Miami University

Greek and Roman Philosophical Authors

CLS317

Carrie Galsworthy

Your roommate is interested in ancient philosophy, but her schedule was not flexible enough to take the course. She frequently asks about the various authors you are reading. One day she asks,

“Why do certain themes recur in ancient Greek philosophy?”

Task

You realize that your roommate has given you an opportunity to bring together the various strands that you have been studying all term long. Choose one theme that has interested you in particular and try to postulate why this theme held interest for so many generations. Your paper must have two parts: 1) a brief chronological development of the theme you have chosen and 2) an analysis of why that theme may have prominent.

Format

Write 7 to 8 pages in dialogue format (remember Plato?) between you and your friend. She has some familiarity with the topic from talking with you, but she is not an expert in the field. In this dialogue you will convince your friend that the theme is interesting and significant, and that your reason for its significance is persuasive.

Process

1. Choose a theme. Develop your research question and solution (thesis statement) and discuss with me before date 1. See page 2.
2. Keep a journal that chronicles your research of the theme. Bring this journal (it doesn’t have to be in a separate notebook) to class on date 2 and when you hand in the final paper.
3. Write a letter that explains to another reader why he should find this question significant as well as problematic. What is your solution and why is it convincing? Bring this letter to class on date 2. You will pair up with a colleague from the class to review one another’s work.
4. Write a one-page abstract (see page 2) for your dialogue that outlines your theme and illustrates why it is significant. Use feedback from your peer review session. Due date 3.
5. Final paper due: date 4.

Criteria

• Quantity of analysis: Has the student covered the full historical development of the theme?
• Quality of narrative: Is the student sensitive to nuances in the theme? Does the student use literary evidence in support of the thesis?
• Engagement with problem: Does the student draw connections and address complex issues?
• Readability: Is the writing clear and connected? Does the student address grammar and spelling issues?

Appendix: Explanation of terms

Thesis Statement

The thesis is the controlling idea in a paper and is often located at the end of the introduction. A good thesis statement does more than state the obvious (e.g., This paper is about the recurrence of theories of perception.); it says something about the topic. The following set of questions may make your task of developing a thesis statement easier. Bring this to our meeting before date 1.

1. What puzzle or problem initiated your thinking about X?

2. Before reading my paper, my readers will think this about my topic: _____________________

______________________________________________________________________________

But after reading my paper, my readers will think this new way about my topic: _____________

_____________________________________________________________________________

(Paradigm: Most people think X, but I am going to argue Y.)

3. The purpose of my paper is _____________________________________________________

4. My paper addresses the following question: ________________________________________

5. My one-sentence summary answer (or thesis statement) to the above question is: ___________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Abstract

An abstract summarizes the contents of a paper for the reader. This is an important document because it is often on the basis of the abstract that the reader decides whether it is worth his or her time to continue reading. Present the topic so that it is appealing to the reader whether it contributes to an existing question of interest; presents new information of interest; or, addresses a topic of interest to others. Always keep this “big picture” or “So what?” factor in mind. This should be a persuasive document – it will persuade the reader to keep reading. This cannot be written until the research is done. One page is the customary length for such a document. See Blackboard® for some sample abstracts.

1. Introduce the topic by giving some background or context to the problem.
2. Describe the research question or hypothesis. The problem must grab the reader’s attention.
3. Emphasize conclusions and especially their significance. You should also focus on the evidence that supports the result.