HUM 211, The Western Humanities Tradition: Continuity. An exploration of humanistic themes as reflected in literary and philosophical works prior to the twentieth century.
HUM 212, The Humanities in the Modern World: Diversity. An exploration of humanistic themes as reflected in literary and philosophical works of the modern period.
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Topic Suggestions for Humanities Papers
The paper instructions were designed for Freshman Composition, but are useful to students at any level who either need to refresh their knowledge of how to organize a paper...or never learned in the first place.
There are four sets of lessons here. Click on the kind of paper you plan to write, and then simply follow the instructions.
Ignore the assignments specifically designed for Freshman Composition, and instead choose an assignment appropriate to Humanities.
Click here to read an example of a good paper on literature from HUM 211.
Click here to read an example of a good paper on philosophy from HUM 212.
Click here to read an example of a good paper on literature from HUM 212.
Choose a philosopher and a story, poem, or play. Assume that the philosopher could be present to advise the protagonist of the story or the play. What advice would that philosopher give? Or would that philosopher agree with the theme of the poem?
Choose an ethical decision made by the protagonist of one of the stories or plays. Would any of the philosophers agree with that decision? Would any disagree? Why?
Compare two characters from different works that have something in common--an obvious example is Antigone and Lysistrata as strong female characters. Compare two situations in the works we have read. Be certain to go through the instructions for the comparison paper before you begin! Most students have no idea how to find a proper thesis or conclusion for a comparison.
Analyze a character or a work within a context (referred to as a "list" in the instructions). Example: what are the characteristics of a good leader? Does Odysseus fit them? Does Creon? Does Candy or Sheriff Mapes? (Choose one, and make sure it's from the course you are taking!)
Analyze a poem or two according to one of the philosophies we have read, or according to one of the themes taught in the course (not both).
The Persuasion Paper
(Some instructions call this the Argument Paper.)
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