1. Roland proclaims: "The pagans are wrong and the Christians are right" (p. 61). Is the fundamental conflict in the Song of Roland a religious one?
Why or why not? If not, explain what in your opinion is the main conflict in the Song of Roland. Base your answer exclusively on your reading of the
Song of Roland.
Begin your essay by stating your answer and by briefly explaining its validity. Thus if you think the conflict is fundametally a religious one, explain why.
If you do not think the conflict is religious, state this clearly, identify the conflict, and explain why it, and not a religious conflict,
is the principal conflict in the Song of Roland. Analyze your primary source in support of your answer, i.e. your agrument.
2. What, in your opinion, is the most important element in the military ethos of the Middle Ages? Base your answer exclusively on your reading of the
Song of Roland.
Begin by identifying and briefly explaining the significance of that element of the military ethos that will serve as the focus of your paper.
Develop your answer through an analysis of theSong of Roland.
3. How would Machiavelli rate as a ruler the Charlemagne we encounter in the Song of Roland? Base your answer exclusively on your reading of
the Song of Roland and The Prince.
Before you begin to write, consider the main points of advice on political and military affairs that Machiavelli provides in The Prince. Then ask yourself
how close does Charlemagne as portrayed in The Song of Roland come to ruling in accordance with the principles established by Machiavelli.
In your essay, begin by stating your answer and by briefly explaining it. Then proceed with an analysis of the two primary sources to prove your answer,
i.e. your agrument. Devote roughly equal space to both sources. Ratings could include "successful," "effective," "ineffective."
Can you think of other examples of ratings?
4. In Civilization in the West, we read: "Humanism developed in reaction to the intellectual world that was centred on the Church and
dominated by otherworldly concerns. Humanism was secular in outlook, though by no means was it antireligious" (p. 350). Do you think this
statement applies to The Prince? Why or why not?
The question asks you to think about a particular interpretation of humanism and its applicability to The Prince. Your essay should demonstrate
a deeper, more detailed knowledge of humanism than is contained in the quotation from the textbook. That does not (necessarily) mean a concept of
humanism that contradicts the quote; it simply means a more elaborate knowledge of humanism than a brief statement about the nature of humanism.
Your focus, of course, should be on The Prince and to what extent the interpretation matches what you read in Machiavelli's book.
5. Was the Protestant Reformation a social and religious revolution? Base your answer exclusively on your reading of
The Obedience of a Christian Man.
Begin your essay by stating your answer and by briefly explaining what social and religious revolution would mean in the context of the sixteenth century.
(You do not need to quote a dictionary definition.) In the body of your essay, show whether or not Tyndale's book suggests that the Reformation was
revolutionary. Consider his concept of obedience.
6. Would Tyndale agree with Machiavelli's concept of political authority? Base your answer exclusively on your reading of The Prince and
The Obedience of a Christian Man.
This essay requires a comparison of the two sources mentioned in the question. Begin your essay with an answer to the question that states concisely
why or why not Tyndale would agree with Machiavelli. In the body of your essay, analyze the two sources in support of your answer, i.e.
your argument. Devote roughly equal space to both sources.
Some tips for writing essay answers
1. Carefully read the question that you choose to answer. Make sure you understand what it requires of you.
2. Answer only the essay question that you have chosen. Do not digress and write your essay on another topic.
3. Provide a clear answer to the question at the beginning of your essay. Your answer will be your thesis or argument.
4. Be consisent in maintaining your thesis throughout the essay. Do not contradict yourself.
5. Support your thesis with convincing and compelling evidence taken from your source(s).
6. The way you read your source(s) is utlimately a matter of interpretation, but you must never misrepresent or
misquote your source(s). In other words, you must not make your source say what it does not say. Misrepresentation of
a source is a serious error and constitutes a form of intellectual dishonesty.
7. When you quote from a source, provide the relevant context for the quotation so that your reader can
understand the quotation's significance. If you use a quotation to illustrate a point, make sure that the quotation actually
is relevant to the point you are making. Avoid stringing quotes together. Do not quote fragments that, on their own, make
no grammatical sense. When quoting, do not alter the text of your source in any way by, for example, adding or leaving
out words or changing the tense of the verb(s). When quoting from a source, adapt your own prose to the quotation, not
vice versa.
This page was revised on 29 October 2003
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