Essay #3 Prompt
English 1005B
Purpose: This unit asks you to consider how culture shapes our ideas of masculinity and
femininity. It also asks you to analyze the way media shapes our ideas of sexuality,
gender roles, beauty, relationships, and family.
Readings: “‘Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt’: Advertising and Violence” by Jean
Kilbourne; “How to Do Gender” by Lisa Wade and Myra Marx Ferree; “From The
Gender Knot: ‘Patriarchy’” by Allan G. Johnson; and “What We Really Miss About the
1950s” by Stephanie Coontz.
Please respond to the following prompt:
For our final essay, please choose one song and its official music video and analyze what
it says about masculinity or femininity in our society today.
Directions:
Please write a 4-5 page essay that has a clear, specific thesis supported by strong
argumentation. Your essay must use two of our texts, and contain a total of four
quotes. Please use 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spacing, with one-inch
margins. Make sure all quotes are properly introduced with a signal phrase and cited in
MLA style. When appropriate, please also use transitions to move your reader through
your argument, both within a paragraph and from each paragraph (C5-d). Please also
include a counterargument and rebuttal paragraph. Your paper must analyze the song’s
chorus and at least two lines from any of the verses. Also, please remember that the
only outside sources allowed are the lyrics and video to the song you’ve selected.
At the end of your essay, please attach the full lyrics to the song you’ve selected as a
reference.
Tips:
You might try using an outline to help organize your ideas (see C1-d). Remember, try to
develop one main idea per paragraph that is clearly articulated in a strong, clear topic
sentence (C5-a). You might also begin by revisiting our texts and ensuring you clearly
understand the positions put forth by the writers. For example, how would Kilbourne,
Johnson, or Wade and Ferree read the lyrics you’ve selected? What conclusions might
they reach? Are any of the lyrics you’ve selected problematic? Are any of the lyrics
you’ve selected positive or helpful when thinking about gender roles or gender
performance?
Dates: Check Canvas.
