Drawing upon the ideas and themes covered in the assigned readings as well as your individual interests, students will complete a final research paper on any area or topic relevant to the course. The possibilities for topics are broad and should be explored early on. Possible topics include: the representation of queer identity in film, literature, or other media; the criminalization of LGBTQ identities; the reality of racism in queer spaces; the reclaiming of the term “queer;” the debates around antinormativity; the impact of discriminatory laws such as bathroom bills; the significance of queer rioting and activism; the relation between sexuality and sexual violence; the medical pathologizing of queerness; the rise of queer art/music, etc. For the final research paper, you must choose a topic relevant to the content of the course and develop a focused and organized discussion of your chosen topic, making references to the assigned readings and/or external sources when necessary. The final research paper must be 6–8 pages in length (not including your bibliography) and must reference at least 3 relevant sources that are cited properly. These sources may include any combination of assigned readings from this course and/or external sources that you find online, at the library, etc. The final paper must be typed (double-spaced, with 1-inch margins), use a 12-point font (such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri), and follow a consistent citation style (e.g. Chicago, MLA, or APA). The final paper must also include a Works Cited page consistent with your chosen citation style.
