MIDTERM EXAM ESSAY QUESTIONS

Your Mid-term Exam will take place on Thursday, March 10, 2016 during our normal class time.  It will consist of two parts: quote identifications and essay questions.

PART I: Quote Identifications

Using the quotation list generated by the class, ten quotations will be listed on the test. You will need to identify ten of them by title and author name. In addition, you will need to write a short answer response explaining why the quotation is important in terms of the author's view, the aesthetic issues inherent in the piece, the plot or purpose of the piece, or the social implications of the piece. You may also identify just the title and/or author of each of the remaining quotations for 1 point extra credit per title or author.

PART II: Essay Question

You will need to prepare an essay exam prep card using the following specifications:

• The card may be no bigger than 5" x 8".
• Your name must appear in the upper right corner of the card (with a horizontal orientation so that the longest side is at top).
• A clear space at the top left corner should be left blank for stapling.
• You may record quotes on the card, but each quote on the card needs to appear in the essay. Listing other quotes in an attempt to have the answers to the ID section is unacceptable. Quotes are expected in the essay since you can prepare ahead of time.
• You may not write out the essay on the card, but you may outline the key points.
• Failure to follow these directions will result in the card not being allowed during the exam.
• I will inspect the card before the exam starts. You may wish to show up early to get my approval.

Pick ONE of the following questions for your essay. Be sure to prepare an outline that answers all parts of the question.

1. The social forces that defined the role of women in the largely American context of the course reflects the beliefs and stereotypes held by men about women. Using three or more sources, define the image of women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Focus on the constructed nature of this image: in other words, how is this image literally man-made, and how does that image shape a society that benefits men at the expense of women?

2. A key issue in many of the texts revolves around the role of education in the development of women individually and as a group. Using at least three texts, analyze how the social norms about women's education affect their development. Consider the calls for education reform in your response: how did women attempt to convince society to educate their women?

3. Being a woman in America during this time period often limited their economic opportunities, placing women in precarious positions either from birth or because of the loss of a male benefactor. Using three texts, show how adhering to the socially accepted roles for women left them particularly susceptible to economic danger. In cases where women circumvented this peril, what social norms did they have to violate to do so?

4. Religion often shaped the experience of women, both personally and socially. Using three texts, discuss the role of religion in defining women's roles and governing their behavior, noting where religion either provided a source of strength or of repression for individual women and women as a whole.

5. Given the strict social norms about gender, almost any gesture towards gender equality could be seen as rebellious during this time period. Using three different authors, document and discuss women's efforts to gain more freedom. You may consider issues of work, race, class, or other potential points of oppression.