality Research can be applied to the journal research you are reviewing.

2. An argumentative/analytical paper - 3-4 pages typed, double-spaced

a. Select any issue related to human sexuality, other than one related to the topic of your group presentation; the issue should have both individual and social dimensions that you can explore. It is a good idea to tell Sylvia the topic you have chosen for this paper (I would be glad to help you with resources and direction). Look through the text to get ideas for a topic that you would be interested in studying.

b. In combination with the text, at least two other journal articles, and any interesting and relevant material that you find on the internet, review your issue and develop a thesis that reflects your point of view about the issue - a position that you can argue or present with good support.

c. Write your paper, using the text and other sources to support your thesis and analysis. Include citations for all information and concepts that are not your own, and prepare a bibliography at the end of your paper.

 

 This page was last modified by Eve Obert (oberte@grinnell.edu) on 12-14-00

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