Term Paper Assignment—Classical Political Theory
Dr. Covington, Fall 2007
Overview
Each student will write an 8-10 page term paper for this course. The purpose of the paper is to provide each student with an opportunity to engage an area of research in classical political theory at greater depth than is possible in the short response papers due each week. This depth will entail detailed analysis of the text in question and the use of scholarly texts that shed light on the inquiry. Each student’s paper should go through several stages of composition, each of which will be included in the final paper.
1) Articulate a topic/problem: Using an academic journal database (JSTOR and EBSCO would be good starting places), search for journal articles on an author/topic combination that you find interesting. For example, you might search for articles on Aristotle and coercion, Plato and the state, Augustine and virtue, Aquinas and natural law, etc. Once you have a manageable list of articles, begin scanning their abstracts, introductions, and conclusions to identify something that catches your interest. (If, in the course of your reading or class discussion, you have already identified a puzzle or problem that you would like to pursue further, then this will guide your search for how to articulate the inquiry. Your puzzle does not have to come from a journal article, but how you articulate it should be rooted in the academic literature.) The goal of this step is to articulate a puzzle—a question about a political philosopher—that merits further inquiry. At the end of this stage, you should know what your “puzzle” is and why it is worth pursuing. A good puzzle might ask: “Is Plato’s Republic really about the soul or the city?” Or “Does Augustine ultimately de-value worldly politics?” Or “Is natural law the same for Augustine as it is for Aristotle?”
2) Build a bibliography of highly relevant sources: Identify no fewer than seven academic sources (journal articles, books, book chapters) that speak directly to the issue you want to resolve. The bibliography of any highly relevant source will be a great starting point for finding other good sources. Again, relevance is the hallmark here.
3) Write a literature review: This should sum up very succinctly what other scholars have concluded regarding the subject of your inquiry (i.e., your puzzle).
4) Re-articulate your puzzle and formulate a hypothesized answer: does existing research resolve the issue completely? Does it cause you to adjust your original question at all? Does it leave a major question unanswered? You should offer a one-sentence re-statement of your puzzle in light of the literature review, followed by your best guess as to the answer (your thesis).
5) Write the main body of the paper: The bulk of your paper should seek to answer your research question/puzzle in light of the best evidence you can find. This will involve both scholarly literature (in more depth than your literature review) and your own critical engagement with the philosophical text in question. Craft an argument that accounts for the best evidence on each side of your research question. Where a Christian perspective sheds unique light on your subject, highlight themes that reveal this analytically and objectively, as opposed to comparing the text to Scripture/doctrine. (I.e., demonstrate with your analysis any difficulties with unbelieving views of God, reason, human nature, etc.)
6) Write a conclusion: Is your question resolved? Re-state your conclusions succinctly, and relate them to your question and thesis. Does your conclusion offer any meaningful implications for political life?
7) Revision and Polishing: Every paper should go through multiple rounds of revision, editing for content, clarity, grammar and usage. I highly recommend peer-review from others in the class, in tandem with using the writing center in the library. Remember: be clear, brief, and precise.
Dates:
Initial Topic & Annotated Bibliography Due: Tuesday, October 30 (1 paragraph, plus annotated bibliography)
Final Draft Due: Friday, December 7th at 5:00pm @ Deane Hall 201 (as per syllabus)
Format: 12-point font, standard margins (1-1.25in.), double spaced, in-text parenthetical citations with a works cited page, 2400-3000 words (absolute limits)—put word count on front page.