Critical and Reflective Inquiry: Theme - Identity Politics
CRN
Course Number
Course Description
Theme: Identity Politics. This course explores how identity is inherently tied to politics, with a particular emphasis on the politics associated with navigating "everyday life." We will draw from psychology and social theory to examine the concept of identity and its sources as well as discuss how identity affects perceptions, behavior, and social relations.
The course is split into two primary sections. In the first section, we will explore the different ways identities and social life mutually construct each other. Therefore, the first section is meant to introduce you to various processes of identity politics like socialization, social categorization, stereotyping, and discrimination. In the second section, we will explore how identity processes unfold in different areas of intergroup relations within the USA like public opinion / cultural messages, intergroup conflict, and cooperation.
In addition, this course (FAIR 201) partially satisfies your writing proficiency requirement to graduate for FAIR students. Therefore, a secondary focus of this course is writing with a particular focus on writing a research paper, broadly defined.
Prerequisites
Admission to Fairhaven College
Required Texts
Readings will be posted on Canvas and will primarily be empirical readings from the psychological and sociological literature.
Credit/Evaluation
Regular attendance (i.e., no more than 3 absences); active and engaged participation in class discussions and debate; a 1-page Self-Oriented Expectations and Goals assignment; several POT (proof of thinking) responses; one teaching moment experience (in class); and one 5-6-page research paper scaffolded over 3 drafts. We will also have many smaller writing exercises throughout the quarter.