Essay #3

PLEASE READ ENTIRE POST CAREFULLY

First, I must say I was very disappointed at the choice of seniors to participate in a non-sanctioned skip day. The decision was both dismissive of a college-level course and a school in mourning—a school that should be led by the example of the senior class. I hope you have had some time to reconsider your actions, and I should remind you to check the attendance policy on your syllabus.

As you know we have a very limited time to accomplish a good deal, and most of this will need to be done independently. There has been very little consistent writing on the blog, so I’m feeling less than confident in this class’ ability to do what needs to be done. So prove me wrong—without complaint, without whining, without negotiation. Because of time constraints, you must now rely on each other for quality feedback between drafts instead of me. Please correspond with me by email at clarycarleton@comcast.net

Our thematic topic for this unit is Gender and Sexuality and you need to reread the introduction on pp. 614-5. The stories we have read include “Lady with Lapdog,” “Hills Like White Elephants,” “A Rose for Emily,” “The Yellow Wallpaper,” and “Happy Endings.”

Essay # 3 should use at least one of the ideas illustrated in at least one of the stories; that is, at least one of the stories should be referenced in some way. Three other outside sources must be included. Documentation is still giving many of you problems so please review my comments on Essay #2 and ask more questions of your peers and me.

Here are some topic ideas that could be developed into claims and argued with the help of social science research. Please use your textbook for more information on research and documentation (pp. 1468-1509). And I remind you about InfoTrac access:
InfoTrac College Edition (http://infotrac.thomsonlearning.com/)
username: openhigh
password: writingrocks

“Lady with Lapdog”
1. Explore the theme of delusion in love.
2. Explore marriage, infidelity, and different conceptions of these ideas based on gender. Do men and women have affairs for similar or different reasons?
3. Discuss marriage and divorce in America vs. marriage and divorce in other countries.

“Hills Like White Elephants”
1. Discuss how communication styles differ between the sexes.
2. Explore how pregnancy and/or abortion can affect a relationship.

“A Rose for Emily”
1. Write a feminist analysis of this story. See pp. 1517 for more information on this form of criticism.
2. Discuss mental illness and gender roles.
3. Discuss the relationship between fathers and daughters.

“The Yellow Wallpaper”
1. Discuss the role of the imagination and gender. How are the brains of women and men different?
2. Discuss mental disorders (like schizophrenia) and problems with gender identity.
3. Discuss the infamous “rest cure” developed by Weir Mitchell and how it can be seen as sexist medical treatment. How is this story a critique of the medical establishment?
4. Discuss post-partum depression—its causes, its effects, and its treatment.

“Happy Endings”
1. Discuss the social construction of gender.
2. Discuss the critique of relationships and women’s roles presented in this work.
3. Compare and contrast the feminist critique of relationships in this work and in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”

Due dates
Draft 1: Friday, May 16 (last day of class for seniors)
Draft 2: Wednesday, May 21
Essay Final: Tuesday, May 27

Workshop Groups
As you will not necessary be in school after May 16, please exchange emails and provide feedback to each other online. Otherwise you will need to make arrangements with your group members. You will still need to include all written feedback (e.g. email messages) in your portfolio.

Shakerrie, John, Dana
Jovan, Caitlin, Franshaun
Jordan, Caleigh, Brittany
Alice, Shannon

Portfolio due Friday, May 30