The permitted length of the essay is between 2000 and 2500 words, including references, quotations and a bibliography. Your essay must have a clear title.
Please treat the assigned reading as the basis for formulating a valid research question (or two research questions, at most) connected to the theme of political obligation. You must engage any two other scholarly sources related to the research question/s you have identified. Your engagement and familiarity with these three sources must be sufficiently demonstrated in the submitted essay.
You may use more sources if required but it is vital to dwell on the main research question/s and to develop strong and sound arguments. So, make sure to draw only upon relevant scholarship that will help you to make meaningful arguments (in your own words) related to the research question/s within the permitted word-limit.
Your research question/s must reflect an issue that can be probed and that allows you to engage in a detailed discussion with clearly identifiable arguments and counterarguments. All claims and counter-claims must be backed by clear reasoning. Overall, the essay will be graded for the strength of its research question/s; for the strength of the arguments and counterarguments; for coherence and clarity in the organisation and presentation of the materials; for writing style (including the title); and for the provision of adequate and appropriate references and citations.
Please ensure to write the essay in your own words, and to supply appropriate citations and references for all the materials you will be drawing from. All references should be provided fully — with details of page numbers (not just the general page-range of an entire essay but relevant specific page numbers). You can follow any style for references and citations but please make sure you do so systematically.
