Homework 12

 

 

 

 

BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE FILE-NAMING CONVENTIONS FOR THIS COURSE (5% penalty if you do not).

All files should be saved on your computer as: your last name, followed by an underscore ("_"), followed by the first two letters of your first name, followed by an underscore ("_"), followed by the assignment number. So if a student named Saddam Hussein were to submit assignment number 12, the file name would be:

hussein_sa_12.doc

 

 

Don't stop until you see "end of assignment"

At the start of next class there will be a vocabulary quiz on words from this reading. Because knowing these words will deepen your understanding of the reading (and likely improve your grade on this assignment), it makes sense to look up and learn these words either AS or BEFORE you do the reading. In contrast, learning the words AFTER you do the reading or homework makes little sense.

 

VOCAB FOR QUIZ

Reverie
Patrimony
Dubious
Retrograde
Preening
Dutiful
Predicament
Ruefully
Appellation

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QUESTIONS

(note that the most important parts of this assignment are the last two "paragraph" questions at the end; however, the seven questions that come before the "paragraph" questions will help set you up for the "paragraph" questions. But keep in mind that answering the two "paragraph" questions will probably take as much time as you have spent writing half an essay for this class.)


SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (worth 5% each)

1) Faludi writes:

“That ‘wheel’ is misnamed,” a laid-off engineer ruefully told the counselors. “It should be called the Powerlessness and Out-of-control Wheel."

What is the significance of the laid-off engineer's observations to Faludi's argument?

In other words, why does she quote him and what "claim" by Faludi does this quotation serve as evidence of?
.
2) What are the feminist and conservative interpretation of the current male predicament and why does Faludi think both of these are wrong?

3) Why, according to Faludi, do men’s grievances seem to be with “phantoms and witches” in contrast to women’s seemingly more straightforward demands?

4) Does manhood take the same form in every culture? What does the answer to that question tell us about the “natural” or “timeless” quality of manhood?

5) What was the essence of Pyle’s vision of manhood that Faludi says was at the heart of American manhood for much of the 20th century? (be sure to read as far as page 20 before coming to a conclusion)

MEDIUM ANSWER QUESTIONS (worth 12.5% each)

6) According to Faludi, what forces, events, and phenomena created the conditions that created the culture of “ornamental manhood”? Be specific and provide details. (will likely require at least five sentences to answer)

7) Describe in detail and with specifics at least three ways in which the culture of “ornamental manhood” differed from Pyle’s vision of manhood.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS (worth 25% each)

For this assignment, you need to write only two paragraphs of at least 60 words each.

In the first paragraph of your two pargraphs, explain how and why a single character from The Wire has embraced what Faludi calls “ornamental manhood.” Be sure to include Faludi's definition of ornamental manhood and to organize your paragraph around the familiar cl/ev/wa pattern. Likewise, be sure to include evidence in the form of direct quotations from the series and use the appropriate "time citation" that we have used this semester.

In the second paragraph, explain how and why a single character from The Wire struggles to mantain his identity as a "useful" male. Be sure to include Faludi's definition of "useful manhood" and to organize your paragraph around the familiar cl/ev/wa pattern. Likewise, be sure to include evidence in the form of direct quotations from the series and use the appropriate "time citation" that we have used this semester.

Some questions to consider but that may not necessarily be part of your claims or your paragraphs:

A) What has changed in the world of these men that some have embraced a vision of “ornamental” manhood?

B) How successful is either vision of manhood in the show?

 

KEEP IN MIND WHAT YOU HAVE RECORDED IN YOUR CHARACTER JOURNALS




"END OF ASSIGNMENT"