Human Rights Seminar S07

Guide for the evaluative essays

Students are expected to submit twelve, 250-word essays during the semester. Together, these will count as 25% of your course grade. I will assign six of the articles; the remainder will be at your discretion. Essays are due at the beginning of the class period in which the corresponding reading is discussed. Note: this is a strict length limit – roughly speaking, 250 words is one page typed and double spaced.

Each essay should be a critical evaluation of one point made in the corresponding reading. Given the limited length, you will need to select very narrow topics for your critical evaluation – students are strongly encouraged to discuss and clear their topics with me prior to writing. Your evaluation should include (1) a brief recap of the claim presented in the reading, (2) an explanation as to why the matter is problematic, and (3) either a brief outline of how the problem may be resolved or of the repercussions of the leaving the matter unsettled.

Ideally, your evaluative essays should be able to stand on their own – that is, based solely upon your essay someone unfamiliar with the class or subject matter should be able to grasp the issue at hand, why it is problematic, and an explanation of a possible resolution or of the problem’s repercussions.

As “experts,” those submitting essays will be expected to take the lead in our general discussion of the articles on which they have written.

Needless to say, these essays must be typed and double-spaced and submitted at the beginning of class on the date due.