Humanity argumentative essay on bacon, luther or machiavelli | hum

Essays must be a minimum of 5 full pages in length (no more than 7),

includes one potential counterargument and respond to it.

required readings before writing:

Lucretius, On the Nature of the Universe, translated by Ronald Melville (Oxford, ISBN: 9780199555147)

Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince, translated by Tim Parks (Penguin, ISBN: 9780143105862)

Respond to one of the following prompts:

Prompt 1: In “The Freedom of a Christian,” Luther writes that the Christian is both a “perfectly free lord of all, subject to no one,” and a “perfectly dutiful servant, subject to all” (1). How does this description apply to Machiavelli’s characterization of an effective prince? 

Note: do not focus on the obvious differences between the texts — for example, that Machiavelli rejects Christian values as the basis for effective rule — but instead argue how the authors’ views on freedom are similar. 

Prompt 2: According to Lucretius(On the nature of universe) and Machiavelli(the price), how should we respond to a world in constant change? 

Note: argue how the authors’ views on this topic are similar.

citation:Cite Luther, and Machiavelli by page number. Cite Lucretius by book and line number. 

format: double spaced, time roman 12

• Thesis: 
  • Must be debatable 
  • Comes at or near the end of intro paragraph 
  • Argument and claim clarification (i.e. clarify why the claim is reasonable. This usually ties into your argument.)
• Argument driven: 
  • Each paragraph should advance your argument (rule of thumb: one main point per paragraph)
  • Only summarize where necessary. (If an entire paragraph only summarizes the text, do you need it?) 
• Paragraphs:
  • Quote from the text(s) to support your argument. 
  • Explain your quotes. Break it down and explain how you interpret the quote to support your argument. 
• Counterargument (C-A):
  • Is this a strong counter argument? (Is this something a reasonable-minded friend who you respect might argue?)
  • Signal the C-A (i.e. “Some may argue that…”) 
  • Respond to the C-A (i.e. “This perspective does not undermine the main argument because…”)
  • Usually a paragraph in length and should come right after the point to which it is most relevant 
  • (USUALLY NOT your intro, your first main body paragraph, or conclusion.)