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Topics for Analysis and Reaction Papers
Make-Up ARP's 13th ARP...due on Tuesday, April 24 _________________________________________________________________________________ 12th ARP......due on Tuesday, April 17 Read John Stuart Mill's The Subjection of Women. Summarize and critique the argumentation in one of the four chapters. If you were in class, you have an assigned chapter. If you weren't in class, pick the chapter that you would like to work on. The summarization should be less than half of your paper. __________________________________________________________________________________ 11th ARP.......due on Tuesday, April 10
After reading the assigned selections from Marx, describe Marx's conception of communism and evaluate its desirability. Do not focus on the issue of its possibility since the texts that have been assigned are not sufficient to allow you to effectively address this. If you wish to critique a specific aspect of the theory of alienation, you may do this instead. ____________________________________________________________________________________ 9th ARP.....due on Tuesday, March 27 or Defend a thesis about the romantic view of nature. In defending your thesis make use of at least two artists and two writers. For example, you might explain and defend your claims with reference to Turner, Friedrich, Goethe, and Wordsworth. ___________________________________________________________________________________ 8th ARP....due on Tuesday, March 20 Read Kant's essay "Perpetual Peace." If you disagree
with Kant, write an essay in which you show what is wrong with one or more of
his central arguments. If you agree with Kant, write an essay in which you
apply his views to a contemporary world situation such as the Iraq War.
7th ARP.....due on Thursday, March 8 View the film Amazing Grace that is now showing in some theaters. This film deals with the struggle for the abolition of the slave trade in Britain. Write a review of this film in which you defend a thesis. For example, you might evaluate how well this film does in truly coming to terms with the moral and human impact of the slave trade. In preparing to write this paper, please read at least Chapter 2 of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano. This text is available on the web. OR View Hogarth's series Marriage a la Mode that is briefly described in your text on p. 449. The entire six paintings can be viewed on the web. Click on the links at the right side of the page to view 2-6. Write a paper in which you discuss the meaning and cultural significance of these paintings. Be sure to argue for a thesis and to spend at least half your paper discussing your aesthetic evaluation of this series. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Read Locke's Second Treatise of Government, Chapters 2-8, 16, 18, and 19. How does Locke justify the right to revolution? In his argument, does he effectively rebut Hobbesian objectives? What is your considered judgment of his advocacy of a right to revolution? ___________________________________________________________________________________ 5th ARP....due on Tuesday, February 20 Read the selections from Hobbes' Leviathan in the Coursepack. Does Hobbes believe that it is morally acceptable to engage in aggressive warfare and conquest. Why or why not? Do you agree with him? Spend at least half of your paper evaluating Hobbes' arguments for his position. ___________________________________________________________________________________ 4th ARP......due on Tuesday, February 13 Construct an interesting thesis about Milton's Satan.
Here are some issues you might address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3rd ARP....due on Tuesday, February 6
2nd ARP .....due on Tuesday, January 30 Describe and evaluate the arguments in Bartolome de
las Casas' "In Defense of the Indians." You may make reference to other
assigned texts; indeed these texts will help you put this in context and will
help you understand the opposing arguments. However, be sure to focus on
presenting your evaluation of the arguments. Please note that you
should not simply focus on whether you agree with the conclusions; be sure to
look at the argumentation. or Discuss your view on whether the material you read for today
should be included in a text or reader on the Western humanities text. Be
sure to present arguments for your viewpoint. If you see flaws in our
current text, suggest how you would revise the text. (This assignment is
particularly appropriate for those who have already studied De las Casas.
Students picking this option should read the end of Chapter 13 since Spain is
featured more prominently there.)
1st ARP....due on Tuesday, January 23 Describe Botticelli's " The Birth of Venus." Formulate a thesis about the ways in which this painting is characteristic of Renaissance art. As part of your paper describe your own reaction to this painting. or Alternative assignment for students who have completed
120/230: Formulate a thesis about Raphael's "The School of Athens."
Discuss how this painting is characteristic of Renaissance art and what is tells
us about Renaissance self--conceptions and views of philosophy. the
following websites will help you identify the figures in the painting: |