Here you will find the prompts for short papers and formal essays. There will be 6-8 short papers and 3 formal essays over the course of the semester. All information is subject to change (including due dates). For general short paper and formal essay guidelines, please see the Grading and Expectations page.
Short Paper 1 – “My Epistemology” – see Grading & Expectations page for general expectations for all short papers. Due Friday 7 September in class.After reading from Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and Newman’s “Knowledge Its Own End,” you have been introduced to at least two theories of knowledge and education. Now, explore your own ideas on knowledge and/or education – what they are (what counts as knowledge or education), how knowledge is acquired or how education “happens,” why they are valuable, what the point of them might be – to write a short paper on your epistemology.Draw from the class texts, but feel free to disagree with any points Plato and Newman make. Show the relationships between your epistemology and theirs. Do not feel that this has to be foolproof. In my epistemology, risk-taking can lead to important discoveries. How is knowledge created, demonstrated, and validated in yours? What are your theories of education?
Short Paper 2 – “Conversation”- Due Friday 14 September.
Choose one of the following two options:
A) Write a fictional conversation between Freire, Newman, and Plato based upon your understanding of their ideas. You may include a narrator or an additional member of the conversation (possibly a version of you). Choose a topic which is relevant to all of the texts and (for the most part) keep the conversation on topic. Possible topics might include (but are not limited to): human nature, the goal of education, the place of knowledge or education in society, politics and education or knowledge, ideal student/teacher roles, reality and ideals. Have the conversation members quote from the texts (their own or others’), but quotes should not make up more than one-quarter of the length of the paper; when using quotes, have the speaker explain or question the quote (which would then require an answer). Note: Because of dialogue format, this may end up taking more than one page, but the word count should still be in the 500-600 range which is the normal expectation for these short paper assignments. If you want to write more, please do. Be as creative as you want, as long as you do not blatantly misrepresent the authors’ ideas.
B) Choose a topic such as the ones suggested above or another which is relevant to all of the texts, and then write a question about your chosen topic. Explore your possible answers to the question referring to all three texts (Freire, Newman, Plato) in addition to your own ideas. Do not feel that you have to come up with one airtight answer; feel free to explore several options. Appropriate quotes should be included and discussed.
Essay 1
□ Draft 1 (2-3 pages) – Due W 19 Sept.
□ Draft 2 (3-4 pages) – Due F 21 Sept. Turn in with peer edited Draft 1 in folder.
□ Individual conferences will be held Sept. 24-28; these are mandatory.
□ Draft 3 (4-6 pages) – Due M 1 Oct. Turn in with Drafts 1 & 2 in folder.
Short Paper 3 – “Film Review” – Due Wed 10 October – 1 page, single-spaced
Write a review of Paradise Now.
Read “Summary” and “Reading with a critical eye” (647-51) before Friday’s class. If it is helpful, go online and read a couple mid-length film reviews.
You may briefly summarize the film, but the majority of your paper should be analysis which involves your own ideas and responses. Some of the ways you can do this are:
· Determine its argument(s) and assess how well it communicates and supports this/these. Analyze one argument; find both points of contention and points of agreement. Use this as a place to explore your own ideas and opinions.
· Analyze the stylistic choices of the screenwriters, filmmakers, editors and actors; consider writing, dialogue, plot, lighting, shot composition, editing style, pace, motifs, set choice/design, locations/settings, casting, even costuming. Again, consider the film’s argument(s). What kinds of work are these elements doing in the film? Why might those involved in making this film have made the decisions they did? How did the element(s) you chose affect your response to the film?
· Analyze a character, relationship, or scene from the film.
You may also include description your reactions to the film in your analysis. What questions did you have after watching this film? What did you think about after watching it? Did you have an emotional response to the film?
Remember: Analysis is a taking apart; this then requires discussion of each aspect you are looking at. Composition is putting together; now that you have taken this text apart and explained the pieces, put them together in your writing in a way that makes an argument or says something important about them or what you now understand about the item you are looking at after analysis. Ultimately, analysis should lead to insight and deeper understanding; it requires you to go beyond the surface of the text.
Short Paper 4 – “Statement & Response” – Due Mon 15 October – 1 page, single-spaced
Statement and response (see pages 643 and 655); this may be done as a letter to the author to whom you are responding. Choose a key statement from either Von Clausewitz or Mead and respond to it. It may be helpful to use other texts from this segment to support your response, but this is not necessary.
- Essay 2 – various due dates – all double-spaced
******Extra credit for taking a draft to the writing center and putting the marked copy and blue sheet in final draft folder. Be sure to set up an appointment ahead of time; sometimes the calendar fills quickly. Writing center staff expect you to come to the appointment with specific writing issues you want to have addressed (for example, structure, support, thesis, introduction). Briefly write on the back of this copy how this tutoring session was helpful. Due Mon 5 Nov in class. ******
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Question & Working Thesis – Due Fri 19 Oct – Come to class with a question you would like to answer in your paper (can not be a yes or no question); if you know what you think your answer is, write it down also; work in groups to come up with as many answers to the question as possible; pose your answer and defend it; email me your question and your thesis after class. Email due Wed 17 Oct. -
Draft One – Due Mon 22 Oct – TWO COPIES IN CLASS – Use at least two authors; 2-3 double-spaced pages. You must have this draft in class. Draft Two – Due Fri 26 Oct – Use at least three authors; 3-4 pages. You must have this draft in class.Draft Three – Due at conferenceDraft Four – Due Mon 5 Nov –Final proofread essay; 4-6 pages. In folder with all drafts. This draft should be polished and without grammatical errors.
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Short Paper 5 - Mencius & Hsun Tzu – Due Friday 9 November – 1 page single-spaced
Choose one of the following options. Please indicate your choice in your heading. You must reference both texts in your paper.
1. Compare Mencius’s and Hsun Tzu’s ideas about human nature. How are the two texts similar?
2. How does Hsun Tzu’s writing style compare with that of Mencius? Are his rhetorical strategies more or less effective than those of his major philosophical opponent? Why? Be very specific in your analysis of their styles, quoting short relevant examples where useful.
3. Describe the kinds of governments which each author’s philosophy seems to support or require. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?
4. After your reading Mencius and Hsun Tzu, elucidate your philosophy on human nature. Are humans inherently good, evil, or neither? Why do you think this? How do you know? Show how your philosophy is related to both authors.
****Remember, your short papers should begin preparing you for the larger, more formal essay, and as such, may even be considered foundations on which you add ideas, arguments, and information gained over the next few weeks. This is your chance to start coming up with ideas and opinions. **********
Short Paper 6 – Due Friday 16 November in class
For this short paper you can write about any of the ideas or texts read for this section in any way you would like. You are free to be creative, but you must still demonstrate nuanced thought and analysis.
Other options include:
1. Look at Prince Shotoku’s 17-Article Constitution and/or Hammurabi’s Code, then come up with your own ideas for what a founding governmental or law document should be like. Write your own founding document; it may be propounding a philosophy on the role of law and government in human society, or it may be a list of laws/regulations which seem to you essential to the successful governance of a society. Or you may just discuss your philosophy of law and government.
2. Read Darwin and discuss nature versus nurture in relation to law and government.
- Essay 3 – THIS ESSAY TOPIC IS OPEN. YOU WILL NEED TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN TOPIC & FOCUS, BUT REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT WITH THE CLASS TEXTS (MINIMUM OF THREE TEXTS DISCUSSED IN FINAL DRAFT)
