Meaning of Success
1. Explain why the word or term evoked the emotion it did. Discuss how each of your definitions of the word informed the meaning you attributed to the word. Look back on the moment and examine what you disagreed with, was it the definition of the word itself, or the situation in which it was applied to, and how can you tell the difference?
2. Define a word that carries with it, a great potential for controversy. Some historically controversial words include “obscenity,” “freedom,” “man,” “democracy,” and more recently “terrorism,” “patriotism,” “marriage,” and “family.” Think about how the word you chose might have changed over time, or how it might change across cultures, races, classes, religions, nations, etc. Come to your own conclusion about the true definition of the word and write a response explaining what the word means to you in terms of your own understanding about the world and humanity.
3. In the essay, “I Want a Wife,” Brady critiques accepted societal gender roles. Is her assessment of the term correct in today’s world? If not, how has it changed? In addition to her definition of “wife” she also defines, to an extent, “husband”. Is this definition still the same? How has it changed? Write a paper that defines what it means to be a husband, wife, mother, father, son or daughter in today’s society?
