This week I'm asking you to write the first of your short essays. As you might recall, 10 points of your course project grade comes from weekly posts and comments, and the other 10 points comes from a few longer assignments that I will give you over the course of the semester. Each of these will be worth 2.5 points: there will be four, for a total of 10 points.
The weeks that you have this assignment, you are not required to make your regular post. However, you are still required to comment on one of your fellow group member's short essay. These comments should be constructively critical and respond in some substantial way to the claim being made by the author. This comment will be worth 0.8 points and will count towards that week's weekly posting grade.
About the Course Project Response Essay Assignment
The essay is an opportunity for you to develop some of your ideas and impressions into insights, and articulate those insights in a brief argument. It should be 2-3 paragraphs long and have a specific focus: don't just summarize, but make a point backed up with evidence. This assignment is meant to be somewhat informal. It does not need to be a perfectly written essay of the sort you would write for a paper. It should not take you more than 30 minutes to write.
Before beginning, please read the more specific guidelines here.
For your first online posting, I'm giving you a choice of three topics.
1. From your study questions on Alberti: if you chose a particular painting you had wanted to talk about in terms of Alberti's writings, you can post an image of that painting and discuss it. You should choose one or two specific ideas from Alberti and talk about how the painting exemplifies the idea(s). In particular, give at least one quote from Alberti and be sure to discuss the painting in detail. Do not merely describe the painting -- you should analyze and evaluate it according to Alberti's ideas. You can also discuss your personal reactions to the painting. The more specific, detailed and original your discussion is, the higher will be your grade.
OR
2.Watch one of the five videos at the link here. After watching the video, develop some of your ideas here. Again, do not merely summarize: analyze and evaluate, record your own reactions, develop your own interpretations by connecting your responses to personal experience or things we have discussed in class.
OR
3. Choose a key idea from Machiavelli's The Prince and write an argument either supporting this idea or criticizing it and disagreeing with it. Support your argument with textual evidence (quotes) from Machiavelli and specific examples. Some suggestions for key ideas:
-Machiavelli's conception of "the people" as self-interested, fickle and disloyal
-His argument that a prince must always appear good, but be prepared to be evil if necessary
-His claim that some valuable ends (goals) justify means that may conflict with our basic values
-His argument about the influence of fortune on human affairs
This Assignment is due on Sunday, February 28 at 12:00 (noon, not midnight!).
Your comments are due on Tuesday, March 1 by 23:59.
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