Identify and critically reflect on sexual values

Identify and critically reflect on sexual values

Identify and critically reflect on sexual values

A major goal of this course is to identify and critically reflect on sexual values. To help with this process, students will complete a structured writing exercise to explore their sexuality values, identify major influences on their development, and discuss how they impact their day-to-day behavior. Responses are strictly confidential between student and instructor.

Directions:

Complete a reflection paper 4-5 pages in length, double-spaced, which should meet the writing standards outlined in the course syllabus.

Click here for a template for the values paper.

Instructions:

Part One: Introduction

Lead with a hook, a few sentences that provokes the reader’s attention.

Include a thesis statement, a one or two-sentence statement that summarizes the paper’s argument. For example, “Engaging in critical thinking around my values system related to [insert topics] allowed me to consider how they affect my day-to-day actions.

Tip: consider sharing assumptions made at the start of the project, considering answering questions like “what assumptions did I make as I began this project?” and “how did I decide which topics to write about?”

Part Two: Body

Select three topics from the list below. Following the template for the values paper, write a total of nine paragraphs, three per topic. Students must use the approved topic guide below to guide their selections. The submitted paper should have one topic per topic area (i.e. topic area A, B, and C):

Topic A – pick one:

Abortion access

Sex education in schools

Sexuality & religion

Minor’s access to sexual & reproductive healthcare services

Birth control and/or condom availability

Topic B – pick one:

Gender Roles

Pornography

Sexting

Sexual violence

Topic C – pick one:

Rights of same-gender-loving individuals

Rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals

Rights of sex workers

Following the template for the values paper, write a total of nine paragraphs, three per topic.

First paragraph: each topic should describe your values, beliefs, and attitudes specific to this sexuality topic. Example questions: How do I feel about (topic)? Do I think (topic) is good/bad, healthy/unhealthy? How do most people feel about (topic), and how are my values, beliefs, and attitudes different?

Second paragraph: (see first paragraph instructions – remember to make strong connections and transitions)

Third paragraph: (see first paragraph instructions – remember to make strong connections and transitions)

Part Three: Conclusion

The conclusion should be a reflection on your introduction and thesis, the body of the paper, and your experience from the exercise. Write one full paragraph describing what you learned

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument. Identify and critically reflect on sexual values