As a way of reviewing and synthesizing the main course themes, you will complete 5 synthesis think pieces, one at the end of each unit. Remember that these are the culminating assignments for each unit, which means that they are our way of assessing whether you have read, understood, and processed all of the material from the unit. They are like a mini-midterm or final for each unit. Due dates are listed in the syllabus and on Canvas. Choose a tweet (or series of tweets, no longer than 3); instagram post, OR meme that explains/reflects/synthesizes at least 2 of the keywords for the unit. Write a 2-3 sentence analysis of the tweet, instagram post, or meme that unpacks its meaning in relation to the unit themes and keywords. Include parenthetical references to the course readings that relate. Late submissions will be docked one full later grade for every day they are late.

Rubric

1 2 Tweet/meme/instagram post chosen for analysis is relevant to course

unit.

1 2 Think piece successfully engages at least 2 keywords from relevant

course unit.

1 2 Demonstrates understanding of course readings from the relevant

unit by specifically referencing at least 2, at least one of which must be

from a reading connected to a keyword (a pdf, not an online link).

1 2 Shows an integrated understanding of the unit’s overall, main themes.

Example

The social construction of gender is a concept that refers to the way that social norms collectively shape the meaning of gender; they do so by creating a shared set of “meanings and symbols” enforced by the “rules, privileges, and punishments” associated with either upholding or transgressing these meanings and symbols (Wilchins 25). This meme makes the common mistake of assuming that “social construction” means that something is not real. On the contrary: the social construction of gender and sex as binary are such powerful social realities that, as Cheryl Chase says, to fall outside of these binaries is “humanly possible, but socially unthinkable” (207).

Rubric

STP Rubric (1)