Read all the selections from all three authors. Start by reading Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France since it was the first of this week’s selection to be published. Next, read Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Men and Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man. Note how Wollstonecraft and Paine are directly responding to BurkeThink about how political debate occurs on social media in the 21st century on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media platform. Imagine that social media existed during the 1790s when the French Revolution was occurring. Imagine that Burke, Wollstonecraft, and Paine used social media to conduct their debate over the French Revolution instead of writing pamphlets. How would the debate go? Method of production: Use a slide program, such as PowerPoint, to start with Burke makes the first statement and then Wollstonecraft and Paine responding to him. (10 slides).
Other Notes: Use direct quotes from this week’s reading as much as you can. I understand that you’ll have to invent some postings, but make the postings seem like something the author would truly say. Direct quotes from the readings can help with authenticity.Even though Wollstonecraft and Paine didn’t communicate directly with each other in these pamphlets, imagine them liking each other’s comments or responding to each other. Emoticons are perfectly acceptable since they are commonly used today.
Purpose of Assignment:
The purpose of this assignment is to illustrate that fierce political debate has been going on since long before the advent of the Internet or social media. As the three readings for this week illustrate, people have always been passionate about events that are going on in the world around them. People that consider themselves smart have also never been shy about expressing those opinions. Additionally, Wollstonecraft and Paine both employ the ad hominem technique in their responses to Burke. People today say that people have become less civil towards other people whose political views are not in line with their own. Wollstonecraft’s and Paine’s personal attacks against Edmund Burke are clear evidence insults are not a new tool of debate. The big difference between the late eighteenth century and now is that the debate doesn’t stop with the name calling. Unlike social media debates today, Wollstonecraft and Paine do follow those personal attacks with logical arguments that counter Burke’s claims.
RUBRIC: Understanding the Points of the Debate(50 points): The finished product should demonstrate that the student has a clear grasp on what Burke’s arguments are for protesting the French Revolution and what Wollstonecraft’s and Paine’s counter arguments are in support of the Revolution.
Use of Quotes (20 points): Using direct quotes from the readings will ensure the authenticity of the dialogue among the participants.
