Barbie has been an iconic figure in the lives of girls since the 1950s, but her existence has been full of controversy. A lesson plan on style, format, and genre explores that controversy by looking at three texts with different perspectives. While the pieces present interesting ideas, the lesson plan focuses less on what they say and more on how they say it, taking a close look at genre and elements of style. A culminating activity gives scholars the chance to express their opinions on another social issue through a writing assignment.