PROMPT:
You will write an MLA formatted essay which correctly incorporates in-text/parenthetical citations and is between 1250-2000 (AKA 5-8 pages, excluding your necessary Works Cited page).
Your essay MUST incorporate/synthesize at least three quotes from “Book VII” and or “Book VIII” of Platos Republic.
The final reminder for proper citation formatting can still be found on the Week 9 module page Speaking of Plato.
You MUST ALSO incorporate at least ONE DIRECT QUOTE from the “Oligarch” episode of Overthink and ONE INDIRECT QUOTE from one of the five unassigned sources the hosts mention (Plato’s Republicdoesn’t count–it’s an assigned source.)
Further information can be found in the Week 13.5 module of your 100S shell.
You MUST ALSO incorporate at least one quote from Gerard Baker’s Wall Street Journal editorial”The New Oligarchy Is a Vast Improvement on the Old” accessed via ProQuest (and cited as such).
Further information can be found in the Week 14.5 module of your 100S shell.
Finally, you must also quote any dictionary or encyclopedia’s definition of “oligarchy.”
Further information for proper MLA citing is in the Week 12.5 module of your 100S shell.
Failure to synthesize and/or cite all seven quotations will be grounds for failure, as explained in the Rubric below.
You may also incorporate/synthesize any other sources you need to make and support your argument.
ALL sources (required and not) must be correctly cited, both in-text (AKA, parenthetically and via signal phrases) and on a Works Cited page.
Your primary objective on this assignment is to develop and present a clear and cogent thesis statement of your own on America’s seeming shift toward oligarchy.
Whether you agree with Socrates that the oligarchy rises out of a devaluation of honor in timocratic souls writ large or disagree that an oligarchy will devolve into a democracy since the current state of American affairs can be argued as a democracy devolving (or perhaps evolving) into an oligarchy.
Whether or not you feel Socrates’ hierarchy of governmental systems is correct, whether oligarchies and/or democracies are a net positive or negative will shape your thinking on the issue, whether or not you agree with current political scientists, pundits, politicians, or general public views that America is becoming an oligarchy under President Trump’s second administration.
Your secondary objective is to support your thesis (A.K.A. argument) with an with a clearly discernible essay structure (refer to CH. 8 of Maats and OBriens The Straight-A Conspiracy and/or all 7 enumerated tabs on “The College Essay” page of the Week 3 Canvas module AND “The Writing Process for the College Essay” pages of the Week 4 module as necessary).
Yes, I gave this information to you all twice, PURPOSELY, hoping you’d read the information AT LEAST once.
Your tertiary objective is the accurate integration of all grammar, punctuation, and mechanics Mastery Skills studied in Professor Isaacs 100S class prior to the papers deadline AND fixing of your own numerically coded error types from essays #1-3. Success in this will help improve your final grade.
ASSIGNMENT LENGTH REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATION:
For Essay #4, you will be expected to turn in an approximately 1250-2000 word, tripartite essay (introduction, body, and conclusion). Note: 250 words is the equivalent of one typewritten/ word-processed, double-spaced page in 12 point Times (New Roman) or Courier or even Arial font. FORMAT:
Your essay must be MLA formatted (heading, title format, margins, font size and style, pagination, grammar as per chapters 7 and 58 of Hacker and Sommers Rules for Writers (10thed.), and requires formal MLA documentation (in-text/parenthetical citations with a Works Cited page).
Errors in formatting will affect at least the plus/base/minus portion of whichever letter grade your thesis and supporting structure earn (see RUBRIC, above). and depending on the severity, at this stage of the semester, they WILL LIKELY LOWER whichever GRADE your thesis and supporting structure earn.
