Note on Two Assignments

One-Page Response due Tuesday April 22

(Note: no class meeting this Thursday April 17)

Content: Please turn in a one-page response paper concerning the public/private distinction as it arises in either Mill’s On Liberty or in Rawls’s Justice as Fairness. Describe the distinction as it figures in one of these texts and then very briefly describe or develop an argument for or against the distinction. Raise a problem—show why it’s good—describe what work it does—or what work it couldn’t do.

Format: I need one page double-spaced. If you want to type more then type up to one page single-spaced, but not longer. Include your name, email, and Student ID.

Clue: In Mill, look to the Harm Principle and to the Other-Regarding/Self-Regarding distinction. In Rawls, look to the idea of the basic structure and the idea of public reason (or public justification) as exemplifying a public sphere separate from the private sphere.

First Writing Assignment due Thursday May 1

Due on Thursday May 1 at the beginning of class and also via email (as Word DOC, PDF, or equivalent) to me at cwkoopman@gmail.com.

This should be a 3-4 page double-space argumentative essay on some topic in the Mill or Rawls reading. You can either defend an aspect of Millian liberalism or Rawlsian liberalism (or both). Or you can argue against either of these liberalisms (or both). An argumentative paper should lay out the view which is under consideration and then focus on advantages or disadvantages of that view. Whether you argue for or against you should definitely raise counter-objections to your thesis that will occur to your reader and respond to these (e.g., if you are attacking Mill, anticipate the Millian reply to your argument, and offer a counter-argument against the potential line of reply).

The best essays will draw on quotations from the Mill or Rawls reading, but do not quote them too extensively. Describe the idea in your words. Do not quote from the lectures but of course feel free to draw on ideas we went over in lecture (but turn the ideas into your own by offering them in your words). The very best essays will in addition draw on secondary literature but this is by no means a requirement and some ‘A’ papers will probably not make use of secondary literature in their paper.

In addition, there should be an extra page or two with an annotated bibliography of secondary materials that you research at the library or online. You must cover three secondary readings: articles in journals, chapters in books, or entire books. Offer full citations of the reading and a short (one paragraph) abstract or concise description of the reading, in your own words. The three secondary articles/chapters/books need to be relevant to the topic of your essay, of course.

If you are having trouble formulating a topic, then please email me or come see me in my office hour.