Group Project Instructions

Humanities 160

Group Project 3: Sex and Culture

Project

Develop an in-depth analysis of the messages a particular cultural object conveys about sex. We’re using “sex” in the broadest terms, to cover issues of

· Biological sex (apparent and experienced)

· Gender expression (the set of body language, expressions, ideas, reactions, preferences, and beliefs that indicate, publicly and privately, “masculinity” or “femininity”)

· Sexual relationships

· Romantic relationships

· Dynamics among groups or pairs of men, groups or pairs of women, and mixed groups or pairs

Present that analysis to the class, using the cultural object you chose as a reference.

Day 1

1. Have each person in the group share their short paper. Listen actively: take notes, ask questions, add ideas.

2. Decide as a group which object will be most helpful to continue with.

3. Spend the rest of the class continuing to think of ideas that the object conveys (see above). You’ll work on exactly how to present your case on Thursday.

4. Homework (this will be collected, and will count toward your individual grade on this project): think of either one new insight regarding the object, or develop an insight your group already began to discuss.

Day 2

1. Have everyone share their homework. Listen actively: take notes, ask questions, add insights.

2. Decide which 4 or 5 central points you’ll make in your presentation. List each general point separately as a sub-header. Under each sub-header, include a couple of paragraphs developing the point in more detail, and saying how you got that point from the object you’re analyzing.

3. Then and only then, decide the mechanics of your presentation.

a. PowerPoint presentations must be saved in compatibility mode (click “file,” then “save as” and choose “PowerPoint 1997-2004 (.ppt)”)

b. You can decide as a group whether you want to have everyone present a part, or have one or two presenters, as long as everyone ultimately participates equally (non-presenters can do more preparation, for example)

c. Assume that everyone else in the group will be absent on the day of presentation – each of you should be able to do the whole presentation on your own in case of emergency.

Here's a link to the course wiki: Humanities160