Short Essay

PREPARING COLLEGE ENGLISH II

ENF 2 - Essay #2

Gender Roles

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, June 18 — Introduce essay topic and thesis statement structure

Monday, June 23 — Bring 2 typed copies to class for Writer’s Workshop #1: (Remember:

what the syllabus says!)

Wednesday, June 25 — Look at structure, development, and problem sentences (so you need

to bring your most current version to class)

June 25-27 — You must take TWO copies of your REVISED essay (and NOT your

original draft) to the Writing Center for a revision session (and not during our class

time). The WC staff will have tutor session guidelines from me. You will leave ONE copy

with the WC staff for me; the other copy, you will work revise with a WC staff member.

After your appointment, you will take that revised copy and complete further revisions.

You will bring this revised copy to our writing conference.

IF you follow all of these steps, you will earn 50 points. If you do not follow all of these

steps, you will earn 0 points!

Monday, June 30/July 1 — Bring your finished essay to your individual writing conference with

me on you assigned day. (See BB for your appointment schedule)

ESSAY PROMPT

You have read several essays in Gender Roles. Think about several specific young women you

know (sisters, daughters, or friends) and write an essay that explains why this essay has

significance for her life.

As you write this essay, your goal is to create a reflective essay that actually discusses your

reading and your understanding of it. To accomplish this, begin by providing a detailed

explanation of your reading. This explanation is often called a summary and will take several

paragraphs. BUT as you write this discussion of your reading, you must also include a discussion

as to why your reading audience needs to know this information along with why this

information should matter to her. Another words, you must make your knowledge relevant

to her life!

Even though this essay will be submitted in a typical academic format, it is to be thoughtful and

reflective; another words, analyze your reading and your thinking! Try to avoid the boiler-

plate essay format (i.e.: all form and of no interest to a reader.) Be reflective and be sure to

include 1-2 direct quotes or paraphrases from the reading to support your reasoning.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

To have a successfully written essay, you need to beware of the following:

 At least five or more unified paragraphs (introduction, body paragraphs, and a

conclusion);

 Your essay needs to clearly demonstrate that you have read carefully and understand

your reading ; therefore, be sure your essay

o begins by stating a claim about your selected reading, and make sure your reader

knows which essay you are referring to by naming it;

o next, make sure the balance of your essay will discuss (describe) your

understanding of your reading and why your understanding matters to your young

reader;

 Think carefully about your reading audience (both know and unknown) and make sure

that you focus on providing your readers with a professional level of prose by using clear

writing, language, and style;

 Your paper must contain a strong thesis or main idea statement (a claim+reason thesis

statement works well in an essay like this);

 All of your writing stages should clearly show your revisions and editing stages of your

writing. In other words, your rough draft and final draft should not be the same exact

paper; and

 Use strong grammar, punctuation, and spelling to the best of your ability.

Parting Words

The first step in successfully writing this paper is to make certain you have read carefully and

understand these readings. Try using the active reading strategies we have discussed in class;

your text annotations and margin notes will come in handy as you write your essay. Also, you

should think carefully about situations or experiences that might work well with the ideas

presented in the selected reading.