Required Text:

All texts will be made available on our course website.

Course Objectives:

•You will do close readings of texts and understand social, political, cultural, and historical issues, contexts, and terms.

• You will create central arguments that include a clear topic, a solid stance, and provide support for your main ideas by quoting, paraphrasing, and analyzing passages from texts.

• You will write grammatically and mechanically correct essays and research projects and cite in MLA (or some other academic) format.

Policy on Extensions and Late Work:

If you cannot complete an assignment on time, please contact me pro-actively to request a short-term extension. After-the-fact requests for extensions and incompletes will not be considered.

Civility:

Queens College is committed to the highest standards of academic and ethical integrity, acknowledging that respect for self and others is the foundation of educational excellence. Civility in the classroom and respect for the opinions of others is very important in an academic environment. It is likely you may not agree with everything that is said or discussed in the classroom, yet courteous behavior and responses are expected. Acts of harassment and discrimination based on matters of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, religion, and ability, etc., are not acceptable. All students, faculty, and staff have a right to be in a safe environment, free of disturbance, and civil in all aspects of human relations.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

I consider this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect, and I welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, genders, gender identities, gender expressions, national origins, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, ability—and other visible and nonvisible differences. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment for every other member of the class.

Safe Zone

I am available to listen and support you in a safe and confidential manner. I can help you connect with resources on campus to address problems you may face that interfere with your academic and social success on campus as it relates to issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. My goal is to help you be successful and to maintain a safe and equitable campus.

Preferred Name and Pronoun

I affirm all forms of gender expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than what is on the class roster, please let me know. Feel free to inform me of your gender pronoun (i.e., she/her/hers, he/him/his, or they/them/theirs, etc.) or if you do not have a pronoun (i.e., name only). If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. For more information, please visit Protecting the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students.

Rights of Undocumented and Refugee Students to an Education:

We are under a new presidential administration, and for many CUNY students, faculty, and staff, as well as their families, the uncertainty surrounding immigration rights, safety, and security can be confusing and nerve-wracking, to say the least. As an educator, I fully support the rights of undocumented students to an education and to live free from the fear of deportation. If you have any concerns in that regard, feel free to discuss them with me, and I will respect your wishes concerning confidentiality. Here are some links with helpful videos and information to help you understand your rights. These resources are also useful for allies:

NYC ICE Watch Instagram Account (has useful info on trainings and visuals, including important info on differences between judicial and administrative warrants.

Know Your Rights/Community Resources for Immigrant NYers.

Red Cards (printable); Know Your Rights Cards for your wallets, backpacks, etc. in a variety of languages.

We Have Rights videos/infographics in English, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish, Mandarin, Haitian-Creole, and Russian.

More useful info from the Immigrant Defense Project

CCNY’s Immigration Student Center for Resources and Research

Academic Integrity:

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged (intentionally or unintentionally) use of summary, paraphrase, direct quotation, language, statistics, or ideas from articles or other information sources, including the Internet. You must cite according to MLA or Chicago format, outlined in the required text. If you plagiarize all or part of a writing or research assignment, you will automatically receive an F on it, and it cannot be revised. If you repeat the offense, you will fail the course and be reported to Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. At Queens College, plagiarism falls under the larger heading of Academic Dishonesty and is adjudicated by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. To read a detailed description of each form of Academic Dishonesty, as well as descriptions of sanctions that may be enforced, please see the Policy on Academic Integrity.

Accessibility:

Queens College provides accommodations to students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability and need supplemental accommodations in connection with this class, contact the Office of Special Services for Students with Disabilities.

Participation and Discussion Procedures:

This course is offered asynchronously. Active participation in this course includes: finishing assigned readings, short reflection essay, short archive project, and final presentation. Every week, I will upload learning materials, such as brief video lectures and guiding questions to support you in completing the assigned readings. The questions are meant to be a reading guide, and you are not required to submit answers for them.