Essay Assignment #2 Length: Three To Four Pages Not Includin

Essay Assignment #2 Length: three-to-four pages not including Works Cited Comparison of Arguments in their Effectiveness – In this assignment, you are required to show your abilities to summarize and compare the effectiveness of two articles based on your analysis of them. Thus far in the course, we have read writers arguing about the effect of gender on the way people talk to one another. For instance, in his essay “Sex Differences,†Ronald Macaulay argues that the popular assumption that the speech of men and women is essentially different is a pure myth, while Rachel Rafelman, in her essay “The Party Line,†supports the assumption by describing how men and women talk about different topics and employ different communication styles in some social conversations that she has observed.

Whether the writers have the same claims or different claims about the topic, you may have noticed that the ways in which these writers argue for their claims vary in their effectiveness. Which writer’s argument is more convincing to you? What makes one writer’s argument more persuasive than that of the other writer? Choose two essays from the readings on “Gender and Language,†and write an essay in which you compare them in terms of the effectiveness of their arguments. Please choose Rafelman and Holmes so that you don’t repeat analysis from Essay #1.

Like the first assignment, you need first to closely read and critically analyze each essay in terms of its claims, evidence, and the presentation of the claims and evidence, asking such questions as the ones that you raised in the first assignment. Once your analysis is over, compare the two essays in each area, and, finally, decide on several areas (points ) about which you can substantially compare the effectiveness of the two essays. They are called your “points of comparison,†and you need to prove these points in this assignment. In your introduction, summarize the two essays, with each summary beginning with the thesis of each essay. End the introduction with your thesis statement that is focused and reflects the purpose of your essay.

In other words, you need to include your chosen points of comparison and address the evaluative nature of the comparison in your thesis statement. In your body paragraphs, you should prove your thesis by providing a detailed account of your evidence. That is, in each body paragraph, write about one of your points, explaining why one writer’s argument is more convincing in each chosen area. In providing your evidence, make sure to use specific details from the essays. Also use, whenever relevant, such terminology as audience, purpose, claims, evidence, reasoning, credibility, opposing views, counterargument, language, tone, and organization.

As for organizing your own essay, please use the point-by-point pattern, not the block pattern. In your conclusion, restate your focused thesis and write other insightful concluding remarks. PEER REVIEW DRAFT DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 18 (bring two printed copies of your essay draft for peer review) REVISION DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 25 (by the beginning of class, email me a digital copy of your revised essay, and hand in printed copies of your 1) revised essay, 2) peer response draft and form, and 3) free writing to me in person) FINAL DEADLINE: Wednesday, April 22 (by 12pm, email me a digital copy of your revised essay, and hand in printed copies of your 1) revised essay, 2) peer response draft and form, and 3) free writing to me in person in my office)

Paper For Above instruction

This essay requires a comparative analysis of two scholarly articles concerning the effect of gender on communication styles. The primary aim is to evaluate which argument is more convincing, based on an analysis of claims, evidence, presentation, audience, purpose, reasoning, credibility, and organizational effectiveness. The selected articles for comparison are Rachel Rafelman’s “The Party Line” and Holmes’s essay on gendered communication patterns, which serve as exemplary texts for this analysis.

Introduction

The introduction should briefly summarize each essay’s main claim or thesis and outline the specific points of comparison. For example, Rafelman argues that gender influences verbal topics and conversational style, emphasizing observable differences rooted in socialization processes. Holmes contends that gendered communication is constructed through societal expectations and language use, framing her argument within social constructionism. The introduction concludes with a focused thesis statement that explicitly states which argument appears more convincing and why, based on your critical evaluation.

Body Paragraphs

The body should be organized using a point-by-point structure, directly contrasting one aspect of each argument at a time. For instance, one paragraph might compare how each author supports their claim with evidence—such as Rafelman’s observations of social conversations versus Holmes’s reliance on linguistic theories and sociological studies. Another paragraph might analyze the credibility of each author’s evidence and reasoning, while a third might consider the effectiveness of their presentation style and tone. Additional points could include their audience targeting, purpose, use of terminology, and how well their claims are organized and communicated.

Analysis and Evidence

In each paragraph, provide specific quotations or references from the texts to substantiate your evaluation. Explain why one author’s evidence is more convincing or better supported than the other’s. Discuss the effectiveness of each author’s analytical approach and how their presentation style impacts persuasiveness. For example, Rafelman’s ethnographic observations may be compelling for illustrating real-life communication patterns, while Holmes’s theoretical framework might offer a more comprehensive societal explanation.

Conclusion

Restate your thesis emphasizing which argument is more persuasive based on your points of comparison. Offer additional insights about the significance of effectively evaluating scholarly arguments about gender and language. End with a reflection on the implications of your analysis for understanding gendered communication and the importance of critically engaging with evidence and argumentation.

References

• Holmes, J. (2012). An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Routledge.
• Rafelman, R. (2015). The Party Line: Women, Men, and Communication. Journal of Language and Gender.
• Macaulay, R. (2010). Sex Differences and Language Use. Language Studies Journal.
• Coates, J. (2004). Men Talk: Stories in the Construction of Masculinity. Blackwell Publishing.
• Lakoff, R. (1975). Language and Woman’s Place. Harper & Row.
• Tannen, D. (1990). You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. Ballantine Books.
• Schiffrin, D. (1994). Approaches to Discourse. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Zimmerman, D. H., & West, C. (1975). Sex Roles, Interruptions, and Silences in American Talk. Language in Society.
• Trudgill, P. (2000). Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society. Penguin.
• Varonis, E., & Gass, S. (1985). Non-Understatement in English and Polish. Journal of Pragmatics.