I need at least 70% plus quality essay.1. Write a one page proposal (250-350 words) describing the topic you have chosen and the expected direction of your research. 2. Approximate Length: 3000 words (typically 10-12 pages) excluding title page and references.
SocSci. 1012: Second Essay Assignment
Due Date:
February 25 at 6:30pm via Moodle (as a Word .doc or PDF).
Late Penalty: 2% per day penalty (including weekends). Papers not submitted within two weeks
of the due date will be given a grade of 0%.
Length:
5-7 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1-inch margins; the
length does NOT include bibliography or title page – i.e. 5-7 pages of writing).
Instructions: -Papers are to be based on the course readings only: do NOT use outside sources
or do outside research. If you use outside sources or do outside research despite
being told not to, you MUST cite these sources. Failure to cite outside sources
constitutes plagiarism.
-You must include a bibliography with your paper.
-As part of your paper, you must complete the Academic Integrity Tutorial:
https://spark.library.yorku.ca/academic-integrity-what-is-academic-integrity/
and submit a completed copy of the Academic Integrity Checklist with your paper:
https://spark.library.yorku.ca/wp-content/themes/glendonits-spark20151125/resources/Academic_Integrity_Checklist.pdf
Citations:
You must include citations in your papers for direct quotes as well as portions of
texts you are paraphrasing. You can use any citation style you want, as long as it is
an official style and you are consistent in your use of it.
Answer ONE of the following questions:
1. Compare and contrast More’s and Hobbes’ accounts of human nature and its connection to
social or political possibilities. How does each understand human nature? What is human nature
like? Is it innate or nurtured by environmental factors? How do their understanding of human
nature inform what they see as being possible in the organization of human societies? Is More
more optimistic about social/political possibilities than Hobbes? If so, why? If not, why not?
2. Compare and contrast More’s and Rousseau’s critiques of private property. According to each
theorist, what is the problem with private property and what social problems does it produce? Why
and how does it disrupt social order? What problems and limitations to human freedom does it
create? According to each theorist, is it possible to remedy these problems? Why or why not?
3. Compare and contrast Hobbes’ and Rousseau’s accounts of the state of nature. How does each
conceptualize the state of nature? Why does Rousseau critique previous accounts of the state of
nature? Does it matter that he critiques them or does he ultimately wind up simply saying the same
thing as them in a different way? What is at stake in their different accounts of the state of nature
in terms of thinking about social organization?
4. I suggested that More’s Utopia was a dialogue about dialogue, which ended by opening the
dialogue up to readers to assess the ideas of Raphael and ‘More’ (i.e. the character in the book).
Write a paper that continues this dialogue. What problems does Raphael see as plaguing
contemporary England? How do the utopians solve these problems? What is ‘More’s’ assessment
of the utopian way of life? What is your assessment of these positions? Does More the author think
that utopia has some features that are meant to be taken seriously? Why or why not?
5. Compare and contrast the accounts given in Hobbes’ Leviathan and Rousseau’s Social Contract
(i.e. the reading from February 25th) of sovereign power in relation to freedom. How does each
theorist define freedom? Who or what is sovereign? Is there a difference between Hobbes’ absolute
sovereign and Rousseau’s general will? Are the people free in either account? Why or why not?
Potential/Contingent Extension Conditions
If you would like an extension until Friday, February 28 (6:30pm deadline) and a 1% overall
bonus mark, here are the non-negotiable, no-exception conditions (I will not respond to emails
regarding them – fulfill the conditions or submit the paper by the existing deadline):
1) You show up ON TIME and for the WHOLE: a) lecture on February 25; b) tutorial that week.
-If you are late or leave early, you will not receive the extension or the bonus mark.
2) You do all of the readings assigned for February 25 prior to lecture.
3) You submit a 1-2 page (double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font) assignment that
explains how you think Rousseau’s On the Social Contract relates to the Declaration of the
Rights of Man and Citizen.
-Note, this is NOT a summary of the readings. It is an explanation of how the readings fit
together. You must write this ON YOUR OWN. Assignments will be checked via
Turnitin and any use of online sources will result in you NOT getting the extension or
bonus mark.
You must submit the assignment electronically before lecture starts (i.e. submissions will be
closed at 4:30pm and late assignments will NOT be accepted) AND submit a paper copy at the
end of lecture to your tutorial leader. Remember, you must arrive on time to be eligible to
submit it at the end of class.
If you do these things, you will get an extension on the paper until 6:30pm on Friday, February
28th and you will receive a 1% overall bonus mark. If you do not, the deadline remains Tuesday,
February 25th at 6:30pm and a late penalty of 2% per day will be imposed thereafter.