SSAY: INTRODUCTION AND THESIS SENTENCE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
Essays are exercises in persuasive writing. In every academic and professional setting you may
find yourself in, you will be expected to write (and speak) persuasively. Writing (and speaking)
persuasively is a skill that you can develop and master. To master this skill, one must become
adept at: stating clearly what position they want their reader (or listener) to adopt; using evidence
confidently and convincingly to support that position; and drawing compelling conclusions from
your evidence.
Every successful essay begins with a first sentence that captures the reader’s interest, continues
with an introductory paragraph that convinces the reader that the essay will say something
interesting and important, and closes that introductory paragraph with a clear thesis sentence that
states concisely the argument that the essay will make.
This Introduction and Thesis portion of the Essay Assignment is intended to help you develop
skill in writing a strong introductory paragraph and thesis sentence.
Your Essay Assignment in this course is expected to address the following prompt:
The two chief values in modern political and economic thought are liberty and equality.
In general, one modern narrative places the value of individual liberty most highly, and
argues that individual liberty is best promoted through some form of private property,
and best protected through a government of limited and defined powers. The other
modern narrative places the value of equality most highly and argues that equality is best
promoted through the limitation or abolition of private property, and best established
through a government possessing extensive and centralized powers. But both modern
narratives recognize that liberty and equality will never be perfectly balanced; one value
will always be dominant over the other.
Write an essay in which you explain why either liberty or equality should be the dominant
value in modern politics. Do we better secure both values of liberty and equality by
prioritizing liberty, or by prioritizing equality? What dangers might we foresee if we
prioritize the wrong value?
Defend your response by drawing from our assigned primary and secondary sources, and
by evaluating these arguments in light of Christian scriipture and teaching.
INSTRUCTIONS
Your Introduction and Thesis Sentence should be no fewer than five sentences. The first
sentence will be your introductory sentence, and the final sentence will be your thesis
sentence. Three or more sentences in between will demonstrate to the reader why the
subject of the essay is worth their attention.
Assignment should be completed in current APA format
No citations are necessary
No sources are necessary
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
