This research paper requires you to ask and answer a specific research question about engaging
in research/scholarship about HIV and women. It will be important for you to, first, define
feminism and/or feminist research. After you have defined feminist research, you will be able to
present a review/synthesis of research about HIV and women in a selected area. Then, you will
evaluate the current body of research in your selected area against the feminist principles you
defined. Your conclusion will suggest a path forward.
Other details:
• Length: 4,000 words. Include a word count.
• Title page: not required but okay to include if you want.
• References: Use whatever style you are most comfortable with (APA, MLA, Chicago). Reference list does not count towards word count.
• Librarians are very helpful if you have questions about search strategies.
• My office hours are by appointment – I am so excited to talk to you about this topic via Zoom if you have questions.
Define feminist research
•Define feminism. Can draw on previous GWST coursework and/or other scholarly sources •Identify feminist
research principles. Can draw on previous GWST coursework (esp. 300 if you’ve taken it) and/or other scholarly sources.
Select aspect of HIV and women
to focus the paper
•Intimate partner violence & HIV •Sex differences in
HIV infection •Women and HIV
activism •Transgender women
and HIV •Racial disparities in
HIV in the US •Ethical
considerations of engaging pregnant women in HIV research •Women and HIV
cure •Experiences of
women scientists in the HIV field •Another area of
interest to you
Review literature on
that topic, synthesize it
•Search PubMed, other databases for articles on your topic •Select a minimum of
6-8 articles that are highly relevant to your topic •Distill 3-4 themes
from those articles. Include 1-2 paragraph per theme that synthesizes/reviews those themes
Evaluate the literature
against your definition
•Did some or all of the articles you included adhere to the feminist principles you outlined? •Were some elements
of feminist research more apparent than others?
Refelct on a path forward
•Based on your (now expert) perspective, what needs to change about this area of research on HIV and women to align it with feminist principles? •If your area of
research was already 100% feminist, how can other areas learn from this example?
Rubric
Midterm research project
Criteria A Level B Level C Level D/F Level
Argument (40%)
Paper expertly asks and answers a specific research question from assignment sheet. Feminism and feminist research are expertly defined and situated in academic sources. Logical progression of ideas with a clear argumentative structure.
Paper answers a question from assignment sheet but is vague or unclear. Logical progression of ideas but not clearly developed.
Paper is ineffective and/or not related to a question from assignment sheet. Misunderstanding of course concepts or terms.
Fails to fulfil minimum
expectations
Evidence (40%)
Included articles are appropriate for the topic; expert review and synthesis of evidence; nuanced and advanced identification of themes from articles; perspective is original and fresh
Evidence is appropriate; review and synthesis is effective; themes are clearly identified but not fully explored; perspective is interesting but not original
Evidence is disconnected or not fully appropriate for topic; themes are unclear or confused; perspective repeats material from evidence with no unique interpretation
Fails to fulfil minimum
expectations
Writing quality (20%)
Writing is clear, concise, and coherent. Sentences are strong and expressive, with varied structure. Diction is consistently appropriate to formal writing. All language is accurate and used correctly. No errors in punctuation, spelling, capitalization. Transitions are graceful. Citations are accurate. Length is 4,000 words (+/- 200)
Writing is clear and coherent, but sometimes wordy. Sentences have varied structure. Diction is usually appropriate to formal writing. There are no more than two errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization. Transitions are present. No more than one citation error. Paper is short/long by 200- 400 words.
Writing is clear, but sometimes lacks coherence or is often wordy. Sentences lack variety. Diction is often inappropriate. There are three to five errors in punctuation, spelling, or capitalization. Transitions are ineffective. Two or more errors in citations. Paper is more than 400 words too short or too long.
Fails to fulfil minimum
expectations
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