Essay 3
Topic: The Politics of Gender & Culture: Re-reading Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s
Own
in the #MeToo Era. (100 points). Due Date: Submit essay on Canvas by midnight
Tuesday 7/6/21
3-page expository essay based on Chapter 3:35-48 (“Shakespeare’s Sister”) along with
Ch.1, par 1; Ch.2, par 1; and last two paragraphs of Ch.5 from Virginia Woolf’s feminist
work
A Room of One’s Own, published in 1929.
Essay Prompt
What is the purpose or main thesis of Shakespeare’s Gifted Sister and how does Woolf
achieve her aims? What evidence does Woolf provide to support her thesis? Why is the
essay relevant today? Examine tone, appeal, audience and the elements of narration in the
text along with the themes.
As a Guide for Writing the Paper, Consider the Following
Analyze Woolf reading for its content and rhetorical strategies, particularly purpose, tone,
intended audience and methods of support. Evaluate Woolf’s appeal to ethos, logos, and
pathos, and the rhetorical effectiveness of text.
Woolf introduces her thesis in Chapter One, “a woman must have money and a room of
her own if she is to write fiction (4).” Focus on the use of the elements of fiction in the
essay used to support thesis – in particular, the extended narrative, “Shakespeare’s Gifted
Sister.” Focus on Woolf’s condemnation of patriarchal rule in England where men have
more privileges and women are treated as second class citizens and Woolf’s attack on a
culture of misogyny that is still relevant today. Woolf argues for the spiritual and
intellectual emancipation of women, a right that is equally relevant today in all aspects of
the lives of women and men– from ordinary life to the arts to politics.
Is
A Room of One’s Own, a work of fiction, or merely an essay? Discuss the structure of
the story and the elements of fiction within it.
Discuss the tone, appeal and audience of A Room of One’s Own. If you like, you may
compare it to other feminist works. Discuss the use of humor/sarcasm for levity. How is
the tone dream-like in some places?
What John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women does for the political emancipation of
women, Woolf’s work does for the intellectual and spiritual liberation of women.
Outline
_____ Introduction begins with a hook.
_____ Frame your paper by restating author’s argument (i.e., we can break argument
down to 2 parts – a claim and a reason or premise to support the claim)
_____ The thesis is an answer to the prompt: (Avoid simply summarizing or describing
the topic)
Topic + claim + reason(s) + qualification (Reference: “Tips on Writing a Thesis
Statement”)
_____ Body paragraphs. Begin with a topic sentence listing one major point at a time (a
claim about the topic). Body paragraph example: In Chapter 3, Woolf uses irony to
attack a culture of misogyny, embodied by a “bishop” who declares in all seriousness that
“cats do not go to heaven, women cannot write the plays of Shakespeare (39).” Follow
this with Commentary
_____ Your paper uses examples and quotes from Woolf essay for support.
_____ Quotes follow the point + example + commentary or sound reasoning pattern
_____ Example is a type evidence to support claim/thesis. Give an explanation of how
and why evidus on the relevance of the essay today.
_____ The paper is a minimum of 3-pages and MLA formatted.
_____ The paper requires MLA Documentation and a Works Cited page
_____ Locate relevant information from Woolf’s essay to use in the development and
support of ideas
_____ Create a synthesis of information and ideas from Woolf’s essay – if you wish use
other various sources to develop your ideas
_____ Integrate ideas and information from source effectively in your essay using
paraphrase, summary and direct quotation
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