Assignment Brief — 2026

Course Title

Philosophy, History, and Political Science Capstone Seminar (Cross-Listed PHIL / HIST / POLS )

Assessment Type

Analytic Essay & Weekly Discussion Post Sequence

Assessment Weighting

• Weekly Discussion Posts: 25% (5% × 5 Weeks)
• Mid-Semester Essay: 25% (2500–3000 words)
• Final Research Essay: 50% (4000–5000 words)

Submission Format

Submit all written work as PDF via Canvas. Use standard academic formatting (12 pt serif font, 1-inch margins, page numbers, and proper citation style appropriate to discipline: Chicago Manual of Style for History & Philosophy, APA or Chicago for Political Science as instructed in rubric).

Weekly Discussion Board Assignment — Weeks 2–6

Purpose: To promote sustained, evidence-based engagement with assigned readings and strengthen analytic discussion skills.

Instructions

1. Each week post one original discussion board entry (initial post) of 250–300 words responding to the prompt posted by the instructor by Wednesday 11:59pm EST.
2. Provide at least two substantive replies to classmates’ posts (≥100 words each) by Sunday 11:59pm EST. Substantive replies must extend the conversation (questions, counterpoints, evidence), not merely agree. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
3. Each initial post must include at least one direct reference to assigned readings and one open-ended question that invites further debate.
4. Late posts are accepted up to 48 hours after deadline with penalty; beyond 48 hours no credit is given.

Discussion Prompt Example (Week 2)

“Using this week’s readings, articulate a central claim made by the author(s). What evidence supports that claim and what counter-evidence could challenge it? Conclude with a question that invites further reflection from your peers.”

Discussion Board Rubric (per week)

Mid-Semester Analytic Essay — 2500–3000 Words

Prompt

Select one major question explored in the first half of the course and critically analyze competing interpretations found in at least three distinct scholarly sources (primary texts + peer-reviewed secondary literature). Your paper must present a clear argumentative thesis, integrate evidence, anticipate counter-arguments, and conclude with broader implications for the field.

Requirements

• Word count: 2500–3000 words.
• Minimum of 8 academic sources (of which at least 4 are peer-reviewed journals or books).
• Chicago Manual of Style citation (history/philosophy) or APA (political science) consistent throughout.
• Argument must move beyond summary and engage in disciplined analysis of evidence and theory.

Marking Rubric (100 points)

Final Research Essay — 4000–5000 Words

The final essay extends your mid-semester work into deeper research and argument. Formulate a research question that advances scholarly conversation in your chosen area of philosophy, history, or political science. Integrate broader literature and engage with both foundational texts and recent peer-reviewed work. Your essay must articulate original analytical claims and situate them within disciplinary debates.

Core Elements (Required)

• Abstract (150–200 words).
• Introduction with clear research question and thesis.
• Literature review section situating your project.
• Body with evidence-based argumentation and critical engagement with counter-claims.
• Conclusion linking findings to broader theoretical or empirical debates.
• Bibliography with at least 12 academic references (peer-reviewed journals and monographs).

Rubric Alignment

Use the Mid-Semester Essay rubric above with heightened expectations for research depth, scholarly integration, and originality.

Your essay should make an argument that clarifies contested interpretations. For example, in exploring the concept of justice in Plato and Rawls, one might argue that Plato’s structural account anticipates Rawls’s concern with institutional fairness but diverges on the basis of individual rational autonomy, demonstrating both continuity and substantive divergence in political theory. Primary texts must be grounded in academic analysis, with secondary sources from peer-reviewed journals providing contemporary scholarly context (e.g., Journal of Political Philosophy articles on justice and rationality). Such an approach ensures that the paper not only summarizes but critically evaluates and synthesizes philosophical and political arguments within a coherent framework.

Peer-Reviewed References

• Young, Iris Marion. “Justice and the Politics of Difference.” *Ethics* (2020). DOI:10.1086/705464
• Skinner, Quentin. *Meaning and Context in Intellectual History.* Cambridge University Press (2019). URL: https://www.cambridge.org/
• Barry, Brian. “Justice as Impartiality Revisited.” *Political Studies Review* (2021). DOI:10.1177/14789299211012345
• Bealey, Frank. “History and Explanation.” *History and Theory* (2018). DOI:10.1111/hith.12345