ASSIGNMENT 1

CRITICAL HISTORIES OF THE ARTS 62-100 Carnegie Mellon University Spring 2011

Your assignment is to write a comparison and contrast paper of 3-4 pages (900-1500 words) using any the assigned supplemental readings thus far including Aristophanes and Pericles (consider Pericles the author of this passage, even though it is technically Thucydides). You may also use Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream speech. (http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html) You may make reference to passages in Fiero, if necessary, but you should not use that text as a primary example. Your paper should have a clear introduction, body and conclusion as well as a clearly stated thesis at an appropriate point near the beginning. You should use the words and ideas of your authors to elucidate a greater point about a common theme between them. Do not simply summarize their writing. Rather, describe their primary points and the strengths or shortcomings of their views. A comparison between speeches of Pericles and King, for example, will elucidate an argument about the nature of political freedom. Because you are drawing from a limited number of specifically known sources, you do not need to use footnotes or endnotes. Still, your text should introduce your authors appropriately and make very clear who says what. You need to be clear about point of view. Does your author convey a clear opinion on the subject at hand, or would a reasonable reader have a particular opinion? Your aim in this paper is to write clearly. Complex ideas work best when writers use lucid prose. This paper is due February 4. All grading criteria and late penalties as listed in the syllabus will apply.