Overview
- Read; Ebrey, “Philosophical Foundations: The Eastern Zhou Period” (until “Confucius’ students — and their students,”) pp. 38-43, as well as “The Analects” inset on pp. 46-47
- Read: The Analects; pp. 16-30
“The Analects” collects a number of Confucian sayings that are characterized by many as containing valuable advice that transcends culture, place, and time period. However, another way of reading this text is by seeing it as purely the product of its era, which was one of longing for the past, warfare, and uncertainty. Drawing from the assigned readings, which of these (eternally valuable or product of its time) do you find to be the more accurate description and why?
Approximate Length: 500 words
Even though this is a graded-for-completion assignment, do try and recall the following assessment criteria as you write:
- Argument (is there an argument or merely description? Is it compelling?)
- Use of Evidence (is the text examined? Does the argument relate?)
- Critical Thinking (is there a skeptical perspective?)
- Structure and Coherence (topic sentences, paragraphs? Tangents?)
- Mechanics (How is the grammar? Are the basic criteria met?)
- It's okay to use the first person ("I think, I argue, I believe")
- Followup: it helps me see what you're saying vs. the texts you are analyzing
- Respond directly to the prompt (USE DIRECT QUOTES)
- Have an argument
- Address the prompt
- Be coherent / don't try to address too much
- Don't forget to double-space