Essay 3: Gender and Sexuality Issues (Research-Supported) Paper
1) Identify one work of literature, or several related works of literature, from the any of the stories, poems, or the play read for class, that deal with gender or sexuality issues. You can select anything from the entire semester.
2) Make a list of situations where gender or sexuality issues might occur (consider specific examples that you have witnessed or experienced), separate from the stories.
3) Do a 7-minute “free write” on the phrase “gender issues” or “sexuality issues.”
4) Identify a key word, phrase, or idea from your own “free write,” and do a “free write” on that idea. At this point, you should have some clear ideas of what you might say in an essay on gender or sexuality issues.
5) Compile a list of these ideas and determine if you have a direction for your essay. Then, after reviewing the essay guidelines, write a “working” thesis statement – the point you intend to prove in your essay.
THE ESSAY
6) Write an 1800 to 2100-word (about 6-7 pages) thesis-driven, research-supported literary-analysis essay that provessomething about the specific work of literature selected in step 1, as it portrays gender or sexuality issues. The thesis will integrate the selected story, the specific aspect of a gender or sexuality issue, and the literary device you will analyze. (You must format the essay using MLA style.)
7) In this essay, you will analyze the literature you selected in step 1. Consider such elements as plot, character development, tone, style, figurative language, and so on, but focus only on one or two related elements. Use the general topic of gender or sexuality issues as a framework for your analysis. Your purpose and focus should be clear in your thesis statement. (For example, “Henrik Ibsen uses of imagery in his play ‘A Doll House’ to show clearly why women should not be treated as property.”)
8) Provide evidence and support using material from any of (and only) the literature we have read for class this semester (primary sources) and secondary sources. You must use at least 10 secondary sources: library books and scholarly (academic) journals. Do NOT use World Wide Web sites. Interviews are not scholarly sources. Use quotes and paraphrases; use correct MLA style for in-text citations and the Works Cited page. Do not use personal experience as supporting examples; this essay is not about you. Do not use Wikipedia (or any other wiki), SparksNotes, Cliffs Notes,MonkeyNotes, or any other ‘notes’ or “essay” sites; doing so will result in an automatic zero on your essay. Plagiarism, whether intentional or accidental, will result in an automatic zero, with no option to rewrite the essay!
DUE DATE
The rough draft is due on April 21.
The final draft is due on May 5.
To submit the final draft for grading, you must upload an electronic copy, in Word (.docx), via Canvas. (Failure to submit the correct and a readable electronic file automatically results in a ZERO on the assignment.)
GRADING: This essay is worth 250 points, and I will grade it on the following:
· Content: clarity, thoroughness (thesis, topic sentences, analysis, and supporting details) (100 points)
· Format: MLA format, clear paragraphing, organization, page headers, spacing, font size (30 points)
· Correctness: mechanics, grammar, in-text citations, Works Cited (30 points)
· Documentation: sufficient number of sources, correct MLA style (30 points)
· Completeness: meets stated requirements, all required documents (a short essay loses points) (10 points)
