The prompt:
Consider our readings and discussions thus far on the texts in our “Government” module (Jefferson, Lao-tzu, Yoo, and Machiavelli). As we noted in class, many of us like to think that our political views are a result of deep, objective thought and nothing more; nevertheless, after reading a few political texts, we learned that the concerns of the authors seemed to be influenced by a number of external factors, perhaps even factors that were transparent to the authors themselves. Using at least two of the this module’s required readings as evidence, in a well-developed, thesis driven essay of no fewer than 750 words (the rough equivalent of 3, typed, double-spaced pages), respond to one of the following three options:
Discuss and analyze how one’s political ideology is a product of the historical/cultural environment in which one lives (personal circumstances, religious views, family climate, national identity, gender/sexual identity, etc. can all apply here as well).
How does our culture, our national identity, personal circumstances, current events, etc. influence our opinions on government, its role in the lives of the governed, etc.
How can we analyze a system of government to infer its architects’ cultural, social, and/or historical circumstances?
Be sure to use concrete examples from your cited sources and analyze those examples to show how they support/prove your thesis.
Requirements:
MLA style throughout (do your best if you are not yet familiar with MLA style. Your command of MLA style will not impact your grade on this essay)
750 words minimum (roughly, don’t bother counting)
Paragraphs focused around your own ideas
Textual evidence used to support your own claims
Close analysis of textual evidence
Sophisticated inter-paragraph transitions (transitions that express the relationship between paragraphs, as discussed in class)
Resources
Decloration of independence
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
John Yoo’s With all necessary and appropriate force
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jun-11-oe-yoo11-story.html
