Exam preparation and review

As you know, the first exam of the semester will take place next Friday, October 2. To help you prepare, the TAs have prepared a document with details about the logistics of the exam and with cues to some of the key concepts introduced so far in the course.

Download the exam review guide here (PDF)

Please note that the exam will be open on E-Learning from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. next Friday. We will not have lecture that day, so that you may take the exam during our normal class period, if you have no other open time on your schedule.

Also note that some students have experienced computer problems in the past that could be avoided. To minimize the chance you will have problems that affect your grade adversely, please plan either to take the exam on a campus computer or to make sure that the off-campus computer you will use is compatible with the E-Learning exam system. You can check the compatibility of your system by logging on to E-Learning and taking the practice test posted there now.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

What’s wrong with the Playboy sex survey?

PlayboyThis morning the Alligator ran a story about Playboy’s new survey of sexual behavior among college students in the U.S. (Thanks to @andrea25th and @andrewjosays for drawing my attention to it on Twitter.) Here’s the Alligator’s lead: “The secret is out: College kids like a lot of sex. According to Playboy’s most recent college sex poll, that is.”

Now, I haven’t received my copy of been to the library to check out the latest issue of Playboy yet, but the Alligator’s story raises plenty of eyebrows about the study. This story is a great opportunity for you to put what you’ve learned in class so far to the test.

Before I offer my take on the Playboy poll and the Alligator story about it, I’d like to know what you think about it:

Let’s hear from you—after you’ve finished your first reaction paper, that is.

Grading rubric for reaction papers

As you know, the first reaction paper is due by the beginning of lecture this Friday, September 18. We will collect hard copies in class, and you must submit an electronic version to Turnitin through E-Learning. Here are two documents to assist you in putting the finishing touches on your papers:

Together, these documents should give you a clear sense of what we expect from you and how your papers will be evaluated. The grading scheme has been designed with an eye toward improving your skills as a writer, and your TAs will work with you to ensure that your writing continues to improve over the course of the semester.

If you have any last-minute questions about the assignment, please contact your TA or leave a comment here.

Screening and discussion of NO!

Tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 9, there will be a screening and discussion of NO! The Rape Documentary by Aishah Shahidah Simmons. The event is open to all and will take place in Turlington Hall, Room 1207, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Here’s the trailer for the documentary:

Tonight’s screening will also include a discussion of two related readings: “Neoliberal Policy as Structural Violence: It’s Links to Domestic Violence in Black Communities in the United States,” by William L. Conwill, and “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color,” by Kimberle Williams Crenshaw. For more information, or to get copies of the readings, please contact J. Hale-Gallardo.