mattmns said:
How did medieval and early modern Europeans attempt order and explain their lives and experiences? Which sources of authority did they consider to be most important? Which sources of authority actually exercised the strongest influence over their decisions? Please address the importance of ancient authorities (classical Greek and Roman as well as early Christian writings), the ideas of their immediate predecessors (other medieval and early modern people) and their own inspiration and innovation. What does your answer tell you about Western Civilization?
With the following theme: Limits and meaning of human knowledge
:groan:
"History class" ??
Honestly, this definitely sounds more like an "English/literature class" topic/paper
Heh...well, the only essays I procrastinate on are those that are either
1) "Rigged"--meaning that the discussion within your essay rests on a foundation of assumptions, often which you can very easily invalidate--but you have to "accept anyway" (because the teacher/class says so).
2) "Must relate to some literature"--usually these are also rigged; however, the "foundation of assumptions" (that you have to "accept") is often extremely easy to falsify. A lot of BS must follow, but fortunately, (however hypocritically!) English/literature classes allow appeals to authority to authors and writers. Often, such essays involve drawing conclusions about "reality" from fictional scenarios.
(Interestingly enough, literary authors/writers do not have to abide by the principle--"the burden of proof is on the individual making the claim". Which translates to: "the burden of proof is on the individual student in English class.")
3) "Limited persuasion"--essays where you must take a position on some argument. The only problem is, the teacher limits what "positions" you may take (a common position denied to students is "No opinion due to a lack of evidence, which I shall now expand upon").
4) "Limited argument"--essays in which the argument...is not really worth an essay. In other words, the argument is not so complex/detailed/comprehensive that it requires an entire essay to explain.
5) I can greatly elaborate on the current list I have so far, and list many more types of essays here...(but I am out of time! Actually, I have to prepare for a certain upcoming AP exam)
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*By the way, mattmns:
Do your 8-12 pages have to be
double-spaced?
~>In which case, your assignment is just a basic four-six page essay
(nothing much at all!). Given the breadth of your essay topic, 4-6 single-spaced pages is really...nothing much at all.
Unless...your 8-10 page paper must be
single-spaced--in which, your essay arguement/discussion would be much more extensive. And you have a good assignment on your hands.
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Well
...
Honestly, I
despise the whole notion of "double-spacing". No published book, article, textbook, or essay is double-spaced. Anytime I hear "X" quantity of pages--of
any written work--I expect normal,
single-spaced writing.
bomba923 said:
Unless...your 8-10 page paper must be single-spaced--in which, your essay argument/discussion would be much more extensive. And you have a good assignment on your hands.
8-10 pages
single-spaced, mattmns?
*Also--just to restate--your essay topic
SERIOUSLY sounds like something that would come from an English/literature class...certaintly
NOT from a history class.
Among other aspects, note the particular emphasis (in the topic) on some external "significance" of the history/events----as opposed to merely the history itself (which would otherwise warrant an expository, as opposed to a persuasive, essay), on specifically,
your individual perspective of the implied "significance".
Just google for it, medieval church, medieval european and feudalism. It's all simple.
And, actually, it's to leave room for comments while grading or editing. The 10-page essay is a fairly standard length, this one just seems to have some room for individual variation. 
Your teachers and professors know all those tricks already. 
