ASSESSMENT DETAILS
There are three forms of assessment for this module: two written reviews (each 15% of the overall grade) and a written essay (70% of the overall grade). There will NOT be an exam at the end of the module. However, as you will see below, success in assessments requires continued engagement with all the themes of the module.
ASSESSMENT 1: Exhibition Review (15%)
Deadline: Wednesday, 21 February 2024, at 1pm
Read instructions carefully.
To prepare for this assignment, you must:
- Visit the exhibition The Cult of Beauty at the Wellcome Museum. Visits will take place during seminars in Week 3 (Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February).
- Ensure you have read core texts for Topics 1, 2 and 3.
- Refer to additional readings/videos on the topic, listed under the tab “The Cult of Beauty”, and/or listen to relevant sections of the exhibition audio guide.
Select one of the works in the exhibition and write a short review (max. 500 words).
Your exhibition review should include the following:
- Introduce the artwork and artist.
- Reflect on the reasons you were particularly drawn to this work.
- Explain what the work reveals about beauty and how this relates to debates in Gender and Politics.
- Evaluate where possible the strengths and/or weaknesses of the work.
- Include a photo of the work in your submission.
- Reference at least ONE text from the core/additional/supplementary reading list (“The Cult of Beauty” and Topics 1, 2 and 3)
You are also welcome to use the exhibition material online with appropriate referencing.
This assignment may sound deceptively easy, but this is not the case. To do well in this assignment, you must reflect on the topics and carefully consider the relationship between the work you have chosen and the Gender and Politics module.
N.B. If you are unable to take part in the class visit, and cannot reschedule a visit before the deadline, please email the module convenor (a.forte@qmul.ac.uk) to discuss an alternative solution.
ASSESSMENT 2: Article Review (15%)
Deadline: Monday, 25 March 2024, at 1pm
Read instructions carefully.
Select ONE core/supplementary text from the Topics covered from Week 4 to Week 8 (i.e. from Topic 4, The Politics of Sex, to topic 7, Production and Reproduction). Write an article review (max. 500. words).
THIS IS NOT A SUMMARY. YOU MUST CRITICALLY ENGAGE WITH THE PIECE AND HOW IT ADVANCES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GENDER AND TOPIC.
The article review should include the following:
- Briefly summarise the argument(s) of the text.
- Explain how the argument(s) of the text relates to perspectives/ debates in Gender and Politics.
- Evaluate where possible the strengths and/or weaknesses of the text.
- Conclude by providing a brief discussion of the overall contribution of the text to our understanding of the topic.
You are encouraged to bring in other texts from the module reading list, where relevant, and to offer a comparison, expand or challenge a point raised or justify any claims made. Remember, however, that the focus should remain on the one text under review.
Consider the following questions when writing your review:
- How does the text you are reviewing relate to other ideas that you have read or come across?
- How comprehensive / partial is the information provided in the text? What else would you need to know to have a full appreciation of the subject matter?
- Is the content located within a particular school of thought or ideological positioning? Could you locate it within a debate? Are there other views presented elsewhere that support or counter the views stated in your text?
- Does the text provide empirical evidence to support its claims or are they based on theory and argument? How persuasive are they?
- What are the core insights of the text and, if relevant, how do they complement/ contradict the insights from other reading(s) you have encountered in your studies?
- What are the relative strengths and/or limitations of the text?
Advice to all students
It is not necessary (or recommended) to provide full bibliographical details within the main text of the review - simply use in-text references (author surname, date) and leave the remaining details (author's full name, title of the work, publication details, etc.) for the bibliography. This will help you to remain within the word count.
Marking criteria:
- The review should provide a clear, effective summary of the core themes of the reading under review/your understanding of gender and politics. As there is a strict word limit, this requires you to be able to identify the most important insights without getting mired in detail.
- The review should provide an evaluation of the text. You should be able to identify the contribution that the text has made to the debate, as well as evaluating the relative merits and limitations.
- The assignment should demonstrate the overall contribution that the text has made to our broader understanding of the topic.
- The assignment should be well-structured, with a brief but clear introduction to the topic, a logical discussion of the text, and then a brief conclusion identifying the overall contribution to our broader understanding of the topic.
- As with other coursework, provide a bibliography listing the works that you have read for the review. This will not count towards the 500-word limit but will count towards the mark so make sure that it is accurate and formatted correctly. You should also ensure that your work is neatly presented, and proofread carefully for accuracy, legibility, and typos.
ASSESSMENT 3: Essay (70%)
Deadline: Tuesday, 23 April 2024, at 1pm
Essays must relate theoretical perspectives and arguments to empirical cases/ examples. The third assignment can be on any topic other than the topic covered in the second assessment.
Below are some suggested essay questions. I encourage you, however, to consider choosing your own topic based on discipline/area/topic of interest. This will allow you to focus on theories and cases you are interested in and knowledgeable about, making the research and writing process an experience you want to engage with (rather than an obligation). If you prefer to respond to an alternative question, please note that this will need to be discussed and approved by me (Alaya) prior to submission.
Please also note that the essay should not exceed 2000 words including footnotes (excluding bibliography). Information on and advice about essay writing and referencing can be found in the Coursework Formatting and Reference Guide.
Essay Questions
1. Is feminism relevant today? Choose a past or current feminist campaign (or movement or political party) to develop your argument. [Listed below are some examples, but you are encouraged to pick your own. Please discuss this in advance with your tutor/module convenor, in person or by email].
2. Why is it essential to think of race in gender and politics? Discuss, using at least ONE past or contemporary example.3. Gender is a fundamental aspect of political representation. Discuss, giving at least ONE example to support your argument.4. Using at least ONE contemporary example, discuss the current “backlash” against women’s rights/trans rights/the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities. [For example, you could look at the way the populist radical right (PRR) is gaining ground in Europe/UK (focus on one or two countries max.); or how reproductive rights are being curtailed in the US (or other countries)].5. What can we learn about gender and politics from historical and/or current events in Afghanistan? Discuss, giving at least ONE example to support your argument.6. Why is it important to “gender” the economy? Discuss, giving at least ONE example to support your argument.7. How have feminists approached violence? And what lessons are still relevant today? Discuss, using at least ONE example to support and elaborate your argument.Important writing instructions:
- Use at least three readings from the course (core/additional/supplementary). You should also demonstrate you have done independent research and are encouraged to incorporate other sources in to your essay (you can also use the additional/supplementary reading list, if relevant).
- Citations should be in-text (using Harvard style) and a bibliography included at the end. Remember to include the SPIR UG coversheet and follow notes on coursework submission.
- You've been asked to use one example, but make sure you connect the module material to the example. You can obviously rely on what has already been written on the chosen case (if there are academic sources available), but you can also provide an original analysis.
- You can disagree with and challenge the material covered, but your arguments must always be supported by evidence or through the literature.
- Make sure your writing and research is academic in style and presentation. In this module, you are welcome to write in the first person and link your argument to your own lived experiences/positionality.
Now, what I am about to say is extremely important: make sure you have a clear argument/thesis statement/claim. State this in the introduction and use the essay to develop your argument and draw conclusions. The questions are very broad, so this is going to be important to narrow the focus and engage critically with the topic/material.
Associate Students
Associate students are assessed in the same way as home students. If you know in advance that you will not be able to submit on 23rd April, then you should submit your assignment early.
Submission of coursework
You must submit your assignment via QMPlus by 1 pm on the day of the stated deadline. It will be screened by anti-plagiarism software and marked online. You will receive notification when marks and feedback are released.
The School has a policy of anonymous marking. Your name must not appear anywhere on your work. Therefore, you must ensure that you use the coursework coversheet as the first page of your assignment. Coversheets can be downloaded from the Undergraduate Shared area of QMPlus. It is your responsibility to submit your assignments correctly.
Full details of submission policies can be found in the Student Handbook.
Extensions
If you require an extension due to extenuating circumstances (EC), you must complete the relevant EC form and attach documentation to support your request. Full details can be found in the 2023-24 Student Handbook.
Feedback
All assignments receive written individualised feedback, as well as provisional grades. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss feedback on Assignment 1 and 2 in good time to feed into planning for Assignment 3 (essay). General feedback on issues arising out of marking Assignment 1 and 2 will be given collectively in the seminars and via QM+. All students will also be given the opportunity to discuss their plans for Assignment 3 in Weeks 11 and 12 of the semester with their seminar tutor and to receive feedback on their initial ideas. Students will also receive ongoing feedback through interaction with tutors in seminar discussion and in individual meetings.
