Half the Sky Essay Assignment
Spring 2012
We have been reading Half the Sky for over a month now and have had many discussions in the class about the issues raised about global gender equity. It is now time for students to formulate their thoughts and develop a question to answer in a persuasive essay.
If students like some of the topics we have already explored and their freewrite responses, certainly they can expand on previously contemplated topics such as microfinance as a way to purchase freedom for many women in the world of Half the Sky, the benefits of education, and the power of alliances with other women and men within and without one’s society.
Other topics we have explored are the semantics of freedom—what is “power” or “empowerment”? Does the definition change when we compare regional change in the worlds of the women we meet in Half the Sky, or is the definition relatively consistent?
Is there a prototype or archetype for this philosophical empowered woman? What does she look like? Can we do selective breeding and mass produce these women so that the world changes overnight? Can we inject girls with a serum to prevent oppression once and for all? (I am not being literal here. Pun intended where applicable (smile).
Cultural traditions supported by women often continue oppressive practices many men are opposed to. How do women participate in their own oppression and disempowerment (if this is a word)?
Half the Sky is a sobering look at women abroad. It is written, however, in a way which makes most readers look for inequities at home, that is, gender-based inequities at home. Yet, despite the huge job in front of us (empathetic readers) the writers seem to balance despair with hope. How do they accomplish this task? Look at the text’s organization for clues.
Rape is one of the worse forms of violence against women. In societies which have centered its core values in the chastity of its women, a rape mares the reputation of the entire family. Rape dishonors the family name and often causes irreversible harm to the woman’s status thereafter—no one will marry her. These women and girls are often tacitly encouraged in some cultures to end their lives. In Half the Sky, though, we are introduced to women who do not think their vaginas are symbols of their worthiness. Who are these women and how are they fighting back?
Feel free to develop your own questions to explore. We will talk about this further in class. Each question needs to look at Half the Sky as a primary resource, of course, and then use two articles outside the book to support the movement or thinking connected to issues (moving outward). Students could also try to find a local or western first world nation connection in ones search for related materials. Use the library database where possible. Students do not have to cite the sources in-text, just read it.
The essay will be between 3-5 typed pages long. This includes a works cited page. Each essay will include 3-5 citations (1-2 per page); two of the 3-5 citations should be a block quote and another, a free paraphrase. Students also have to use ellipses in their block quote or in-text citation. I need to see that students know how to use these devices.
NOTE: The 3 page essay can only have 3 citations. 1 citation per page.
If students cannot develop their own question, so by all means use one of mine. If you want to develop your own, let me see it first, perhaps when you bring in the Initial Planning Sheets March 26, 2012.
Questions (Choose 1)
1. Identify three women who prove the authors’ thesis or purpose for writing the book. Be sure to state that thesis in your argument. (Do not retell the story. Use only what you need to prove your point.)
2. How do WuDunn and Kristof define empowerment using the lives of women in their book, Half the Sky?
3. Choose one or more of the successful interventions that save and improve women and girls' lives. Use profiles of women cited by the authors to show its success and why.
4. Half the Sky is a book that takes its reader on an emotional roller coaster. This is one of the criticisms students have cited in the past when critiquing the text. Talk about the authors use of emotional appeals to convince us of their issues urgency. Do you ever feel manipulated and if so, where in the text is this more evident than elsewhere? Is manipulation ever fair to an audience? Why or why not?
Half the Sky DUE DATES:
1. Essay Initial Planning Sheet due: March 26
2. Outline due: March 27
3. Introduction due: March 22
4. First draft due: March 29
5. Final draft due: April 9 via email coasabirenglish1A@gmail.com
In the Half the Sky essay portfolio include freewrites and reading logs. Turn all of this in with essay. Students can email me the essay and print a copy of the essay for me as well.
Spring 2012
We have been reading Half the Sky for over a month now and have had many discussions in the class about the issues raised about global gender equity. It is now time for students to formulate their thoughts and develop a question to answer in a persuasive essay.
If students like some of the topics we have already explored and their freewrite responses, certainly they can expand on previously contemplated topics such as microfinance as a way to purchase freedom for many women in the world of Half the Sky, the benefits of education, and the power of alliances with other women and men within and without one’s society.
Other topics we have explored are the semantics of freedom—what is “power” or “empowerment”? Does the definition change when we compare regional change in the worlds of the women we meet in Half the Sky, or is the definition relatively consistent?
Is there a prototype or archetype for this philosophical empowered woman? What does she look like? Can we do selective breeding and mass produce these women so that the world changes overnight? Can we inject girls with a serum to prevent oppression once and for all? (I am not being literal here. Pun intended where applicable (smile).
Cultural traditions supported by women often continue oppressive practices many men are opposed to. How do women participate in their own oppression and disempowerment (if this is a word)?
Half the Sky is a sobering look at women abroad. It is written, however, in a way which makes most readers look for inequities at home, that is, gender-based inequities at home. Yet, despite the huge job in front of us (empathetic readers) the writers seem to balance despair with hope. How do they accomplish this task? Look at the text’s organization for clues.
Rape is one of the worse forms of violence against women. In societies which have centered its core values in the chastity of its women, a rape mares the reputation of the entire family. Rape dishonors the family name and often causes irreversible harm to the woman’s status thereafter—no one will marry her. These women and girls are often tacitly encouraged in some cultures to end their lives. In Half the Sky, though, we are introduced to women who do not think their vaginas are symbols of their worthiness. Who are these women and how are they fighting back?
Feel free to develop your own questions to explore. We will talk about this further in class. Each question needs to look at Half the Sky as a primary resource, of course, and then use two articles outside the book to support the movement or thinking connected to issues (moving outward). Students could also try to find a local or western first world nation connection in ones search for related materials. Use the library database where possible. Students do not have to cite the sources in-text, just read it.
The essay will be between 3-5 typed pages long. This includes a works cited page. Each essay will include 3-5 citations (1-2 per page); two of the 3-5 citations should be a block quote and another, a free paraphrase. Students also have to use ellipses in their block quote or in-text citation. I need to see that students know how to use these devices.
NOTE: The 3 page essay can only have 3 citations. 1 citation per page.
If students cannot develop their own question, so by all means use one of mine. If you want to develop your own, let me see it first, perhaps when you bring in the Initial Planning Sheets March 26, 2012.
Questions (Choose 1)
1. Identify three women who prove the authors’ thesis or purpose for writing the book. Be sure to state that thesis in your argument. (Do not retell the story. Use only what you need to prove your point.)
2. How do WuDunn and Kristof define empowerment using the lives of women in their book, Half the Sky?
3. Choose one or more of the successful interventions that save and improve women and girls' lives. Use profiles of women cited by the authors to show its success and why.
4. Half the Sky is a book that takes its reader on an emotional roller coaster. This is one of the criticisms students have cited in the past when critiquing the text. Talk about the authors use of emotional appeals to convince us of their issues urgency. Do you ever feel manipulated and if so, where in the text is this more evident than elsewhere? Is manipulation ever fair to an audience? Why or why not?
Half the Sky DUE DATES:
1. Essay Initial Planning Sheet due: March 26
2. Outline due: March 27
3. Introduction due: March 22
4. First draft due: March 29
5. Final draft due: April 9 via email coasabirenglish1A@gmail.com
In the Half the Sky essay portfolio include freewrites and reading logs. Turn all of this in with essay. Students can email me the essay and print a copy of the essay for me as well.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 8:28 AM
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