Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar ( IDS 175) TRUTH Response Papers

"I AM THAT I AM"

As you will come to know, or perhaps already know, reading and discussing sophisticated texts that deal with complex ideas (such as the nature of truth) constitute a first step in understanding; articulating that engagement and understanding to others in effective English prose poses a higher challenge. Therefore, as stated on the Course Information page, you will write three Response Papers (two for 2nd section) to allow for a somewhat more formal and cohesive examination of our readings. Each short essay will be approximately 1,000 words (just over three pages in MLA format).  Suggested topics and approaches will be discussed, and class time will be devoted to idea generation, focus, organization, and the mechanics of presentation. A sample MLA-formatted essay is available on D2L. See Plato topic suggestions here.

Although these essays are not full-length academic analyses, they should conform to the expectations of university-level writing in terms of voice, mechanics, structure, style, detail, evidence, and source use, all of which will be reviewed in class. Please also note the course and university guidelines with respect to plagiarism: Click Here.

Some initial suggestions:

1. Take effective notes on the readings, with page references for evidence;
2. Review the Study Questions for possible topics;
3. Begin to focus early on the issues, problems, question, etc., that you may want to explore (three pages is a short essay, given the complexity of our texts, so you must focus judiciously);
4. Share ideas with colleagues and instructors;
5. Remember that essays in the Humanities do not necessarily try to provide the answer or offer the correct interpretation; rather, they show what it means to ask the question in penetrating, stimulating, productive ways that illuminate the key issues raised by a text.