Opinion Paper: Gender Reassignment

Human Sexuality/Gender Re-Assignment

This is an Opinion Paper

Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice, or body characteristics. “Trans” is sometimes used as shorthand for “transgender.” While transgender is generally a good term to use, not everyone whose appearance or behavior is gender-nonconforming will identify as a transgender person. The ways that transgender people are talked about in popular culture, academia, and science are constantly changing, particularly as individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and openness about transgender people and their experiences grow.

After you do your research and readings, in a one page opinion paper, state your position on Gender Re-Assignment. Chaz Bono brought this important and once hidden topic to the forefront. Write about your position. Be sure you add a reference page in APA format and use in-text citations when using the authors words.

Writing an opinion paper for college can be a daunting task for college students. Opinion papers by nature require you to state an opinion or take a position on a specific issue and defend that position. An opinion paper is not, however, license to rant and rave about an issue without providing any evidence. This paper will involve research, organization, and planning to be effective.

◦ 1. Research your topic. Stating an opinion in a paper involves more than reporting what you think. You'll often hear these assignments referred to as position papers, as you must take a reasonable position based on evidence that is grounded in fact. Determine your opinion based on your research, and know your topic thoroughly on both sides of the argument before you state it and attempt to provide any type of reasoned defense.

 ◦ 2. 
Create an outline for your paper consisting of the three main parts that you'll follow when crafting your document: an introduction, body, and conclusion. In your introduction, state your opinion on the topic at hand. This will set the stage for the rest of the paper. You can even hint at the reasons for your opinion, but don't give them away entirely. You'll want the reader to glean that information from the rest of your paper. The body of the outline should list the reasons for your position. The conclusion should clearly and concisely sum up your argument.



 ◦ 3. 
Construct your essay using your outline. State your opinion in your introductory paragraph and then use your list of reasons for stating your opinion in the body of your essay. The body should include three to five substantive reasons why you have taken your position. Provide the most compelling reasons last and the least compelling reasons first. This will give your paper a crescendo effect and drive home the point of your essay.

 ◦ 4. 
Write a definitive conclusion. Your conclusion is your opportunity to restate what you've already state in your introduction and in the body of the paper. Your conclusion should reiterate the main conclusion of your essay based on the facts that you've provided. Go over each point briefly, but be careful not to simply chronicle them without tying them together.



The grading criteria will be the same as in other modules.