The paper (6-12 pages long) is due Thur., Nov. 6, in class.
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 Adam first.
The main focus of the paper should be, one way or
another, on texts we've read for this class, though you're welcome to
use other material also (including especially the recommended reading)
if it seems useful/relevant. If you do use outside sources, it should
go without saying that you must cite them, and provide enough
bibliographical information that I can figure out what they are. (For
sources from the required or recommended reading, title and page
number should be sufficient.)
I recommend an attempt to understand/explain/make
sense of the views of the authors we've read, rather than, say, an
attempt to make an argument of your own against them. (I recommend
this particularly if one or more of these authors rubs you the
wrong way or seems obviously wrong or uninteresting.) All of the
suggested topics below are along those lines. This is only a
recommendation, however: I suspect that an effort in this direction is
most likely to produce a good paper, but if you think you have a good
idea along other lines, go ahead and try it.