Extra Credit Paper Topics
Proposal date:  May 1, 2006
Due Date: May 17, 2006

You must submit a half page typed paper topic proposal by May 1. Expect significant feedback on your paper topic proposal. Rarely will proposals be accepted as written. No paper will be accepted without an approved proposal. Papers should be five pages, typed, double-spaced. They should conform to APA or MLA style. They will be accepted until May 17.  Papers must be crafted for this course. I will help focus your topic to ensure this. Beware of plagiarism.

Beacon Conference: Consider submitting your paper to the Beacon Conference. Papers written by students from community colleges across the Northeast are competitively chosen for this conference. There are a number of categories including communication, gender studies, interdisciplinary studies and social justice.

1. Analyze the representation of gender in a series of ads or a magazine.  You may choose to look at masculinity and/or femininity (and may also wish to consider other issues such as class, race, ethnicity, sexuality).  Are stereotypes reinforced or broken (or both)?  Use Gloria Steinem's "Sex, Lies and Advertising" to provide a framework.
2. Write two op-ed pieces or a letter to the editor.  (These will be shorter than 5 pages). The letter to the editor should respond to an article or a series of articles from a single publication (such as a newspaper).  Include copies of the article(s) when you hand in your paper.  An op-ed may also respond to a specific article(s) or may address another newsworthy topic.  See guidelines for writing both (on reserve in library).
3. Write a research paper in which you examine a topic we did not discuss in class or explore more deeply a topic we did discuss.  One area you may consider researching is international women's issues.
4. Review a book(s), movie(s), television program(s), song(s), piece(s) of art, analyzing the representation of masculinity and/or femininity, women and/or men. (You may also wish to consider other issues such as class, race, ethnicity, sexuality.)  Are stereotypes reinforced or broken (or both)?  What is the predominant message about gender?  Is there an underlying (subversive) message?  What is the role of media in our society vis-à-vis gender?   Does it create norms or simply reflect them?
5. Design a web page on a topic we have discussed in class or another of your choosing (must be approved before you begin your project).  You must include your own original writing not simply a list of links to other sites. Your web page should provide background on the topic, as well as links to and reviews of other useful web sites.  You may also wish to include pictures, graphics, etc.  Be creative.  I can help you get started if you have never designed a web page before.