1. In their writings, Dickinson (“She Rose to His Requirement,” 1863), Chopin (“The Story of an Hour,” 1894), and Gilman (“The Yellow Wallpaper,” 1892) offer creative commentaries on the ways in which women were expected to conform to patriarchal gender roles (“Of Woman, and of Wife,” as Dickinson writes) and not rebel against them in the second half of the nineteenth century in America. In a short MLA format essay (including in-text citations) of at least 3.5 full, double-spaced pages, use at least two of these texts—as well as at least one outside source (scholarly or popular)—to write an essay in which you analyze the situations/conflicts/solutions/final outcomes of these pieces to discuss what these authors were saying about a woman’s place in society back then, as well as how much or how little has changed in the years since. (In other words, are modern day American women still as subjugated as they were then? Do men—and husbands in particular—still expect to have unquestioned dominance and free reign over their female counterparts?)
Example search for Option 1
"gender roles" AND "nineteenth century" AND "Kate Chopin"
Use this search in ProQuest Central.
Try variations with other authors or create your own search.
See the Effective Search tab for more information.
1. Several of the pieces we’re reading (“If We Must Die,” “Flounder,” “Ballad of Birmingham,” “Harlem,” “Theme for English B,” and “I, Too”) explore conformity and rebellion as it relates to Black life in a Caucasian-favored America (dating from 1922 to 2000). In a short MLA or APA format essay (including in-text citations) of at least 4 full, double-spaced pages, use at least two of these texts—as well as at least two outside sources (one of which must be scholarly)—to write an essay in which you examine what these writers were saying about the struggles of black identity in America over the last century, as well as the degree to which those problems and/or possibilities (for progress) still exist in 2025.
As always, be sure to follow all MLA or APA, course, and essay-specific guidelines. Include a proper Works Cited/References page at the end of your essay. It should be on the page following the end of your essay. Failure to include this will result in a loss of 5 pts. from the final essay grade (in addition to rubric penalties).
Suggested Search Terms:
"Black Life" AND "Twentieth Century"
Try searching the different titles:
e.g. - "Ballad of Birmingham"
(Conformity OR rebellion) AND "black life"
2. In their writings, Vonnegut (“Harrison Bergeron,” 1961), Ellison (“‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman,” 1965), and Auden (“The Unknown Citizen,” 1940) present creative explorations on a different kind of conformity and conflict: citizen vs. government. In other words, these pieces touch upon the expectations of and rewards for people unquestionably adhering to governing rule like wholly obedient machines (and conversely, the punishments for defying that rule to seek independence and communal change). In a short MLA format essay (including in-text citations) of at least 3.5 full, double-spaced pages, use at least two of these texts—as well as at least one outside source (scholarly or popular)—to write an essay in which you explore the extent to which the conformity and/or rebellion of the main characters in these pieces is justified, as well as the extent to which these pieces still serve as relevant cautionary tales for today. (In other words, in what ways are Americans still expected to go along with the status quo of societal and governmental rules/actions and never question or challenge them?)
Example search for Option 2
(conformity OR rebellion) AND "Harrison Bergeron"
Use this search in ProQuest Central.
Try variations using other words or create your own search.
See the Effective Search tab for more information.
2. In their pieces “Two Kinds” and “Learning to Love America,” authors Amy Tan and Shirley Geok-Lin Lim, respectively, explore a marginally similar type of compromise between conformity and rebellion: the balance of satisfying two identities (Asian and American) simultaneously. Likewise, “My Tongue is Divided in Two” sees El Salvador native Quique Avilés exploring the conflicts he’s faced speaking two languages (Spanish and English) while having ties to both Central and North America. In a short MLA or APA format essay (including in-text citations) of at least 4 full, double-spaced pages, use at least two of these texts—as well as at least two outside sources (one of which must be scholarly)—to write an essay in which you examine what these authors are saying about the pressure and/or desire to assimilate into the United States of America while maintaining aspects of their other culture (ideals, practices, etc.) Beyond that, discuss the degree to which the present-day United States encourages immigrants to sustain their own cultural identities while adopting new (“American”) ones.
As always, be sure to follow all MLA or APA, course, and essay-specific guidelines. Include a proper Works Cited/References page at the end of your essay. It should be on the page following the end of your essay. Failure to include this will result in a loss of 5 pts. from the final essay grade (in addition to rubric penalties).
Suggested Search Terms:
"Black Life" AND "Twentieth Century"
Try searching the different titles:
e.g. - "Ballad of Birmingham"
(Conformity OR rebellion) AND "black life"
3. Both Saunders (“The End of Firpo in the World,” 1998) and Ellison (“‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman,” 1965) feature protagonists who rebel against the people and/or policies around them. In a short MLA format essay (including in-text citations) of at least 3.5 full, double-spaced pages, use both of these texts—as well as at least one outside source (scholarly or popular)—to write an essay in which you compare/contrast the rebellions of those characters (Cody and Everett, respectively) to evaluate the motivations and justifications for their revolts; the level of success each has at their mission; and the extent to which we can see ourselves in (and learn from) their plights in modern times.
Example search for Option 3
"The End of the Firpo in the World"
Use this search in JSTOR
Try variations using other words or create your own search.
See the Effective Search tab for more information.
For our first Research Log, I’d like you to submit a breakdown of how your outside sources align and contrast in terms of what they discuss and how they’ll be used in your paper. Adapting concepts explored in “Synthesizing Sources” for our own purposes, include the following components:
1) MLA or APA Works Cited/References citations for both outside sources. 2) A few sentences about how the sources align (do any of their points/ideas overlap? Does one source indirectly support a point in the other? Etc.) 3) A few sentences about how the sources differ (do any of their points/ideas contrast each other? Does one source counter a point/idea in the other? Etc.)
4) A few sentences about how you’ll use both sources to complement each other and/or support your argument.