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Political Theory: Ancient and Medieval

Reading    Discussion      Writing

 

Reading

There is a lot of reading in this course, all of it primary source material—and some of it is quite difficult. You are expected to have done the reading assigned for each class period and be prepared for discussion. If you have not done the assigned reading, you may be asked to leave the class. Most of the reading is in a single text available for purchase at the bookstore. Short additional readings will be available on Blackboard or will be distributed in class.

Steinberger, Peter J., ed. Readings in Classical Political Thought. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2000.

Discussion

Discussion is very important in this course. The quality of your verbal participation will account for 25% of the final grade. Please bring the assigned reading to class for reference.

A portion of each day is reserved for a class debate on some issue raised by the day’s readings. The class will divide into two teams, each taking a different position. Your goal in these debates will be to convince (with good arguments) the other side that your conclusion is correct. Students must come in with a proposed debate question every day.

Writing

I. Two papers

Students will write two 7-9 page essays on topics chosen in consultation with the instructor. The papers will be due October 23 and December 18. I will be happy to read and comment on any drafts of papers presented to me at least a week before either paper is due. Each paper counts for 25% of the final grade.

II. Commonplace Book

On the day before each class, you will complete at least four entries into your online commonplace book on the class Blackboard page. A commonplace book is a kind of conceptual diary that contains your ongoing reflections on the reading.

Your commonplace book should be divided into different sections labeled with a distinct concept, such as "Truth," "Power," "Liberty," "Trust," "Justice," etc. Make up your own section headings as you go along. You may add a new section whenever you please.

Most entries will begin with a short quotation or paraphrase from the assigned reading (with an informal citation of page number) followed by your own reflections on the idea. Eventually, your diary should include comparisons of different theorists with regard to a number of concepts of interest to you together with your own extended reflections. For example, under the heading "justice" you might eventually have entries about Thucydides, Plato, Aquinas, Cicero, etc. while under the heading "women" you might eventually have entries about Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, etc.

The commonplace book counts for 25% of the final grade.

Commonplace Book Commandments

 1.

Always type your entries first in a word processor to check spelling and to keep a secure record in case of a Blackboard failure.
 2.

Complete at least four new entries per week.
 3.

Make your writing clear.