Just a War Essay

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Write a paper that synthesizes classroom sources and your own knowledge, experiences, and research to answer the question “Is there such a thing as a just war?” Remember that definition is an important element of argument. Remember that a synthesis paragraph begins with your own opinion/topic sentence, which is supported by quotations from two different sources. Not all of your body paragraphs need to be synthesis paragraphs. Four to seven pages. MLA format.

Minimums:

1) Two synthesis paragraphs.

2) Three sources from the classroom.

-       The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume I, by M.T. Anderson

-       “The Gettysburg Address,” by Abraham Lincoln (from The Language of Composition)

-       Henry V, Part I, by William Shakespeare (http://www.bartleby.com/70/2931.html)

-       “Remarks by the President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize,” by Barack Obama
-        Songs shared by your classmates.

-       “The Apology: Letters from a Terrorist,” by Laura Blumenfeld, in The Language of Composition

-       Johnny Got His Gun, by Dalton Trumbo

3) Additional sources from your own research. Be sure your internet sources are reliable and college level. You will need to work hard to establish these sources. You may consider:

-       Historical conflicts, large and small

-       Contemporary conflicts, such as wars in Africa and the Middle East

-       Contemporary and classical literature

-       Modern films

-       Popular songs

-       Personal experience

-       Something interesting that I haven’t thought of yet

4) An element of visual rhetoric. This could be an editorial cartoon or an image. Your image should be included in the body of the paper. You should explain how this image helps you argue that there is or isn’t a just war. Be sure to cite the source of your image.

5) Evidence against your thesis, soundly refuted by your laser sharp logic.

6) A properly formatted Works Cited page. If your internet sources aren’t from class, you’ll need to include the link. For your convenience, I’ve googled “How to Cite a Song” for you:

Songwriter's last name, first name.  "Title of Song." Title of Album.  Name of Publishing Company, Year Recorded. Format.