GENDER BASED ANALYSIS RESEARCH

This work should maintain the course focus on women/girls in Canadian society. Your
investigation of your topic should be based on an awareness of the significance of gender and
other forms of social, political, economic inequality and thus involve comparing women and men
and examining power relations. This assignment utilizes a Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+).
Since you have now had some experience of this analysis from the first semester, you should be
able to work with this more proficiently in this assignment. Remember that a GBA+ includes
four aspects: i) takes gender into account, so seeks to understand the significance/relevance of
gender to any issue; ii) recognizes that individuals are members of other significant social
categories or locations and that as a result, the interests of women (and men, trans individuals)
may differ based on their race, class, sexuality, ability, etc. and that an intersectional analysis is
required; iii) considers the role of gender & other social inequalities in structuring experience; iv)
and develops strategies to address inequalities and ensure social justice.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Write a report on doing academic research: Use either the numbering provided or some form
of descriptive heading to distinguish your answers. Be sure that your answers reflect some depth
and clear understanding of key insights in conducting academic research. In your Report, answer
the following questions explicitly: (2.5 PAGES)
i) Explain what constitutes an academic source and what constitutes a non-academic source,
and why it is important to use academic source material for an assignment like this.
ii) Identify and describe different types of academic source material and note the pros and cons
of using each. You should consider the following: books with a single author(s), chapters
from edited anthologies, journal or periodical articles, and government documents. Consider
differences between an article that provides an in-depth analysis of a specific topic and an
article that is a literature review or a report of empirical data collection such as statistics.
Also consider the difference (s) between primary and secondary research.
iii) Learning about using quotes and paraphrasing. Select a brief passage (1 – 2 sentences) from
a source that you are considering using in your assignment. First, provide a direct quote with
citation. Then paraphrase (put in your own words) and provide citation. Follow proper APA
format. Also answer the following questions: What have you learned about how to
effectively use quotes? When and how do you paraphrase?
iv) Discuss what you have learned about critical evaluation of source material. Consider the
following: Why is it important to determine if it is Canadian or at least relevant to Canada?
Why is it important to consider if it is current? What does currency mean? Is it useful even
though it is not chronologically current? Is it relevant? Does the author(s) have expertise?
Does it go beyond description and providing empirical data to offering critical analysis and
argument or a point of view?)
v) What have you learned about academic integrity that will be particularly relevant here? In
your own words, explain what constitutes plagiarism. What do you need to do in order to
avoid problems with regards to plagiarism? NOTE: you may wish to re-visit the SPARK
module on academic integrity and the quiz that you did for Assignment #1 to assist you in
answering these questions.
vi) Identify what you still need to learn and/or develop in terms of doing effective research.
2. Do initial investigative research based on current issues regarding women (or girls) in
Canadian society from a GBA+ perspective and select your topic. Based on this, select your
topic and write a brief specific topic statement (be sure to explain why this is suitable for a
GBA+ and note any debates, main arguments or positions), questions, and working thesis.
(2.5PAGES) :
First, do some investigative research based on current issues regarding women (and/or girls) in
Canadian society from a GBA perspective and select your topic. Write a brief statement of your
topic, explain why it is suitable for a GBA and note any challenges. Next, identify your key
investigative questions which demonstrate use of the different aspects of a GBA, and provide
your current or working thesis (main argument) and rationale.
3. • Specific topic: Provide a brief (approx. 2 – 3 paragraph) statement of your specific topic:
Selecting and developing a specific topic can be one of the most challenging aspects of
researching and writing. Suppose you identified women, gender and education as a general topic
area. You could then continue to develop this and identify your specific topic as an investigation
of peer gender policing and sexual/gender harassment of girls/young women in high school; how
to explain this, why it occurs and how it is significant, and how to best address this. Be sure that
your topic fits within the parameters of a Gender Based Analysis, is ‘doable’, focuses on girls/
women in Canada in the current period, and allows for critical analysis and development of an
informed argument or point of view. Remember to utilize course material and what you have
learned to date in the course, and to clearly demonstrate use of a GBA. Your description should
show that you have satisfied these criteria. As part of your statement, note any debates, main
arguments or positions, and outstanding questions about your topic that you have identified from
your preliminary research.
4.• Questions: Write 1 key investigative question and at least 5 supplementary questions for your
specific topic (approx. ¾ page) (so a total of at least 6 questions) It is important that you keep in
mind the different aspects of GBA+ in writing these questions. Remember that a GBA+ takes
gender into account, that is, it seeks to understand the significance or relevance of gender to
understanding any issue; it recognizes that the interests of women may differ on the basis of their
race, class, sexuality, and ability; it considers the role of gender inequalities in structuring
experience; and it develops strategies to address inequalities and ensure social justice.
Addressing all these aspects of a GBA+ will ensure that you are demonstrating analysis,
argument and strategies.
5.• ‘Working’ thesis: provide your current thesis along with your supporting rationale (approx. ½
page)
6. “References List” of 6 relevant scholarly sources, presented in APA format (approx. ½ – 1
page). These should be sources that you have found in your research and have ascertained are
relevant to your essay. USE APA
7. “Evaluation and Commentary” – write an evaluation and commentary on 1 relevant source
from your list (either a scholarly article or chapter from an edited scholarly anthology) (approx. 1
½ – 2 pages, typed and double spaced).
i) How and why does the source meet your specific requirements for academic material,
currency and relevance?
ii) What material (evidence, data, arguments etc) in this text is specifically relevant to a genderbased analysis for your topic/focus?
iii) Which of your questions does it help you answer? Identify the specific ways material from
the source helps you to answer these questions.
iv) How has the material allowed you to develop your analysis, argument and/or strategies for
change?
8. “Research and Organizational Outline” (approx. 2 – 3 pages, point form, single space each
sub-section, leave extra space in between each section and sub-section). Use point form.
THINGS TO BE HANDED SUMMED UP:
• Report on Academic Research;
• Specific Topic Statement, Questions, and Working Thesis;
• List of 6 academic sources;
• Evaluation and comment on 1 academic source;
• Research & Organizational Outline;