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THIRD DRAFT

This essay is a third draft, so it still has some minor mistakes; nevertheless, this contrast paper has good examples, is well organized, and uses the block method.

Jane Doe

Professor Smith

English Composition 1101

17 March 2014

The etiquette of today is almost nothing like the etiquette of the Victorian era. Much has changed in the way people live out their daily lives that have led to the change in etiquette. The two main contrasts between the etiquette of the Victorian era and the etiquette of today are smoking cigarettes and seeking attraction.

Firstly, in the Victorian era, no gentleman was to smoke in the presence of a lady. For example, if a gentleman were standing in the street and a lady walked up next to him, he could not smoke a cigarette with her standing there. If he was already smoking, he would have to put the cigarette out. Furthermore, a man could not smoke in the presence of a lady because ladies did not smoke in the Victorian era. Thus, a gentleman smoking while in the presence of a lady was rude. If a man smoked in the presence of a lady, he was not considered a gentleman.

Furthermore, in the Victorian era, a lady was to go about her business quietly, not seeking the attraction of men. For instance, if a lady was walking down the street to the store, she should not wear clothes, perfume, or make-up that will undeniably attract the attention of the opposite sex. A woman was not supposed to attract the attention of the opposite sex because the man was always to approach the woman, not the other way around. For illustration, if a gentleman wanted a lady to go somewhere with him, he had to send her a written invitation. In Victorian culture, the woman was supposed to take care of the house and the children and nothing else.

In contrast, in modern times, a man smoking in the presence of a woman is acceptable if the woman has no problem with him smoking. For example, men smoke around women in the smoking area at sporting events every day. A man smoking in the presence of a woman today is a common occurrence, and few people think twice about it. A man smoking around a woman is a vast change from the etiquette of the Victorian era. A person smoking in today’s culture usually does not say much about his or her way of life, so a woman smoking does not make her wild.

Moreover, in modern times, most women are always trying to attract the attention of the opposite sex while carrying out their daily business. For example, in today’s society, many women wear flashy clothes and get breast implants to attract men. It is not good enough for women anymore to be unassuming because modern society has turned into a more materialistic society. Many women feel that the only way to attract men is to appeal to them in a sexual way. A woman wearing stilettos and mini-skirts would have been considered immoral during Victorian times, but today, women who are conservative and unassuming are considered boring.

In conclusion, much has changed over the years in what was considered proper etiquette in the Victorian era to what is considered proper etiquette in modern times. The two main contrasting differences in etiquette are that a gentleman should not smoke in the presence of a lady and that a lady will go about her business quietly and unobtrusively, not seeking to attract the attention of the opposite sex.

BLOCK METHOD

The two main contrasts between the etiquette of the Victorian era and the etiquette of today are smoking cigarettes and seeking attraction.

A. Victorian Era

1.Smoking (Paragraph 1)

2. Attracting attention (Paragraph 2)

B. Today

1. Smoking (Paragraph 3)

2. Attracting attention (Paragraph 4)