Assignment: Write a 1000 word paper (= 3-4 pages, double-spaced)
on ONE of the following topics:
1.) In The Prince, Machiavelli writes: “And let no one resist my opinion on this with that trite proverb, that whoever founds on the people founds on mud.” According to Machiavelli, how should a prince “found on the people”? How does his advice ultimately benefit the people?
2.) Take a look at the foundations of the social contract in both Hobbes and Locke. How do their different assumptions about human nature and the state of nature inform their theories? How does this result in their different conceptions of civil society/government? Identify and analyze at least two different assumptions and speak about the implications for their theories.
Guidelines for Papers
Your paper is supposed to be an interpretation of some aspect of the work(s): in other words, an argument concerning some aspect of the work based on analysis of relevant textual evidence. Your paper is not supposed to be a summary of the work, a statement of your opinion about the work, or a discussion of its historical significance or relevance. Frame your paper as an investigation of why and how the author makes the argument he or she does rather than simply saying what is said. Turn your topic into an argument.
2. Give a clear statement of your argument at the beginning of your paper.
3. Unify your paper with a single argument with a logical development from one step of the argument to the next. Do not make your paper a collection of separate points or examples.
4. Every time you state that the author states or argues something you should have evidence to support your statement, either in the form of a quotation or a specific textual reference. Only quote what you need for your purposes. Try to look at your quotations as something more than mere evidence, and instead as material that you can analyze (break down into its parts in order to interpret it) in order to make your argument.
5. Use clear and simple language, but a formal style. Obscurity is not profundity. Make sure that you know the meaning of the words you use. You are writing a formal paper, not an email message. Avoid colloquial or chatty language. Do not use contractions: not using them reminds you of the appropriate level of discourse for your paper.
Criteria for assessing your work:
Do you have a clear statement of your argument?
Do you provide relevant evidence?
Are your reasoning and writing clear and effective?
Do you demonstrate an understanding of the work(s) you are analyzing?
To what degree do you address the most important questions and problems posed by the work(s) you are interpreting?
Warning: If your paper is effectively a summary of the work rather than an interpretation of it, then the best grade you can possibly receive is a C. If your paper is a statement of your opinion about the work or a discussion of its applicability or relevance, then the best grade you can possibly receive is a C