Imagine you are Dame Van Winkle and write a short introduction. (30-60 seconds)

In an introduction of Dame Van Winkle, emphasis can be placed on how she tried to make her husband work and be productive when he was not.

If Dame Van Winkle would introduce herself to a larger audience, she would focus on her role in the relationship with her husband.  She would talk about how she had to be who she was because Rip was the way he was.  Dame Van Winkle would talk about...

In an introduction of Dame Van Winkle, emphasis can be placed on how she tried to make her husband work and be productive when he was not.

If Dame Van Winkle would introduce herself to a larger audience, she would focus on her role in the relationship with her husband.  She would talk about how she had to be who she was because Rip was the way he was.  Dame Van Winkle would talk about how her husband was lazy and not productive.  She might even invoke specific examples of "his idleness and his carelessness."

Dame Van Winkle would focus on how she had to counteract her husband's demeanor.  In her introduction, she could focus on how other people might have seen her as nagging.  However, this was only because her husband "had but one way of replying to all lectures," which was to do nothing when he "shrugged his shoulders, shook his head," and "cast up his eyes."  

Dame Van Winkle can talk about how "her tongue" and words had to flow "incessantly" otherwise nothing in the home would get done.  Essentially, Dame Van Winkle would justify herself.   She would explain that her insistence in making sure things get done in the right way extended to her death.  She was angry at a New England Peddler, and in this "fit of passion," she broke a blood vessel.  

Introducing Dame Van Winkle in this way makes her more sympathetic.  She would describe herself in affirming terms.  Rather, she would pitch herself in 30 to 60 seconds as someone who wanted to see things get done, and as someone who sought to overcome the resistance of others.