Posted: 4/1/2008 5:26:03 PM EDT
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I am supposed to be writing on a set of texts which are all Medieval in nature. I was ordered to make it an argumentative essay, and after reading them (most of them are religious, suprise!) I noticed one thing they all had in common...this guy would be proud. So what did I start writing on? Below is my intro/proposal which I will hand in tomorrow. Good? Bad? Find something else? The Progression of Hatred: A Brief Examination of the Social, Economic, and Political Effects of Anti-Semitism in Medieval Literature. Introduction: This essay will analyze the affects that anti-Semitism in medieval literature had on the medieval world, and in doing so will demonstrate and examine several examples of anti-Semitism in the major texts presented. There are, before we continue, several questions which ought to be answered in order to assure that both the reader and writer of this work are on the same page. The questions which should be asked are: What is anti-Semitism? Is anti-Semitism as defined demonstrable in the texts in question? Finally, can the way in which literature was understood during the medieval ages directly be correlated to acts of anti-Semitism? These questions will be answered each in turn. The first question poised is that regarding the definition of anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism has previously been defined as “discrimination against or prejudice or hostility toward Jews.” This definition is large and encompasses a relatively, to this work, infinite amount of possibilities. It seems then that it would be expedient to both the reader and the writer, in the interest of space and a concise objective, to narrow the scope of what will be examined to that anti-Semitism which encourages or entreats violent or outwardly oppressive acts against Jews, or which attempt to dehumanize Jewish people. This would include both obvious statements, and subtle suggestions... Thoughts? I know it is rather unrefined, but it isn't meant to be perfect yet. I have 29 pages to go after all. -Ben |
No offense taken. That said, I would assume that you can understand my desire to make the greatest honest use possible of the tools available to me. You had pencils and papyrus, I have the laptop and internet.  -Ben |
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It sounds like a very strong basis for an essay. Can you provide some more context on your assignment - what level, what class, etc? My initial impression is the intro sounds more conversational vs. scholarly, i.e. using pronouns such as "we," although as you said it needs to be refined. Also, is this intended to be an executive summary or just an introduction to the essay as a whole? |
good stuff. constructive stuff here: 1 - effects. affects is a verb. 2 - take that out - too speech-like 3 - pun intended? maybe a rephrasing of the thought. 4 - leave that out - you just said they needed to be answered, so you don't need to restate that they need to be asked. 5 - no passive verbs, please. maybe "The first question, regarding the definition of anti-Semitism, results in several answers." again - good stuff. are you going to get into the difference between anti-Semitism as it relates to the Jewish bloodline vs. the faith? |
This is an introduction to the actual essay. It is for a ENG 338 Medieval Literature class. The professor understands that I am a philosophy major, and that work from philosophers is generally a little...different. Since most of my reading is in the field of philosophy my style of writing has virtually irreversibly been influenced by it. I might try and dislodge the "we" though, I usually try to avoid using such phrases in academic writing. Thanks for the comments.  -Ben |
Perhaps briefly, though I want to try and relate it as much to the literature as possible. I may be walking a fine line with this topic as it is since I am a Jew at a private school associated with Christianity. Thanks for the comments, and I will surely apply some of your advice. -Ben |
I hear you - I did accounting (for work) and history (for fun), so I had a terrible time not using bullet points in my history classes and making anything go more than 3 pages  Sounds like you're on the right track
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QFT I too learned this my freshman year of college. US History post Civil War. Had a lesbian liberal instructor and she hated my first two blue book essays.  We just had different opinions of certain events in history  To make the grade I had to see things her way. 
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I would rather take a C or even a D in the course and speak honestly of my convictions than bend to fit an agenda I strongly oppose. After all...I had a 3.0 last semester, and I only need to maintain a 2.0 to commission. Screw political correctness. On the flip side, I think I would have close to a 4.0 if I marched to the beat of the professors collective drums. -Ben |
It got alot better in the upper level courses because most instructors are looking for the exact opposite of what the entry level course instructors are wanting. Most of my upper division professors wanted us to think out side of the box and express our opinions and views on class topics. Making the grade was too important to me as a freshman.. I would have failed the class. |
Although content is one of the great considerations in a grade, I was referring specifically to your style of writing. I have had Philosophy profs who would see your style here as normal, but I have had History profs who would see that style and shake their head in disgrace and mark points off because of it. Each department has a different style of writing it expects, and and each professor even more so. |
| I would call that a decent outline, but in no way a complete introduction for a 30 page research paper. My 20 pager last semester had a 3 page introduction. It allowed ample space for background to the topic on hand, to fill in readers without prior knowledge on the subject. Of course, your target audience may be different. |
Indeed it is not the complete introduction. The complete introduction will probably, by the looks of things, be about 2 pages for this first edition. I would like to write it in a way that allows it to be expanded in order to allow further detail be added in the event I can get it nominated for publication. -Ben |
It's all about the food with some Marines, eh? TXL |
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I have only a mediocore background in medieval litt, but it seems like anti-semitism is perhaps the strongest commonality i recall, as it was quiet common in those times. So to that end, it seems like a good topic. God i remember all the medieval passion plays i was forced to read 
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Indeed...that is the difference between enlisted Marines and those who claim the title Officer of Marines. One thinks with his stomach, the other with his head.  -Ben |
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GRANDPA TxLewis is just jealous because the grandma he's dating makes him eat tofu and garnish to keep him regular. Rock, more power to you and keep fighting the good fight, but in the end, when your newly commissioned butter bars begin to melt under the Skipper's watchful gaze, you will come running to some meat and potato chomping SNCO of Marines to make the bad things go away.  Care and feeding of malnourished Second Lieutenants was one of the best parts of being a Staff Sergeant. Damn, I'm hungry...
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All in good fun, I have the greatest respect for NCOs, from E-4 on up. -Ben |