Notes
Click on the small “Whole Class” link at the top of the page. To post, scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the “Reply” button.

Purpose

Each module unit takes the task of writing a good essay and breaks it down into smaller steps. In this discussion, we will share our thoughts on our readings for this unit by relating the contents to our experiences and prior knowledge. By sharing our interpretations on the readings, we will generate ideas for a good Essay thesis. Doing so will be the first step in drafting a good essay final draft since a strong thesis tells the reader what the essay’s main argument will be. In our discussion, you will also asked to support your thesis ideas with evidence from our assigned texts for this module. That evidence will also serve to help you put together a comprehensive outline for your essay in the next assignment.

Main Post Instructions

Write three or more paragraphs (at least 200+ words) on the following:

Paragraph 1 (Women in Surf History)

1. Review our Essay 3 readings for this unit:

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• World in the Curl Chapter 13 “Women and Surfing: From Flappers to Roxy Girl” on the history of women in surfing in both ancient Hawaii and the U.S.
• Zach Weisberg’s “For Female Surfers, Challenges Out of the Water” on sexual objectification of female professional surfers.
• Lou Boyd’s “Maya Gabeira: I just thought, ‘This is it, I’m going to die'” (Links to an external site.) on the strength of female big wave surfer Maya Gaberia and how she overcame discrimination in the male-dominated world of big wave surfing.
• Octavia Drughi’s “The Badass Women of Big Wave Surfing” on the incredible feats of top female big wave surfers today.
• UInterview article “Stephanie Gilmore’s Racy Roxy Ad Criticized for Sexism, Voyeurism” (Links to an external site.) on objectification of world champion professional surfer Stephanie Gilmore in Roxy ad
• Amy Willis’s “Billabong ran these two surf adverts and people got angry” (Links to an external site.) on the objectification of women in Billabong surf ads.

2. Read Model Essay 3for an example of a strong essay from a former student.
3. Optional: Watch our Essay 3 Videos (free on GCC Library Database Kanopy):

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• Heart of the Sea: A Portrait of Legendary Surfer Rell Sun (Links to an external site.)n (2002)
• Swell (Links to an external site.) (1996)

4. Then summarize some of the historical events that led more U.S. girls and women to participate in sports, including surfing.

Paragraph 2 (Your Personal Example)

Imagine that you are a woman about to go surfing for the first time. Please answer some of the following questions:

• How would you go about preparing for the experience?
• Which beach would you go to, who would you bring with you, what would you wear, what equipment would you prepare, and what time of year would you go?
• What obstacles and fears would you expect to face? Do you think you would do well?
• How would you feel after facing these challenges?
• Helpful link to Surfline.com (Links to an external site.). This website is great for planning a surf session because you can see live footage of the surf in our LA beaches and forecasts for wave conditions, water temperatures, tidal information etc..

Paragraph 3 (Thesis Brainstorming)

1. Review the thesis at the end of the introduction paragraph in Model Essay 3.Begin your second paragraph with a one sentence thesis that fully answers the Essay 3 question:
   
   Discuss two similar challenges faced by today’s professional women surfers (post-1990’s) and their predecessors (pre-1990’s).
2. Then support your thesis with quotations and supporting examples from Chapters 3 and 13 from The World in the Curl. Also provide examples from my linked videos and articles on women surfers today. You are also welcome to cite information from sources you find on your own regarding today’s women surfers.
   

3. End your main post with an interesting question for the class that stems from the ideas in your post.

Reply Posts (2 required, 50+ words each)

1. What parts of the other student’s main post could you identify with? What parts did you like? Explain why you liked those ideas.
2. Suggest improvements by referring to additional supporting examples from The World in the Curl and the other online articles. Or point out parts of the other student’s main post that you would like to see discussed in more detail, either with more explanation, clarification, or support.
3. End your reply post with an interesting question that is relevant to your discussion.

Grading

Requirements

• 1 main post (200+ words) that fully responds to Dr. Kwa’s prompt
• 2 replies (50+ words each) to others’ main posts
• Very Important: You are required to end all of your main posts and replies with a question that is related to your thoughts in your post.

Originality

Please make sure to give credit to other students by name should you discuss their ideas. If your discussion forum plagiarizes ideas or wording from another student’s post or an outside source, your post will not be accepted for credit.