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. |