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English 001 A (Foth): Obedience to Authority (Matthews): Assignment

Assignment

Topics:

A certain amount of obedience is a given in society. Milgram and others we’ve read observe that social order, civilization itself, would not be possible unless individuals are willing to surrender a portion of their autonomy to the state.  Allowing that we are all obedient mostly (and we must be to a certain extent), write a research paper on one of the following topics to illustrate the dangers of over-obedience to authority.

Choose one of the following topics or one of your own:

  • Cults
  • Fraternity Hazings
  • Gangs
  • Religious extremists
  • Terrorists
  • Nazis
  • Mai Lai in Vietnam
  • Abu Ghraib
  • Neo Nazis/ white supremacists
  • Genocide (ex. Rwanda/ Serbia/ Cambodia, etc.)
  • Any other topic you find appropriate.

You will be required to use at least 4 sources.  These must include at least one:

  • Article from a scholarly journal.
  • A book
  • An article from the Course Reader

This research paper will involve five major steps: presentation on research (brief summaries of sources and thesis 10 points), an outline (5 points), a conference with me (5 points), a rough draft (10points), and a final draft (70 points).

Your research paper should be a minimum of 8 pages, and must be written in MLA format.  Your works cited list is not counted in the page requirements.  In other words, if you have the minimum requirements -- 8 pages -- your works cited list will be page 9.