Once students have completed their studies of the core texts and the material they have explored independently in the unit, they will produce a full argumentative essay. Selecting evidence from a variety of text (including non-print) resources, students will address the prompt: To what extent does gender determine a person’s behavior? When responding to this question, students may incorporate evidence from The Color Purple, A Raisin in the Sun, any of the independent text selections, or other material they may have encountered outside of class (including personal experience). In doing so, students will demonstrate their understanding of how individuals’ behavior is restricted by what they feel they are expected to do, and also how a person’s decisions can subvert these societal expectations. Students will be provided prewriting organizers to structure their essays, and class time will be allotted for them to work independently and conference with peers and the teacher.
After going through the writing process for this final paper and submitting their essays, it will be useful for students to engage in a reflective activity, which may be a conversation, a written response, or both. To close out the unit, students should think about how the readings, discussions, and activities have prompted them to think differently about gender.