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Essay Instructions: Directions: Write a 1000-1500 word researched argument on the topic below. Follow MLA in-text parenthetical documentation style for citing sources and for the Works Cited.

Topic: In the 1800s, Henry David Thoreau coined the phrase ?civil disobedience? as a means for an individual to protest actions of the government s/he believed to be wrong. In the 1960s, some citizens of the United States used civil disobedience to protest the Viet Nam War; Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others used it effectively in the civil rights movement. Today, heated opposition to the war in Iraq is causing some citizens to protest the war through rallies, demonstrations, and in some cases, civil disobedience.

In a time when information is dispensed 24/7 around the world via 24-hour news channels and the internet, and international terrorists inflict large violent events to draw attention to their causes, peaceful civil disobedience may be thought by some to have lost some of its effectiveness in drawing attention to an issue. Yet, it remains an important part of American democracy that individual citizens be able to protest their government?s (or other authorities?) actions in a peaceful manner. A question for our time to research, consider, and debate is: Is civil disobedience still an effective means of protest in the United States in 2003?

Research the history of civil disobedience in the United States and its use so far in protests about the war in Iraq and make a decision on the topic question. Important: The essay is NOT an argument about the war in Iraq (whether or not you agree with it); is IS about the use of civil disobedience in 2003 as a means of protesting this war and/or any other issue that citizens may want to protest.

Sources: Use the excerpt from Thoreau?s essay ?Civil Disobedience? on p. 375-81 in Moser/Watters (or the complete essay, which you can find online) and at least 4 other sources in supporting your claim of value in answering the question stated in the topic. Of the 4 additional sources, there must be: 1 book, 1 newspaper, 1 non-profit organization website (these have .org at the end of their addresses), and 1 other website. Be sure to document material you find that you use in the paper, whether you use it as a direct quote, as a summary, or in a paraphrase.

Format: Use the outline for argument essays that has been given in class: introduction w/ clear claim; support in the form of evidence and appeals; concession and counterargument; and conclusion. Direct quotes should be used sparingly. No title page is necessary; follow the heading format for MLA.

Essay Instructions: Essay Instructions from the professor:

1.) Explore your own thinking about civil disobedience. What do you find attractive about it? What might you find worrisome about it? To what extent do you think it is likely to work? Can you think of historical examples where civil disobedience has had a real impact.

Notes from myself;

This essay is supposed to be as a result of our class reading Civil Disobedience, A Wadsworth Casebook in Argument by Sharon K. Walsh & Evelyn D. Asch. I personally support civil disbedience if for the right reasons. We must give an argumentative essy based on the quidelines quoting sources such as Thoreau, Tolstoy, Gandhi, M.L. King, etc. to support our argument. we must give pros & cons and come to a conclusion. I prefer to use Gandhi's, & Kings experience as my examples of where civil disobedience has had a real impact. I would like the bibliograpghy to contain (3) credible book sources & (3) other sources(Interner, etc.).

Essay Research instruction from professor's syllabus:

1.) Use MLA to cite proximate sources.
2.) Some research outide the text book is a good idea. Actual printed, academic texts are to be preferred over mosy cyber-texts and internet sites.
3.) Thete's no point in multiplying sources beyond necessity. You don't get extra credit for a huge bibliography. List only sources cited in text.

Essay Writing Strategy from the professor's Syllabus:

1.) This is to be an argumentative essay where you choose a side, state and defend a particular thesis, not merely a neutral report.
2.) Your thesis(what you intend to prove or conclude) should be clearly stated in the opening paragraph of your essay.
3.) Write not only so that you can be understood, but so that you could not possibly be misunderstood. Maximize clarity & simplicity over technical jargon.
4.) Philosophy is inevitably personal and some of the very best philosophical writing has an almost bigraphical feel to it. Therefore, the use of the personal pronoun "I" is permissable for this assignment.
5.) You need to argue for your thesis, that is, give reasons that arenot only sufficient for your own adoption, but also reasons such that anyone who carefully considers them would br similarly inclined to adopt your thesis. The point is not merely to explain yourself, but to persuade others.

Essay Instructions: Define and explain Thoreau's idea of civil disobedience and select an event to describe as a good example of civil disobedience.

The question is: how does Thoreau define civil disobedience and what event from American History provides a good example of civil disobedience.

Structure:

As the Author of this paper, you are in agreement with Thoreau and your sympathies lie with the protesters acting out against an unfair law. The protesters are the moral ones.

The Event i would like you to go with is:

MLK and the March on Washington.

4 Pages.
1.5 line spacing if possible please.

Essay Instructions: Briefly summarize Thoreau's argument in "Civil Disobedience." What is Thoreau's main point? Why does Thoreau believe that disobedience to civil government is appropriate in some situation? Do you agree with Thoreau's argument? Can you think of any modern day examples of people who disobeyed civil government for these reasons?