Assignment Question
Directions Write a 2- to 3-page paper in response to the following prompt. The paper needs to adhere to academic conventions as well as demonstrate a commitment to critical thinking and revision. Produce paragraphs that range from 8-12 sentences; limit “be” verbs (is, are, was, were) to 3 per page; keep sentences between 15-25 words; include at least 1 short quote (a line) per paragraph, including the introduction; avoid formulaic topics-based approaches (aka the 5-paragraph essay); omit conclusions that summarize. Additionally, the “body” paragraphs need to follow the Uneven U structure (see notes from lecture).
Assignment Drawing on both Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, write a paper that responds to the following question: How are the theories of human nature and government posited by Hobbes and Locke relevant today? To be successful, your response should avoid a formulaic (5¶) or list-like approach. Instead, you will want to advance ONE central argument about their respective theories. Keep in mind that this paper does not take a position in the clichéd sense of the term: you are not arguing for or against these theories, who is right and who is wrong, who you agree with or you disagree with, etc. You may want to focus specifically on Hobbes’s and Locke’s respective conceptualization of human nature and/or their political “solution” to their views of human nature. To be successful on this assignment, you will need to synthesize their ideas within paragraphs. At the most basic organizational level, you will need the following elements to get started: THESIS, PURPOSE, and 2-3 CLAIMS. Next, you will want to seek out EVIDENCE (quotes) to support your argument and sub-claims; then, finally, you will need to provide analysis and commentary explaining and “proving” your THESIS. Additional Notes Be sure to provide an explicit thesis and purpose statement in/near the introduction. To get started on this task, follow the following templates then revise to expand and/or connect: This paper argues ____________________. The purpose of this paper is _________________. Keep in mind that the thesis states what the paper as a whole sets out to prove or show.
For the purpose statement, avoid simply repeating the assignment prompt. You will need to consider what makes your argument significant as you write and complete it. It might be worth writing tentative thesis and purpose statements as placeholders until you develop a full understanding of your own argument; them, revise them when done. Format Times New Roman or Garamond 12-point 1″ margins (top, bottom, left, right) Double Spaced Omit header info (no name, date, class name, etc.) Academic Title Page Numbers in Upper Right Hand Corner (in the header) Note: papers unable to meet these basic requirements may receive a 5% penalty.
