SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF SEXUALITY
SOCY/WMST 1006
FALL 2010
Recitation Syllabus
*This syllabus is to be used alongside Professor Brown’s syllabus regarding lectures/readings*
Teaching Assistant: Lena Papadopoulos
Office: Hale Sciences Bldg, Rm. 335, #14
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-4 pm and by appointment
Email: Helen.Papadopoulos@colorado.edu
Section
Day
Time
Location
101
Monday
12-12:50 pm
EDUC 155
102
Wednesday
12-12:50 pm
EKLC E1B50
103
Monday
2-2:50 pm
RAMY N1B31
You must attend the recitation you are registered for except in cases of extenuating
circumstances in which you have acquired prior approval from me.
Recitation Description/Objectives
The purpose of this recitation is to cover course readings. Lecture will not cover the
readings; instead, they will be taught and reviewed in recitation. Therefore, your attendance in
recitation is crucial to your success in the course. Recitations will also be a good time for group
discussions and expounding on lecture material. When it does come time for discussion, please
be lively, be attentive, and participate. A sea of blank faces staring back at me doesn’t make for
productive and effective class time, so please don’t be afraid to voice your thoughts, ideas, and
opinions. I realize that some of the course material may be difficult for many of you to talk
about, which is why I hope we can all try to make each other as comfortable as possible during
discussion. The more you open up, the easier the conversation will become.
Expectations
You should all feel comfortable discussing sexuality, but you should also be aware of the
line between open, honest discussion and disrespect. You are, of course, entitled to disagree
with others’ opinions about sexuality, but you are under no circumstances entitled to attack
another person’s beliefs, values, or opinions regarding sexuality during class. In addition, you
are expected to abstain from making offensive comments regarding race, religion, gender, sexual
identity, and other personal matters.
I realize that you may not be used to having a young female openly talking about sexual
matters before you. Please be aware that my speaking about such content does not give you
permission to make inappropriate sexual remarks directed at me. I am not “up for grabs,” and I
expect to be respected along with your fellow classmates.
Grading
100 of the 300 possible points for the course will be earned in recitation, meaning that
recitation is worth 1/3 of your grade, so it is imperative that you attend. There will be ten quizzes
given in recitation over the course of the semester; each quiz is worth 10 points. The format of the
quiz is largely dependant on that week’s material and will vary. You may expect multiple choice,
short answer (1-2 sentences), matching, definitions, or short essay (1-2 paragraphs). Quizzes will
cover lecture material, recitation discussions, and readings. You must attend recitation to take the
quiz and failure to take a quiz will result in the loss of 10 (out of your total 100) points each time; so
again, attendance is necessary. As you know the semester is more than ten weeks long, so there will
not be a quiz every week. However, quiz days will not be announced, so be sure to be prepared each
week. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated (see the University’s honor code).
“Housekeeping”
Please come to class on time. Tardiness is a disruption as well as a risk of missing important
material, which will not be repeated. Also, please turn all cell phones off or switch them to a silent
(non-vibrating) setting. Refrain from texting in class; it is incredibly disrespectful. I allow laptops as
long as their use does not disturb other students. This privilege may be revoked during the semester.
Also, please do not email me each week to ask what reading you should have done. That is why
you’ve been given a syllabus by Professor Brown, so that that information in already available to
you. If issues arise in class that make you uncomfortable and you feel that they must be addressed,
please set up a time to come speak with me in my office.
I really hope that we can enjoy an open, honest, and welcoming environment this semester in
recitation. I hope you are able to gain a lot of valuable, possibly life changing, information from this
course. Take your work and the class content seriously; but, remember, sex doesn’t always have to
be serious, it can also be fun.