READ THE ONLINE LINK BELOW
Socrates Speech, Plato The Symposium (read from the beginning to the end of Pausanias’s speech (http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html
Essay topic:
Compare and contrast two or three of the speakers in The Symposium. Which had the more persuasive conception of love?
How should the Essay be structured?
- Introduction and Overall Thesis (example: “This paper argues that A’s ideas provide us with a better understanding of love than B’s ideas. The essay will provide three arguments and counter-arguments in order to demonstrate the superiority of A over B. The paper will then conclude with recommendations for future research and social policy in light of the arguments provided.”
i. Argument (paragraph) (example: “A contends that love comes from our desire for immortality.”
Counter-argument (paragraph) (example: “In contrast B claims that comes from our desire for a soulmate”.
Reply (paragraph) (example: “A’s argument is superior because while love is a desire for a soulmate it is an aspiration to be with that soulmate forever”.)
ii. Argument, Counter-argument, Reply
iii. Argument, Counter-argument, Reply - Conclusion (Restate argument, counter-arguments, and replies.
Then discuss social and theoretical implications of the essay.
How is the Essay evaluated?
- Does the essay have a clear thesis statement?
- Does the essay provide at least three thoughtfully argued reasons for the thesis? (This includes counter-arguments)
- Does the essay have an adequate number of citations (20-30 citations from the Norton Anthology)?
- Is the essay well-written in terms of grammar, structure, and style?
- Does the conclusion restate the argument, the reasons, and the counter-arguments?
- Does the conclusion deal with the implications of the thesis, that is, does it propose better social policies or future research?
- Is the essay convincing? Why or why not?