Course Guidelines

Images

2nd Quarter/ 2nd Hour

Young women today are inundated with media images that make their self-esteem and self-worth plummet. We will analyze the reasons for this affect in our culture and find ways to dispel those feelings and images and celebrate who we are, naturally. This class will explore growing up female in the US and the issues women and young women are faced with in our society. We will see “Thirteen”, “Still Killing Us Softly 3”, and some other movie/documentary selections. We will be reading from a selection of book collections and novels. We will also have a number of guest speakers coming in to discuss rape, eating disorders, and body image (this may change depending on securing speakers). This class is designed to help young people understand the images and roles of women portrayed in the media and to stabilize self esteem.

***************NOTE***************

*You will be expected to do outside reading and work!!! *

Week One: Going over expectations, syllabus, and discussing our ideas of what the media presents to us and how we view ourselves. We will watch “Still Killing Us Softly” and write a response to the video.

Week Two: Reading excerpts from “Adios, Barbie” and creating our own Barbie dolls. We will hopefully have a representative from the Nursing Department at Edgewood College regarding eating disorders and body image. Reflective Journals due on Friday

Week Three: Watch “Breasts” and some self-esteem clips. We will also have a self-esteem workshop!

Week Four: Watching and discussing the film “Thirteen” and then reading an article from Time Magazine “The Truth About Teen Girls”. Reflective Journals will be due on Friday.

Week Five: Watch the film “Speak” and discuss as a class. We will also have a guest speaker from the Rape Crisis Center. Reflective Journals will be due on Friday.

Weeks Six, Seven, and Eight: Group literature circles with a choice between 4-5 novels with a final essay paper.

Week Nine: We will read some great poetry. We will also be doing a final project where we imitate Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman”.

Assessments: Students will be graded on participation in discussions, reflective journals, a reflection paper on one of our guest speakers, literature essay paper, and the final project completion

Texts being Considered for this class (tentative) :

Sara Zaar - Story of a Girl

Julie Ann Peters -- Luna

Ellen Wittlinger -- Parrotfish

Toni Morrison -- The Bluest Eye

Wally Lamb -- She's Come Undone

Laurie Halse Anderson -- Speak