Due Week 4 and worth 100 points
Choose one (1) of the three (3) reading selections from the list
of topic choices below. The focus is on brief but important primary source
material written by major authors. Read the selections as identified with
each topic below. Write a three to four (3-4) paragraph essay (250 words
minimum) which analyzes the “surprise ending” of the reading selection.
Topic Choices
·
Reading
selection from Descartes’ Discourse on the Method (Part IV). Descartes begins
with a proof of one basic conclusion and ends with a proof of something
much grander. Remember to focus on the surprise and point of realization, not
the details of the philosophical argument. Read Part IV of the Discourse on the
Method located athttp://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/descartes1637.pdf (then scroll down to Part 4, pp. 14-18). This is
only four or five (4 or 5) pages of the larger work.
·
Reading
selection of Swift’s A Modest Proposal. It is essential to recognize the genre
of this work, as discussed in our class text, which you should consult and
cite. Swift promotes a radical solution, but subtle options are mentioned. You
are looking for surprise and a point of realization. Read and focus on A Modest
Proposal located athttp://www.victorianweb.org/previctorian/swift/modest.html.
·
Two
(2) reading selections from Voltaire’s Candide. Consider how these readings
start and end in terms of the action and the beliefs. You are looking for
surprise and a point of realization. These selections can be found on pp.
840-841 in the textbook. In addition, consult the class text at pp. 824-825.
For the reading selection you choose:
1. Clearly state in your own words the “surprise ending”
in the reading you selected. Clearly identify the point in the reading when you
realized that there were elements in the reading that surprised you. Not all of
the surprises come at the end.
2. Evaluate how successful the author was in convincing
you to accept the validity of the “surprise ending” that was different from
what you expected.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
·
Be
typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch
margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format.
Check with your professor for any additional instructions. (Note: Students can
find APA style materials located in the Additional Resources section of their
Student Center within their course shell for reference)
·
Include
a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the
professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the
reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
·
Use
the source(s) identified above for the topic you choose, focusing on the main
primary source of that author. You may use additional sources also if they are
of good academic quality for college papers (Wikipedia and similar websites do
not qualify). Use proper APA style in-text citing and also a matching APA style
References list at the end.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this
assignment are:
·
Explain
how key social, cultural, and artistic contributions contribute to historical
changes.
·
Explain
the importance of situating a society’s cultural and artistic expressions
within a historical context.
·
Examine
the influences of intellectual, religious, political, and socio-economic forces
on social, cultural, and artistic expressions.
·
Identify
major historical developments in world cultures from the Renaissance to the
contemporary period.
·
Use
technology and information resources to research issues in the study of world
cultures.
·
Write
clearly and concisely about world cultures using proper writing mechanics.
