Gender & Fashion
Fashion Essay (20%)
Students will write an essay on any chosen topic related to gender and fashion. Essays should be approximately 4-5 double-spaced pages and should be properly formatted with citations and bibliography. The topic of the essay is to be chosen by the student but must be related to the course. Topics can include but are not limited to an analysis of the gendered politics of an article of clothing, a fashion icon, a fashion movement, an ad campaign, the fashion industry, fashion of a music video or film, etc. Be sure that the selected topic provides enough material for a proper analysis while also not being so broad that you cannot be specific in your analysis. Papers must include a clear introduction, thesis statement, analysis, and conclusion.

Your essay should present an analysis of the chosen topic using the concepts, frameworks, and analytical tools used throughout the course. While gender must be the focus of your analysis, expanding your analysis is encouraged through the use of an intersectional approach that considers questions of but not limited to sexuality, race, class, disability, and indigeneity.

As this is a formal essay, there is an expectation that you will conduct research and incorporate outside texts. There is no ‘perfect number’ of references but use your judgement to know where you have gaps that need to be filled by outside sources. Be sure that you cite these sources properly. Use quotations and paraphrasing correctly. You may use the citation style of your choice. Be sure to remain consistent. No matter the citation style, page numbers must be included (when available).
Your essay will be graded in terms of the quality of your analysis of your chosen topic. It will be important to balance situating the (historical) context with analysis. While it is important to provide the proper context of the topic you have chosen, make sure the emphasis of your paper is analysis. Remember that 4-5 pages is a relatively short space for you to pack in as much analysis as possible. Be sure that your writing and analysis is clear, concise, and precise.

Factors that will be taken into account in the grading of this essay include:

⦁ Does the essay succinctly address an appropriate question or topic related to “gender and fashion”?
⦁ Does your paper make important connections with course concepts and materials in a way that demonstrates an understanding both of the course content as well as your chosen topic?
⦁ Is your essay supported by relevant evidence?
⦁ Is the paper clear, readable, and well-written?
⦁ Is the paper organized with a clear and underlined thesis statement, an introduction, an argument (body of the paper that expands on as well as supports your thesis statement), and a conclusion?
⦁ Is the essay carefully proofread? Is careful attention paid to grammar, punctuation, spelling, and conventions?