Academic Writing

Task Description

For this assignment, I am writing a synthesis argument essay that answers the question of how strongly society’s view of gender shapes the roles people take on in relationships. I must develop a defensible claim supported by evidence from The Taming of the Shrew and at least two nonfiction sources, while also incorporating a counterargument and rebuttal to create a fully developed, cohesive argument. 

Academic Growth:
Compared to the beginning of the year, I’ve grown significantly in how I think about gender, relationships, and the social pressures that shape them. Before, I tended to see characters’ actions as personal choices, but now I understand how deeply cultural expectations can influence people’s behavior—sometimes even without them realizing it. This assignment helped me see gender roles not as simple rules but as social performances that characters adopt, resist, or manipulate depending on their circumstances. I’ve also become more comfortable recognizing complexity instead of searching for a “right” answer; I can acknowledge that relationships can be both constrained by expectations and full of individual agency. This shift has made my interpretations more thoughtful and more grounded in real human behavior.

Personal Growth:
Academically, I’ve become much stronger at constructing arguments that go beyond summary and actually synthesize ideas across multiple texts. Earlier in the year, I struggled to connect literature with nonfiction in a meaningful way, but now I can trace how a theme—like gender expectations—appears differently across genres and use those connections to deepen my analysis. My evidence is more purposeful, and my commentary is clearer and more analytical. I’ve also improved at integrating counterarguments to show I understand the complexity of the issue rather than avoiding it. Overall, I can now write with more control, structure, and insight, and my essays reflect a more mature understanding of both rhetorical skills and literary interpretation.