Sociology M167
Field Studies Homepage (Soc. 199)
Schedule of Field Studies Class and Office Hours
Field Studies Coordinator: Gina Masequesmay- Field Studies Class Time: Thursdays 4 - 5:30 PM
- Field Studies Class Room: Powell 307, CLICC Classroom A
- Office Hours: By appointment only.
- Email Adress: mychi@ucla.edu
- Webpage URL: http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/soc/faculty/horton/field.htm
Soc. 199: Field Studies Component to Soc. M167
This Field Studies class (Soc. 199) is an optional component of Soc. M167, "Contested Sexualities." Students taking this class will earn 2 extra unit credits and a passing grade after satisfactorily completing this course's requirements. This class requires that students work collaboratively on individual and group projects that result in a final class project, the Class Resource Webpage. Students who are interested in taking this class must talk to the Field Studies Coordinator/Instructor, Gina Masequesmay, as soon as possible and definitely before end of Week 2 in order to obtain a PTE number for registration.This Course's Definition of Field Studies
This Field Studies Class defines the world wide web as our FIELD. Instead of sending students off campus for SERVICE-LEARNING at different organizations (field sites), students are sent out to surf the net and find websites to study and analyze. Their analyses are then collected and posted in the Class Resource Webpage. This GROUP PROJECT WEBPAGE serves as resources for other students and the larger public who happened to surf our website.Creating a Resource Webpage as "Service"
The "service" component of this class is that students have to give "service" back to the "field" by creating a resource webpage for the internet public. This resource webpage includes analyses of other relevant websites. This resource webpage also includes analyses of some contemporary gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT) issues that are from class discussions. For any scholar new to the studies of GLBTs, the resource webpage to be created will serve as an introduction to a critical approach on "sexuality." The group's webpage is a document of what the course is about from students' perspectives to be shared with interested, future students. This webpage can also be built upon by the next cohort of students should this field studies component be offered again with the regular course.Analyzing Relevant Websites
Students will select websites to analyze in terms of their relevance to our main class topic--contested sexualities. The theoretical approach of the class problematizes "sexuality" rather than takes it for granted as a fixed biological fact. We view sexuality as a social and political phenomenon historically contested by regimes of sexual/gender control and movements of resistance. The meaning of sexuality develops historically in an on-going process of both fixing/naturalizing and of changing/relativizing theories and categories of sex, gender, and sexuality. Given our critical perspective, our final class webpage focuses on the analysis of contemporary right-wing and queer websites. That is, we focus on sites reaffirming and undermining political dominant sex, gender, and sexual styles. This is the learning component of the class. Students are expected to apply theoretical concepts from the main course to examine and analyze these web/field sites as moments of contestation in the struggle to define sexuality.Analyzing Readings and Discussion Topics
Aside from creating a resource webpage with analyses of selected websites, students are expected to post summary analyses of current topics in this resource webpage. The summary analyses are derived from class discussions, class chat rooms and class discussion board.This Course's Field Studies Requirements
In sum, students must work in group and individually to create a final group project, the course's Resource Webpage (see sample) where the project is broken into smaller projects from which students are evaluated individually and collectively. Firstly, students must attend the scheduled Field Studies Class to plan out activities and divide workload as well as to learn the basics of creating and uploading a webpage. Secondly, students are to post their analyses of other websites. Thirdly, students are to post summaries of main class discussions (from class sections, class chat rooms, and class discussion board) on readings and on major class topics such as coming out and right-wing politics. In exchange for all these projects, students will receive 2 unit credits and a satisfactory pass for Soc. 199.Practical Issue: This class requires additional time (~ 4 to 6 hours/week) and energy from students. You will spend much time not only on analyzing and writing but also on surfing, creating and uploading webpages. Students who are interested in exploring web technology are highly encouraged to take this course. You will learn much from the assignments both in developing technical skills and analytical skills regarding building resources on contemporary queer issues in the internet. Given that this is an experimental class, I am open to students' input on the course of this class.
Evaluation Criteria
Students will be given individual projects such as posting their analyses of websites. Students will also be given group projects where they must collaborate with other students and receive a collective grade. These collective projects are usually in terms of summarizing class discussion and post the report on the web. A grade is given for each project and is weighted based on presentation, analytical content and organization. Evaluation of a project is broken down into: 15% presentation--readable and appropriate links for navigation; 70% on concise analysis with major points outlined and supported; and, 15% organization--points are not scattered but organized into a coherent argument and presentation.Here are the distribution of grade for this course:
- INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
- Attendance/Participation, 10%
- Posting Own Everyday Sexualizing Project, 10%
- Posting Own Website Analysis Project, 10%
- Posting of webpage authors' profile, 5%
- COLLECTIVE PROJECTS
- Posting of Class Discussion on Sexualizing Project, 10%
- Posting of Class Discussion on Website Analysis, 10%
- Posting of Class Discussion on Coming Out Panel, 10%
- Posting of Class Discussion on Transgenderism, 10%
- Posting of anonymous class evaluations on resource webpage, 10%
- Finalizing of Resource Webpage and Class Presentation, 15%
Weekly Class Plan and Assignments (Tentative, will be revised weekly):
Here are the weekly class plan and assignments. Please check it regularly should there be changes. Homework is usually due at noon the following Wednesday.1. INTRODUCTION: Syllabus; Administrative matters; Familiarize students
with internet--surf and save.
Assignment for Week 1: Surf the
net and check out queer sites. Give URLs and brief descriptions of 6 pro-queer
and/or anti-queer sites. Email me the list based on the topic you were
assigned in class.
2. INTRO II: Logistical matters of which sections students are in for
organizing group project. Review of Intro to Internet: surf, save.
Introduce sending function to upload webpages.
Assignment for Week 2: Student
to write brief summary of one new important point/idea learned from readings
or discussion. Upload this information on student's BOL account by re-saving
MS Word 97 file as an HTML file. Revised
HWK assignment.
3. TEMPLATE DEMO: Introduction to using Netscape Composer to edit
webpages.
Assignment for Week 3: Practice
editing using Netscape Composer. Revised
HWK assignment 3.
4. REVIEWING BASIC TECHNICAL SKILLS
Assignment for Week 4: Upload
and email class assignment. Sophia and Leach to put up comments on Out
Panel. Check-off List on creating
a webpage.
5. RE-EDITING THE SAMPLE/FINAL PROJECT
Assignment for Week 5: Jessica
and Minnie to post summary of Sexualizing Discussion.
6. STARTING WEBSITE ANALYSIS PROJECT {Midterm week}
Assignment for Week 6: Finish
tables of main sites in linked website page.
7. EDITING OF FINAL PROJECT AND STARTING WEBSITE PAGE PROJECT
Assignment for Week 7: Updates
on final project and its website links.
8. EDITING OF FINAL PROJECT AND OTHER PROJECTS
Assignment for Week 8: Upload
website analyses.
9. EDITING FINAL PROJECT AND WEBSITE ANALYSES; ORGANIZING TOPICS PROJECT
Assignment for Week 9: Upload
reports of discussion topics.
10. EDITING FINAL PROJECT AND LINKS
Assignment for Week 10: Finalize
class webpage project. Students to post anonymous class evaluations. Due
on final day at Noon.
11. Evaluations are due on Final Day.