For this extra credit assignment, you are to write a 500-600 word short essay (a little more than 2 full pages, double-spaced). The paper must be submitted in .doc or .docx or PDF format, and I must be able to open it on D2L (otherwise, no grade can be given). Use some reasonable font of your choosing, such as Arial, Calibri, or Verdana. Your font should be of reasonable sizeperhaps 11 point or 12 point, as appropriate to your chosen font. I am not going to be terribly picky about font sizedont get stressed out about itIm just saying that I dont want to have to strain my eyes to read it, nor do I want it to be comically large.
EXTRA CREDIT SHORT ESSAY TOPIC:
Please read de Botton pages 205-244 (“Consolation for Difficulties”). Then, write a short essay ansewing the following questions. 1) What are some qualities Nietzsche would say a fulfilled life should have, and why these qualities would be good to have. Why are difficulties a major part in living a fulfilled life for Nietzsche? (This will should be about half of your essay). 2) Next, give a personal example that fits in with Nietzsches ideas about difficulties and fulfillment (second half of your essay).
You should write your paper in the standard essay format. This is, in brief, the following:
- Introduction: Say what you are going to do in the body of the essay and have a thesis statement;
- Body of the Essay: Write the substantive content of the essay;
- Conclusion: Review what you have done in the body of the essay.
Obviously, the body of the essay will be several paragraphs long. You dont need to put fluff, sweeping generalities, grand-sounding statements, historical trivia, or clever remarks in your introduction or conclusion. Your job is simply to clearly signal to me what you are up to in the paper.
Do not use any source other than the selections from the course readings, and use your own words to discuss the ideas. No direct quotes and no plagiarism. Paraphrase/write in your own words.
Your writing should be crisp, clear, concise, and well organized. Be as thorough as is required to accurately convey the appropriate information. Writing so little as to be unclear or incomplete in your treatment of the topic is a problem; but it is not a problem that can be remedied by filling out pages with fluff, waffle, and vague generalities. I will value precision, clarity, and rigor over literary flourish and clever style. Better to be clunky and clear than stylish and vague.
Remember to adopt that standard approach as writing as if you are addressing a reasonably intelligent reader who is unfamiliar with these topics. You have take care to explain things to him/her. Use technical terms as appropriate, but you must always explain any such technical terms. Please consult Paper Rules for more details as well.
I hope you enjoy writing the paper. I hope everyone does a good job and gets full extra credit. Remember, as always, your grade depends on you.
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