English Esaay

Essay #2 on True Women and Real Men

Essay #2: True Women and Real Men

Purpose: This assignment allows you to take a strong position and explore various interpretation strategies as well as evidence types. The goal is to convince your audience of your argument using vivid, concrete examples and backing up those examples with insightful interpretations.

Readings: The readings in this unit highlight the expectations for each gender enforced by either media or society. Here are the list of readings for this unit:

* “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” by Aaron H. Devor

* “’Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt’: Advertising and Violence” by Jean Kilbourne

* Killing Us Softly 4 by Jean Kilbourne

* “The Longest War” by Rebecca Solnit

* “From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos” by Joan Morgan

* “’Bros Before Hos’: The Guy Code” by Michael Kimmel

Writing Task: In a thesis-oriented and well-developed essay, answer ONE of the following questions:

1. Choose one example in media (a song, an episode from a TV show, a movie, an advertisement, and so on) and analyze whether or not you think women are exploited in that media. Do not forget to explore the counterargument.

2. Choose one of Kimmel’s guy codes and argue whether or not it is emotionally damaging for guys and/or girls. Do not forget to explore the counterargument.

3. Do you believe there is truly a battle of the sexes? Do not forget to explore the counterargument.

Tips:

* For option #1, be careful not to generalize all media. Instead, choose one type (like songs or movies or advertisements), and then from that media type, select ONE example. The reason why I want you to only focus on one is to give you the opportunity of analyzing it insightfully and in detail. After choosing the example you wish to focus on, create a working thesis to support your position (Are women exploited in this example? Why or why not?) For this option, you need to use specific details from your example (for instance, if using a song,

Rubric for Essay #2

then quote lyrics; if using an episode of a TV show, quote dialogue; if using an ad, copy/paste the ad in an appendix page).

* For option #2, you are asked to evaluate ONE code out of the list Kimmel provides. A general position would be to answer a yes or no (yes, guys are emotionally damaged by these rules), but this would not be a strong answer. Instead, focus your attention on just one code and give a well-rounded analysis, considering how guys are influenced by: other men, media, culture, family customs and traditions, and so on. (For example, a student can argue that guys for the most part benefit from the “nice guys finish last” code simply because it allows them to survive in this critical and competitive society, or a student can argue that guys are emotionally debilitated by the code “boys don’t cry” from a young age, which cripples their ability to feel and thus form meaningful relationships in the future). Whatever position you take, make sure your main focus is on just one of these codes.

* For option #3, consider movements like MeToo or the Women’s March as contemporary examples of what seems to be a problem in our society. Yet, there are so many arguments that deny sexism in our society. What do you think? Is there really an invisible battle we are waging everyday? If yes, what is causing this battle? If no, then what is the true problem you see? Is it the media poisoning our minds? This argument allows you to dig deep into unresolved conflicts that may or may not exist between the sexes today.

Tips:

* Essays should be in the MLA format, 4-5 pages long, typed, double-spaced, in 12 pt Times New Roman font. Essays without a Works Cited will be penalized one full grade.

* You must use 4 Sources in this essay: two of your sources must be from our unit and the third source must be a credible web article from a newspaper, magazine or online journal.

Total Points: 100.0

Criteria Ratings Pts

15.0 pts

15.0 pts

10.0 pts

20.0 pts

20.0 pts

10.0 pts

10.0 pts

THESIS

Essay has a strong thesis (with a distinct claim and at least one rationale) that student consistently and effectively develops.

15.0 pts Full Marks

0.0 pts No Marks

STRUCTURE/ORGANIZATION

Paragraphs are focused on one dominant idea, have strong transitions, clear unity, and ideas are properly developed.

15.0 pts Full Marks

0.0 pts No Marks

CONTEXT

Examples are set up appropriately and with enough background to not confuse readers. 10.0 pts Full Marks

0.0 pts No Marks

EVIDENCE

Student has chosen two strong sources from our unit as well as one credible web source (like an article from a newspaper, magazine or online journal). The evidence from these sources is relevant and integrated correctly.

20.0 pts Full Marks

0.0 pts No Marks

ANALYSIS

Student provides thought-provoking analysis that brings insight, clarity and better understanding of the evidence by attempting to use a few strategies for interpretation (doesn't just repeat but explores, comments on and reacts to the evidence in meaningful ways). Student also successfully addresses the counterargument for the issue.

20.0 pts Full Marks

0.0 pts No Marks

GRAMMAR

Writing is mostly clear and understandable. The errors do not detract much from the meaning of the essay.

10.0 pts Full Marks

0.0 pts No Marks

REQUIREMENTS

Essay meets the basic requirements for this assignment (it is 3-4 pages, MLA format, with a Works Cited page, has the three required sources, and a strong thesis).

10.0 pts Full Marks

0.0 pts No Marks