write a critical essay about one or more of the readings in the class thus far. A good essay will incorporate answers to questions like these:

• What sort of argument is the author making (explicitly or implicitly)?

• How do you find it valid and convincing or not?

• How does it contribute to our understanding of the social construction of sex and gender (or not)?

• What does this author miss in their argument?

• Where does their argument fall flat? Where is it successful?

Your role as a writing is to try to understand the social, political, cultural or literary meaning and contribution created and/or critiqued in the text.
This essay does not require outside research beyond the “text” itself although it is always helpful to do a bit of digging into other authors’ responses to the text (if there are any) or other material that may critique or support arguments made in the text you’ve chosen.

Some specifics:

• The paper should be 5 pages long (excluding footnotes or appendices)
• Double spaced
• 12 point typical font
• Appropriate citing format of your choosing