Paper 2 Assignment
POT 2002
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Assignment: Write a 1000 word paper (= 3-4 pages, double-spaced) on one of the
following topics:
1.) In The Prince, Machiavelli writes: And let no one resist my opinion on this
with that trite proverb, that whoever founds on the people founds on mud.
According to Machiavelli, how should a prince found on the people? How does
his advice ultimately benefit the people?
2.) Take a look of the foundations of the social contract in both Hobbes and
Locke. How do their different assumptions about human nature and the state of
nature inform their theories? How does this result in their different conceptions
of civil society/government? Identify and analyze at least two different
assumptions and speak about the implications for their theories.
Papers cannot be submitted by email under any circumstances
Guidelines for Papers
1. Your paper is supposed to be an interpretation of some aspect of the
work(s): in other words, an argument concerning some aspect of the work
based on analysis of relevant textual evidence. Your paper is not supposed
to be a summary of the work, a statement of your opinion about the work, or a
discussion of its historical significance or relevance. Frame your paper as an
investigation of why and how the author makes the argument he or she does
rather than simply saying what is said. Turn your topic into an argument.
2. Give a clear statement of your argument at the beginning of your paper.
3. Unify your paper with a single argument with a logical development from one step of
the argument to the next. Do not make your paper a collection of separate points or
examples.
4. Every time you state that the author states or argues something you should
have evidence to support your statement, either in the form of a quotation or a specific
textual reference. Only quote what you need for your purposes. Try to look at your
quotations as something more than mere evidence, and instead as material that you
can analyze (break down into its parts in order to interpret it) in order to make your
argument.
5. Use clear and simple language, but a formal style. Obscurity is not profundity. Make
sure that you know the meaning of the words you use. You are writing a formal paper,
not an email message. Avoid colloquial or chatty language. Do not use contractions:
not using them reminds you of the appropriate level of discourse for your paper.
Criteria for assessing your work:
1. Do you have a clear statement of your argument?
2. Do you provide relevant evidence?
3. Are your reasoning and writing clear and effective?
4. Do you demonstrate understanding of the work(s) you are analyzing?
5. To what degree do you address the most important questions and problems
posed by the work(s) you are interpreting?
Warning: If your paper is effectively a summary of the work rather than an interpretation
of it, then the best grade you can possibly receive is a C. If your paper is a statement of
your opinion about the work or a discussion of its applicability or relevance, then the
best grade you can possibly receive is a C.
Practical matters:
State your prompt
Double-spaced
12 point font
1 inch margins
Cite the works by page numbers in parentheses after the relevant reference
or quotation. If it is clear what work you are referring to or quoting from,
simply put the page number in parentheses. If you need to clarify which work
you are using, simply add the author. You do not need to cite the specific
edition of these works or include a bibliography, unless you are using a
different edition from the one assigned.
If you do use (consult or cite) any sources, add a bibliography.
Please put a word count at the end of the paper
