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Instructions

The paper (4-6 pages long) is due Wed., Feb. 26, in class.


As was the case last quarter: the below topics are suggestions. If you want to write on another topic, feel free to do so. It might be a good idea, however, in that case, to check with me and/or the writing intern first.


Note that the topics tend to have many sub-questions. You need not (and probably should not) try to answer all of them. (You certainly should not just answer them one after another in order--that would make a bad paper.) I put them there to suggest various directions for thinking about the topic, and in particular to head off superficial or excessively simple ways of thinking about it.


This paper is supposed to be related to the material we're reading up through Descartes's First Meditation. Whichever topic you write about, you should try to use both Descartes and Cervantes. If you want, in addition, to refer to things we read after the First Meditation (or to anything else, for that matter--e.g. things we read last quarter) you should feel free to do so, as long as (this is important) it is still clear that your paper was written for this course. (If you want to write on a topic that does not involve both Descartes and Cervantes, you should definitely check with me; if you do check with me, moreover, I'll almost certainly discourage you from doing this.)


As usual, the intent of the paper is to discuss the views or attitudes manifested in the reading, rather than your own opinions on the topic. Of course you can't and shouldn't completely keep your own ideas out of it, but your argument as a whole (and thus your thesis) should aim at establishing something about what the authors and/or their characters mean.


If you're using the editions I ordered, you can refer to the readings just by giving the page number. If you use a different edition and/or some other source, please give at least enough bibliographical information that I can find it if necessary. There's no need for a separate bibliography or title page.


next up previous
Next: Suggested Topics Up: HUMA 11600, Winter 2003, Previous: HUMA 11600, Winter 2003,
Abe Stone 2006-01-03