History 355, Writing Assignment #2
Based on the selections,
“Hardworking” and
“Patriarchy from Above, Patriarchy from Below: Debt Peonage on Nicaraguan Coffee Estates, 1870–1930”
Both of these selections apply the category/concept of gender to the past in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Your task is to show how gender affected the groups who are the focus of these articles (note that gender interacts with/is affected by race, class, and the state in these selections as well). In other words, what agendas are behind the attempt(s) to structure society along these lines and why? Lastly, how do the groups affected respond?
Format:
(1) Double spaced, 12 point font, and hard copy Length: minimum 3 pages; maximum: when answered (however, do not write a book! By 4 or so pages, you should wind it up)
(2) Do not email the essay; if you do not hand it in when due, you will do so the next class meeting; it will be considered late, and you will be charged a -20 “inconvenience fee”.
(3) Just type your name and course on the first line; all the rest is unnecessary
(4) Be clear and specific. If you’re talking about Guatemala, then don’t confuse me into thinking you’re writing about Nicaragua.
(5) Only the material above is to be used (class notes are allowed, as that prof is a genius, yo!).
(6) Grammar/syntax/coherence are all important; if you need to reacquaint yourself with the King’s English, visit the Writing Center (I am quite unforgiving on this point).
(7) Do not plagiarize. “ From below, peasant patriarchalism contributed to the heavily
female and young labor force on coffee estates.” (Dore 235)
See how easy that is?
(8) Reading wordiness is exhausting and makes for a cranky professor, who looks for the source of said crankiness. Do not fall into this bad habit.
“first and foremost”=first
“at that point in time”=then
“due to/in view of the fact that”=since, because
“in the present moment”=today, now, currently
“for the reason that”=since/because
“in point of fact”=in fact
“past history”=history
“it should be noted that”=good gods, banish this from your vocabulary!
9. If unclear, ask in class, in the hallway, in my office, via email. I draw the line at the men’s restroom–leave me alone! (Also, do not stand outside my living room window, as you may step on the minefield)
10. There’s no need for a bib/Works Cited page
