HUMN 3375 IDEAS IN TRANSITION: LOVE FINAL
(DUE December 9th by MIDNIGHT)
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Each of the questions presents opposing sides of a debate. Paper must affirm a thesis: the side of the debate that the paper will argue is the more valid position. This thesis should be affirmed in the title, intro paragraph, and the conclusion. Paper will test the thesis by devoting about half the paper to a consideration of the opposing position. The paper will thus devote about two pages to each side of the debate. Paper must employ transitions between the various parts of the paper especially when considering the opposing position, e.g. “Having first considered……, I will now consider ….. As a way of testing the merits of my thesis”. Paper should include a concluding paragraph in which the thesis is revised in light of the opposing arguments presented in the section of the paper that challenged the thesis.
Paper check list:
• Title that announces paper’s thesis
• Subtitle that states what works are being investigated in the paper
Sample title: “Antiheroic Achilles: An examination of the Warrior’s Honor Code in the Iliad”
• Word count, place after title: WC= total words (paper must be between 1250-1500 words). Longer is ok, but make every word count.
• Citation count, place after word count: Citations = total number of parenthetical citations in paper (paper must have at least 6 citations from the course readings). Any idea that did not develop from your brain must be cited.
• Cite using line rather than page numbers when you have these.
• More than three words taken from a source must be set within quotes, cited, and followed by your explanation of what the quote means and how it relates to the paper’s argument—never let a quote speak for itself! Note that one should only use a quote when the exact wording is vital to the argument; slim these so that the quote does not run more than three or four lines. If the exact wording is not needed, the idea may be summarized and cited without a direct quote.
• Introductory paragraph that affirms the paper’s thesis as a resolution to the problem posed in the prompt question. A thesis is an argument; it thus cannot be in the form of a question or present multiple possible solutions to a question.
Sample thesis sentence: “This paper will prove that Achilles is not a hero since he acts selfishly.”
Sample of testing the thesis: “After discussing multiple instances of Achilles’ selfish behaviour, I will test my thesis by examining instances where he does act heroically.”
• Thesis Section (About 2 Pages) is where you prove the papers thesis by quoting, citing and analysing passages that support your argument.
• Antithesis Section (About 2 Pages) is where you consider opposing arguments that challenge your thesis. The antithesis section should be grounded by quoting, citing, and analysing passages that support the opposing argument.
• Concluding paragraph in which the results of the analysis are affirmed. This may require some revision of the thesis in light of evidence and arguments raised in the section where the thesis is tested.
• Transitions that setup the various parts of the paper.
Sample transition: Having first considered Achilles’ unheroic behaviour, I will now examine passages where he does act heroically as a way of testing if my thesis is true.”
• Grammar and spell check (double check foreign words or characters’ names that might not be in the spellchecker). Paper should be free from run on sentences, sentence fragments, and employ proper punctuation. See writing lab for help with to ensure paper is free of these issues.
• Bibliography of works consulted (use any system you like for formatting: MLA, Chicago, or APA).
• Unlike part A on the homeworks, the papers are not a personal reflection based on opinion. Papers must be an objective study of the class reading as documented by careful analysis of selected passages and textual citations to the course readings.
Grading guidelines:
• Papers will solely be evaluated by demonstrating engagement with the class reading. In light of this, students are strongly discouraged from using websites or other outside materials. That said, if any materials are consulted, these must be listed both within the paper and in the Works Consulted section.
• A=paper shows serious understanding and engagement with course readings; numerous citations; use of transitions between the various parts of the paper; strong academic writing style with no significant writing issues (free of grammar mistakes and other typos)
• B=paper shows understanding of the question, but arguments need more development and more engagement with course readings; some citations missing; insufficient transitions; minor writing issues
• C=Paper engages with the question and readings, but misunderstands or misrepresents course readings; undeveloped arguments; insufficient use of citations; below word minimum; significant writing issues
• D/F=Paper shows little engagement with course readings; misrepresentation of another author or web sources as original work; major writing issues.
Paper topics:
1. Despite similarly abstracting from particulars, Diotima and Don Juan present opposing views of love. For Diotima, the ascent toward higher love consists of an intellectual abstraction from particulars to universals. According to Kierkegaard’s reading, Don Juan abstracts from the particulars of his lovers in order to consume the totality of women. The thesis of the paper should defend one of these two positions as the true nature of love. The thesis should be tested by devoting half the paper to considering the merits of the opposing position. Arguments on both sides should be made by quoting, analysing, and citing Moliere’s Don Juan and Kierkegaard’s Don Juan’s Secret. The conclusion of the paper should attempt to revise the thesis in light of the arguments raised by the opposing position.