GENDER UNIT
Persuasive Essay
Your second writing assignment will give you the opportunity to explore the historical or contemporary roles of men and women in society. We will be reading essays and discussing many topic possibilities for this paper, looking at issues from many perspectives. Please don’t think this is a "feminist" unit; while we may discuss the history of women’s rights some, this unit is about all of us and the many roles gender plays in our lives.
This paper will be persuasive, requiring you to choose a stand on an issue and support it effectively. You will also be involved in research that will include using library sources, observation, and perhaps interviews. You will continue to learn MLA documentation, summary and quotation skills, and synthesis of sources.
You will once again need a minimum of six sources for this four page paper. You must also include copies of sources you use with passages clearly marked on the copies or printouts.
As in any essay, this essay must be governed by a focus and a purpose which is adequately developed with both generalizations and details and examples. It must begin in an interesting way for your readers, and it must conclude with a sense of closure.
So, to sum it all up: to be acceptable (a grade of "C" or above) this essay must be characterized by a clear focus and purpose, adequate development, appropriate documentation and use of sources, correctness of expression, and a persuasive format.