Thucydides highlighted the erosion of both ethical standards and strategic rationality in a democratic system engaged in a protracted war against a hated adversary. Does that classical insight apply to the United States as the war against Japan unfolded from 1941-1945? 4. Style / Format a. Considerable latitude is granted in the area of style as long as the one used facilitates clear and accurate presentation of the material and is consistent. b. The preferred style for these essays lies somewhere between that of a research paper and a classical essay. Webster defines the essay as “An analytic or interpretative literary composition usually dealing with its subject from a limited or personal point of view.” Random House defines the word essay as: “A short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.” It defines the word essayistic as: “Of, pertaining to, or like an essay, especially in style, format or organization and often reflecting a more personal approach than a treatise, thesis, or the like.” c. While these definitions do suggest a somewhat less structured style than for the research paper, the essay should conform to the following requirements at a minimum: (1) Eight (8) full pages (approximately 2400 words) (2) Typed double space (3) Times New Roman 12-pitch font (4) One (1) inch margins top, bottom, both sides (5) Number all pages consecutively throughout the essay (6) Bind or staple at the upper left corner (if hard copy submitted) (7) Use direct quotations sparingly (8) Document reference material as directed by the seminar professor, using some recognized form for footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations. (9) Reproduce the essay question as it appears in the syllabus on the cover page (10) Divide the essay into component parts, labeling the thesis, conclusion, and the main areas of discussion in the body of the paper, if necessary to organize your thoughts and produce a well-organized essay. (11) Notes, bibliography, or title page will not be counted toward the page requirements (i.e., only pages with the actual essay will be included). d. Students should refer to some recognized style manual or writing guide for guidance on correct usage and acceptable convention. Manuals for this purpose include, but are not limited to: (1) The Chicago Manual of Style. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1906-2017 (Seventeenth Edition). (2) Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Any edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (3) John C. Hodges and Mary E. Whitter, Harbrace College Handbook. Any edition. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. 157 (4) Walter S. Achtert and Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Style Manual, 1986.
