User:Rodam0892/sandbox

being [[bold]] is important This is my sandbox page..

Week 4 Questions

• Blog posts and press releases are considered poor sources of reliable information. Why?
  • Both blog posts and press releases are deemed poor sources of reliable information for the following reasons. One, blog posts are usually run by an individual or a small group that have biased writing tendencies. In other words, they upload articles written through their lenses of perception. A biased article can have several different effects on the reader. One of these effects include leading the reader to have the same misinformed view as the writer. Second, articles written by blog posts and press releases are usually written, submitted, and posted quickly. Therefore, there is not much editing or fact-checking involved in the writing process. Without these vital components the article's ethos is greatly diminished.
• What are some reasons you might not want to use a company's website as the main source of information about that company?
  • A company's website should not be used as the primary source of information about that company because if the website goes down, then the website that is being cited serves no convenient purpose.
• What is the difference between a copyright violation and plagiarism?
  • Plagiarism and copyright violation are both examples of theft. However, they are distinctively different. Plagiarism is stealing someone else's work, passing it off as one's own, and paying no attribution to the original author. Copyright violation, on the other hand, involves violating certain rights the copyright holds without obtaining the copyright's permission. Copyright violations include reproducing, distributing, or displaying another's work.
• What are some good techniques to avoid close paraphrasing and plagiarism?
  • Good techniques that can help avoid close paraphrasing and plagiarism is reading extensively and having a rich vocabulary. The more one reads, the better understanding they will gain, thus granting them the ability to convey the information from their memory by formulating their own words rather than having to refer back to the source of information they got it from. In addition, having a rich vocabulary allows a writer to make their work stand out as opposed to a mundane and basic vocabulary.

Notes

I intend to add information to the Olympe de Gouges Wikipedia page. I am going to add two sections. The first section, which will be included under Biography, will be about her role in the revolution and the actions she took. This sub-section will be labeled Olympe's Revolution. The second section, which will also be included in the Biography section, will be about her role models who inspired her thinking. Beside these two sections, I want to elaborate on her life in Paris. Olympe's personality was unconventional compared to those of the traditional women living during her time, which largely contributed to her success as an activist. Olympe was not shy, and she was very beautiful. The combination of these two aspects intimidated many people, including men.

Editing Notes

I think these are great sections to add to the existing article on De Gouges especially because the existent article lacks and displaces a lot of that information. It says on the existing page that there are no citations under the "Writings" tab, you should definitely look into finding sources in that section or work to make it your own. There is a lot of writing there that describes facts from articles but no references. Jessyyx (talk) 22:22, 26 February 2017 (UTC)

Week 5 Assignment

Topic (Existing Article): Olympe de Gouges

• In your sandbox, write a few sentences about what you plan to contribute to the selected article.
  • I intend to add information to the Olympe de Gouges Wikipedia page. I am going to add two sections. The first section, which will be included under Biography, will be about her role in the revolution and the actions she took. This sub-section will be labeled Olympe's Revolution. The second section, which will also be included in the Biography section, will be about her role models who inspired her thinking. Beside these two sections, I want to elaborate on her life in Paris. Olympe's personality was unconventional compared to those of the traditional women living during her time, which largely contributed to her success as an activist. Olympe was not shy, and she was very beautiful. The combination of these two aspects intimidated many people, including men.

• Compile a list of relevant, reliable books, journal articles, or other sources. Post that bibliography to the talk page of the article you'll be working on, and in your sandbox. Make sure to check in on the Talk page to see if anyone has advice on your bibliography.
  • Cole, John R., and Olympe De. Gouges. Between the Queen and the Cabby: Olympe De Gouges's Rights of Woman (Olympe De Gouges's Rights of Woman). N.p.: McGill-Queen's UP, 2011. Print.
  • Beckstrand, Lisa. Deviant Women of the French Revolution and the Rise of Feminism. Madison: Fairleigh Dickinson UP, 2013. Print.
  • Mousset, Sophie. Women's Rights and the French Revolution: A Biography of Olympe De Gouges. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction, 2014. Print.
  • Sa'adah, Anne. The Shaping of Liberal Politics in Revolutionary France: A Comparative Perspective. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1990. Print.

Biography

Olympe de Gouges' ascent from mother to writer and politcal activist was detailed in her autobiography titled, Memoire de Madame Valmont. Madame Valmont is the main character and the fictitious version of de Gouges. Olympe published her book anonymously, and changed her name in the book to Madame Valmont in order to avoid gender-biased criticism since female authors often encountered dissaproval in the writing field. Her autobiography is written in epistolary form and with narratives given in first-person. Madame Valmont's upbringing is similar to that of de Gouges, she is also a writer. In the beginning, of the autobiography Valmont is depicted as the eighteenth century epitome of feminine sensibility-- an ignorant, yet morally upright woman. Valmont only comes to realization of her full potential during her encounter of misogyny and belittlement by the Count. The Count is the financial benefactor of Valmont's story. When Valmont asks him for his opinion in regards to her writing style he responds by saying women should maintain the ultimate simplicity in their writing. The Count embodies the gender-biased dogma which subverts the intellectual capacity of women. In addition, the Count echoes Rousseau's perception of women how they should be confined to the private sphere of motherhood as to not threaten man's superiority.

In 1784, she wrote the anti-slavery play Zamore and Mirza. For several reasons, the play was not performed until 1789.

 In 1790 she wrote a play, Le Marché des Noirs ("The Black Market") which was rejected by the Comédie Française; the text was burned after her death

Life in Paris

Olympe de Gouges moved to Paris in 1770.

Complicated relationship with Theatre Francais

The Theatre banned her plays from being performed.

Political affiliation

Olympe de Gouges advocated for women's rights, which at the time seemed radical and hence perfect for the revolution. Although her beliefs fit in with the revolution, not all of the revolution's theories fit in with her ideology. For instance, Olympe de Gouges opposed the extermination of the monarchical government. The revolution wanted to oust the monarchy, while Gouges was in favor to keep it in place. Gouges revered both King Louis XVI and his wife, Queen Marie Antoinnette. Her political views were detailed in her political pamphlets. Her earliest political pamphlet, Letters to the People (1788) , describes Louis as an all powerful king and "like a father whose affairs have become distressed; for his children, it is a simple matter of honour and love as well as respect to fly willingly to the aid of this unfortunate father." While King Louis XVI is a misunderstood father, Marie Antoinnette is a noble woman. Gouges goes on to predict that the Queen would renounce her lavish lifestyle for the public welfare during the financial crisis. She wanted to keep the monarchy, despite the fact that the Revolution's main goal was to overthrow the king and install a new form of government-- a republic. Gouges repeatedly defended the King and Queen during the October days; when they tried to escape Paris but were stopped in St. Cloud; and during the Diamond Necklace scandal, which many historians have acquitted Marie, but back then she was regarded guilty. Many women and men living in Paris viewed Marie Antoinnette as the cause of their woes. Yet, she defended her and dedicated the preface of her Declaration of Rights of Women to Marie. The preface's heading is titled 'To The Queen.' In her preface, Gouges claims that since the inception of the revolution she has taken up to the queen's defense. Basically, Gouges implores the queen to endorse her cause for women's rights and signs it off as her "very humble and very obedient servant."

Olympe's Revolution

Declaration of Rights of Women

NOT CITED : She wrote numerous other works, and the olympedegouges.eu website provides translations of many of her pamphlets: "Denied a place in the powerful circles of her day she found her political voice by writing an astonishing number of pamphlets and posters that she freely disseminated around Paris. Her texts chart her battles against injustice and inequality, her belief that solidarity and cooperation should predominate, her hatred of dictatorships and the corrupting influence of power, her profound pacifism, her respect for humankind, her love of nature, and, of course, her desire that women be allowed a worthwhile role in society. She pleaded against slavery and the death penalty, dreamt of a more equal society and proposed intelligent taxation plans to enable wealth to be more fairly divided. She called for a form of welfare state, trial by jury and reasonable divorce laws to protect women and children from penury. Believing in the power of drama to encourage political change she wrote several plays that ingeniously highlight contemporary concerns."

Writings

This section does not cite any sources. I am going to review it, and properly cite it myself.

First page of Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen

Olympe de Gouges wrote her famous Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen shortly after the French constitution of 1791 was created in the same year. She was alarmed that the constitution, which was to promote equal suffrage, did not address—nor even consider—women’s suffrage. The Constitution gave that right only to men. It also did not address key issues such as legal equality in marriage, the right of a woman to divorce her spouse if he abused her, or a woman’s right to property and custody of the children. So she created a document that was to be, in her opinion, the missing part of the Constitution of 1791, in which women would be given the equal rights they deserve. Throughout the document, it is apparent to the reader that Gouges had been influenced by the philosophy of the Enlightenment, whose thinkers, using "scientific reasoning", critically examined and criticized the traditional morals and institutions of the day.

Gouges opens up her Declaration with a witty, and at times sarcastically bitter, introduction in which she asks men why they have chosen to subjugate women as a lesser sex. Her opening statement put rather bluntly: "Man, are you capable of being just? It is a woman who poses the question; you will not deprive her of that right at least." The latter part of the statement shows her assertion that men have been absurdly depriving women of what should be common rights, so she sarcastically asks if men will find it necessary to take away even her right to question. Gouges begins her long argument by stating that in nature the sexes are forever mingled, cooperating in "harmonious togetherness." There she uses Enlightenment logic: if in nature the equality and the cooperation of the two sexes achieves harmony, so should France achieve a happier and more stable society if women are given equality among men.

After her opening paragraph she proceeds to her declaration, which she asks be reviewed and decreed by the National Assembly in their next meeting. Her preamble explains that the reason for contemporary public misfortune and corrupt government is due to the oppression of women and their rights. The happiness and well-being of society would only be insured once the rights of women were equally important as those of men, especially in political institutions. In her document Gouges establishes the rights of women on the basis of their equality to men: that they are both human and capable of the same thoughts. Gouges also promotes the rights of women by emphasizing differences women have to men; however, differences that men ought to respect and take notice of. She argues that women are superior in beauty as well as in courage during childbirth. Addressing characteristics that set women apart from men, she adds what she probably thought was logical proof to her argument that men are not superior to women, and therefore, women are deserving at least of the same rights.

Her declaration bears the same outline and context as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, but Gouges either changes the word "man" to "woman" or adds "for both women and men." In article II, the resemblance is exact to the previous declaration except that she adds "especially" before "the right to the resistance of oppression", emphasizing again how important it is to her to end the oppression of women, and that the government should recognize this and take action.

A main difference between the two declarations is that the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen emphasizes the protection of the written "law" while the Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen emphasizes protection of the "law" and "Natural Laws." Gouges emphasizes that these rights of women always have existed, that they were created at the beginning of time by God, that they are natural and true, and they cannot be oppressed.

Article X contains the famous phrase: "Woman has the right to mount the scaffold; she must equally have the right to mount the rostrum." If women have the right to be executed, they should have the right to speak.

In Article XI of the Declarations of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, it states that the most precious right of man is the free communication of speech and ideas. Gouges, in her declaration states that freedom of speech is just as precious for a woman because it helps to impose a father's responsibility for his children. According to Gouges, this article serves to protect illegitimate children and their mothers and prevents them from being taken advantage of. Gouges urges that women speak up against the father of their children if he tries abandoning them. This article resonates personally with Gouges since she claimed that she was an illegitimate child. In addition, a woman has the right to give her children the name of their father even if they be out of wedlock or the father may have left her.

In her postscript, Gouges exhorts women to wake up and discover that they have these rights. She assures them that reason is on their side. Gouges asks, "What have women gained from the French Revolution?" She states that the answer is nothing, except to be marked with yet more disdain. She exclaims that women should no longer tolerate this, they should step up, take action, and demand the equal rights they deserve. Gouges calls the notion that women are lesser beings an "out-of-date" concept. In this, she shows strongly her Enlightenment perspective—to break from old, illogical traditions that are now archaic. She asserts that to revoke women's right to partake in political life is also "out-of-date."

Her last paragraph is titled a "Social Contract between Men and Women." Taking a leaf from Rousseau’s book, the contract asks for communal cooperation. The wealth of a husband and wife should be distributed equally. Property should belong to both and to the children, whatever bed they come from. If they are divorced, their land should be divided equally. She called this the "marriage contract." Gouges also proposed to allow a poor man’s wife to have her children adopted by a wealthy family – this would advance the community’s wealth and reduce disorder. Near the end of the contract, Gouges requests creation of a law to protect widows and girls from men who make false promises. This, perhaps, is the most important issue she deals with in France. In the postscript section of her document, Gouges describes the consequences for a woman who is left by an unfaithful husband, who is widowed with no fortune to her name, and of young, inexperienced girls who are seduced by men who leave them with no money and no title for their children. Gouges therefore demands a law that will force an unfaithful or unscrupulous man to fulfill his obligations to such a woman, or to at least to pay a reimbursement equal to his wealth.

One of the last arguments in her document is directed to men who still see women as lesser beings: "the foolproof way to evaluate the soul of women is to join them to all the activities of man, if man persists against this, let him share his fortune with woman by the wisdom of the laws." She challenges men that, if they wish, they may evaluate scientifically the consequences of joining man and woman in equal political rights.

The National Assembly did not pass the Declaration of the Rights of Woman, and as a result of their negligence sins of omission turned into sins of commission during the Reign of Terror when the Jacobins closed down multiple women's political clubs in 1793. During that same year, Marie Antoinette and Gouges were both guillotined within less than a month of each other (16 October, 3 November) as well as other prominent women such as Madame du Barry (7 December) and Madame Roland (8 November).

She wrote numerous other works, and the olympedegouges.eu website provides translations of many of her pamphlets: "Denied a place in the powerful circles of her day she found her political voice by writing an astonishing number of pamphlets and posters that she freely disseminated around Paris. Her texts chart her battles against injustice and inequality, her belief that solidarity and cooperation should predominate, her hatred of dictatorships and the corrupting influence of power, her profound pacifism, her respect for humankind, her love of nature, and, of course, her desire that women be allowed a worthwhile role in society. She pleaded against slavery and the death penalty, dreamt of a more equal society and proposed intelligent taxation plans to enable wealth to be more fairly divided. She called for a form of welfare state, trial by jury and reasonable divorce laws to protect women and children from penury. Believing in the power of drama to encourage political change she wrote several plays that ingeniously highlight contemporary concerns."

Editing Notes

What is some info that you can add under each of these tabs? Just to get a little bit of an idea of whats going to be written there. Jessyyx (talk) 22:22, 26 February 2017 (UTC)

Amanda I fixed a few grammatical errors. But, overall I think you are off to a good start. Focus on finding good sources so you can effectively add to your following paragraphs. Good luck! Sam.i.am98 (talk) 01:29, 27 February 2017 (UTC)