Overview
Goals:
To summarize one view concerning the ideal society (Confucius) or our actual society (Wollstonecraft and Marx).
Provide an argument that explains how this view (ideal or actual) understands the nature of social conflict.
Introduce a contemporary example to illustrate and strengthen your main argument.
Topic:
A central theme of the course focuses on the ideally just society and the problems found in actual society. Examples include Confucius’ just society with its associated class structure and virtues and Marx’s view of the economic structure and its role in shaping class conflict. In this assignment, you must begin by discussing either an ideal or actual view of society, giving details concerning its overall structure. You then need to develop an argument that explains how this view makes sense of social conflict. In order to further strengthen your point, you must use a contemporary example that supports your claim.
To answer this question, you must choose one reading from the following: The Analects, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, or The Communist Manifesto. The choice, order, and exact topic of the body paragraphs are up to you. When completing this assignment, think of yourself as writing for someone already familiar with this class and the course texts. You could consider your audience as a classmate who has attended our classes and been exposed to the same class materials you have.
The purpose of this assignment is to show your knowledge of one view of society, and independently investigate how this approach can be seen as applying to contemporary life. Think of your assignment as showing how some of these ideas about the common good can be applied to the world we now live in.
Submission:
This assignment is due on Thursday, July 25th by 5pm. Submit your paper on Canvas. Your assignment should be at least 1200 words; there is no upper word limit. Your assignment should be double-spaced, Times New Roman font, size 12; include a word count at the end of your essay; and number the pages of your paper. Late writing assignments will be penalized as described in the syllabus.
Preparing your assignment:
Review class notes, handouts, and your notes and annotations. Reread your chosen readings. Look for relevant details that help you characterize your choice of ideal or actual society. Think about how the set-up of the society leads to conflict. Then consider how it applies to the modern society. Think of a recent example that illustrates the way this view of social life highlights social conflict and social problems.
Criteria for successful completion of assignment:
Review the writing assignment rubric attached to the syllabus, as your assignment will be graded according to this rubric.
Complete an outline before you start writing, and write more than one draft before the due date.
Your essay should contain an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
The introduction should have a thesis statement clearly indicating your answer to the essay question.
The essay will reflect strong analytical skills and sophisticated understanding of both texts and the questions about struggle and change they raise.
The essay should be free of grammar mistakes and convey ideas in clear and correct Standard English.
The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay.
Students are encouraged to meet their instructor during office hours for further writing support. The Teaching and Learning Center (Azabu Hall Room 209) can also help students plan, edit, and revise writing assignments.