Questions We Can Help You To Answer

Paper instructions:

You must search for the identities of women illustrated in one of the films (El Norte OR Bread and Roses) assigned that are related to the issues we are discussing this week.  You will use specific scenes (don’t be general) from the films to illustrate the topic under discussion this week and how it represents or does not represent the way our text authors address the same topic.  

Please remember – this is not a course about the film.  This is a course about how women react to their roles as individuals, members of families, and members of society.  The film provides the examples for analyzing the different identities of women in today’s world.

Here is this week’s question for your analysis essay:  

Describe specific evidence of gender discrimination against women in social institutions:  economic institutions (workplaces), families, religion.  Were actual social policies involved that enabled these attitudes towards women and their identity in these institutions?  Can you name those policies – whether they are overt or subtle?  How do these attitudes about women impact the identity of women as members of society or as individuals?  How does their identity change because of these attitudes?  

First, after viewing the film and reading the assignments for the week, develop your main point (thesis) in answering this question.  State your thesis clearly in your opening paragraph.  Then write a five hundred word essay (2 double spaced pages typed) analyzing the validity of your thesis (answer to the question).  This is not a long essay – but it has very specific requirements.  You do that by using something from the film as illustration of your point, by using statements from the texts that relate to your thesis and then comparing your thinking to the thinking of the text authors.

Next, select a minimum of two quotations from the textbooks (you must use BOTH texts) that relate to the question assigned and the illustration you found in the film.  Quote those statements from the texts in your essay and clearly show how the statements compare with your own ideas about the topic assigned this week.  You may disagree or agree with the text authors during this analysis, or some of both.  COMPARE your own thinking to the thinking of our text authors.  This is analysis!

Next, make sure you give proper citation for use of the film and/or the textbook ideas.  When you refer to the illustration in the film, you must then enter a citation in parentheses right in that sentence where you use the film reference.  (film name, year produced).  When you quote or summarize an idea from one of your texts, you must cite the resource in your essay (author, publication year, page number).  At the end of your essay you must list ALL resources used in the essay including the film.  The bibliography listing at the end of the essay is formatted as follows:  Author, First initial, Second initial.  (Date).  Title of work.  Location:  Publisher.