Assignment Instructions/ Description
The United States participation in the Second World War began in 1941 and lasted until the Axis powers surrendered in 1945. During that period, on September 24, 1942, Congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce delivered the following address, “The Role of American Women in Wartime,” to a women’s banking committee. Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Luce makes to convey her message that women needed to prepare to make more sacrifices as the war effort continued.In your response you should do the following:● Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices.● Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.● Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.● Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.● Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.
Read the Passage below by Clare Boothe Luce
And now I am going to say something which I could only say among us girls. So far in this war we are still the luckiest women in the whole world. For instance we still have lipsticks, and even some silk stockings. And although many of us have gone into uniforms, they are still made of good cloth and are well cut. Sisters, for a lot of us, perhaps too many of us, important though the part we have played in it so far, it is still easy—and I almost said “glamorous” for us. But, believe me, for each of us these are the old days now, my friends.Now we have got to face a great, big fact. We have got to face the fact that the ‘interesting’ part of our participation in this war effort is just about over. There isn’t going to be any glamour in what we have to do from here on in. I realize that for most women there is little that is glamorous in a war, any war. But we have to be frank enough with ourselves to admit that in our effort to help, we have still managed to do a lot of things that are both helpful and, by a remarkable coincidence, attractive. We’ve been able, as we went about our wartime activities, to find time to wonder, as I say, a little about those uniforms. We’ve had time to be disturbed a bit about the freezing of fashion designs, about the lack of silk stockings. Yes, we’ve found time to look a little for glamorous. But, from here on in to victory, glamour is out and toughness is in. From here on in to victory, girls, the way is going to be hard. From here on in, women and men and children, too, for that matter, are going to have to take on the serious task of winning this war. Our president has called this the “toughest war in history” and whether you here tonight class yourself as a political follower of the president or one of his political opponents, you must accept that definition as completely accurate.What, then are we women going to do in the tough days that lie ahead? Well, we’re going to do a lot of the things we are doing right now, but we are going to do them a lot
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