Justice and Philosophy Assignment | Online Assignment
Option #1:
Use reliable sources to research a
specific
example of civil disobedience or
non-violent protest. In your essay, analyze the effectiveness of the protestors’
methods. (What tactics were effective or ineffective, and why? Did the protestors
accomplish their goals? If not, what were the results of their protests? Did their
protests bring greater justice or social change?)
Ideas:
Westboro Baptist Church,
WikiLeaks
, the Boston Tea Party, Cape Town
Peace March, Underground Railroad, etc.
Option #2:
What does
justice
mean? More specifically, what is the difference between a
just
law and an
unjust
law? Write an essay that creates an extended definition,
using
specific
real life evidence and examples to support your opinion.
Ideas:
Think of specific examples of just and unjust laws: what are the defining
characteristics of each? What are key differences? What are the goals or effects of
just laws? How are just laws created? How are they applied or enforced?
Option #3:
Another approved topic of your choice. Pick a topic that interests you
and
relates to our class texts and discussions of injustice, civil disobedience, or parody.
Your topic must be approved by the instructor before you begin to write. If you
write on an unapproved topic, you will earn a grade of zero on this assignment!
Specific Prompts:
1. What do you think Thoreau means by “conscience”? According to Thoreau, what should
the role of conscience be in government? Is it possible for a government to act out of
conscience? If a government did act out of conscience, how would it act?
2. What does Thoreau mean when he says, “I do not lend myself to the wrong which I
condemn” (730)? How does this belief become a way to seek reform? Is it an effective
means of reform? Why or why not?
3. When Thoreau is imprisoned, why does he say, “I did not for a moment feel confined”
(734)? What is he saying about the nature of the human mind? What part does the virtue of
his actions play in this assessment of his imprisonment?
4. King says that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (255). What does
he mean by this? How does this belief justify his actions and the actions of those seeking to
end segregation and other discriminatory policies? In what way does this belief contribute
to promoting respect for all people?
5. Describe the four steps in the process of non-violent action. Why is each step necessary?
How do these steps contribute to the overall effectiveness of the campaign?
English 1020
6. King states that “. . .segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality” (259).
What does he mean by this? In what ways is this true? Does this belief justify breaking the
law? Why or why not?
Minimum requirements to earn credit:
Length:
3-5 pages in MLA paper format (plus separate Works Cited page)
Documentation:
a Works Cited page and no plagiarism within the essay (you must
use quotation marks correctly, put summary/paraphrase in your own words, and
include signal phrases and in-text citations.)
Purpose
: To practice the steps of writing an essay – planning, drafting, revising, and
editing; to practice research and various rhetorical modes; to practice MLA documentation
and formatting; to use proper grammar and spelling.
Assignment and Format:
Choose one of the options on the Essay 2 Topics document
write an essay following MLA paper formatting and documentation style as discussed in
class. Use standard spelling, grammar, and diction.
Avoid
using first-person or second-
person terms (I/you).
Sources:
You must use and cite at least three credible sources (secondary sources).
You
may also use books, eBooks, database articles, and credible websites. Please note that
Wikipedia
, online dictionaries or encyclopedias, content farms, and most personal websites
do not count as credible sources. If you have a question about source credibility, please
ask.
Remember to incorporate quotations from the text (primary sources) and from your
research (secondary sources); be sure to correctly cite and document them. Include at least
one quotation from each source of research and at least two quotations from the primary
text.
You may NOT list any sources on your Works Cited page that you do not use in your
paper. Also, you may NOT use (through quotation, paraphrase, or summary) any sources
that you do not cite – this is plagiarism and grounds for failing the assignment.
Rough drafts:
Rough drafts due in class must be at least three pages, and they should be
typed and printed out before class begins to earn full credit.
Submission:
Submit your document in .doc, .docx, or .rtf format. Remember to review the
penalties for submitting a late paper that are listed in the syllabus. Do not email your essay;
submit it on
NS Online
through the Assignment Dropbox. (More detailed directions are
available as a document on the Content tab.)
English 1020
Grading:
This essay will be graded according to the course rubric, which is available on
NS Online
. You can earn up to 25 points per category for a total out of 100 points. This
essay is worth 20% of your final grade.
Extra help:
If you have a specific question that can be answered in an email, send me an
email. Please do not send me your entire paper in an email. If you need more help, stop by
office hours, ask for an appointment, or take your paper to the Learning Center for
suggestions.
