English 10 - Compromise Argument: Assignment

Consider the conflicts and tensions present in Oedipus and Antigone. You will choose a contemporary issue that reflects one of the tensions below, research it, and generate an original argument outlining both sides, detailing the compromises needed, and offering recommendations to resolve the tension.

Conflicts/Tensions in Oedipus and Antigone:

• fate vs. free-will

• ignorance vs. knowledge

• sight vs. blindness

• citizen vs. leader

• female vs. male

• family vs. country

• divine (religion) vs. human laws

• personal morals/private conscience vs. civil law

• Your 2-3 page essay must be typed, double-spaced, and follow MLA formatting guidelines, including a header, heading, title, in-text citations, and a works cited page.
• You must use four database sources to support your argument. You may use reliable websites for preliminary research but not for the outline, rough, and final drafts.
• You must have a total of 12 notecards from your 4 sources (that's 3 notecards per source). Remember to use MLA in-text citations for all content from secondary sources—paraphrased or quoted. Read widely and broadly before you ever begin formulating your argument so you are an expert on your topic and so you can accurately and persuasively engage in the existing conversation about your topic and offer up a reasonable compromise and recommendations.
• You must incorporate either Sophocles’ Oedipus or Antigone in your essay, drawing a connection between your modern topic and a play.

You will thoroughly examine both sides of the argument before moving into your recommendation for what policies should be adopted to resolve the conflict. Keep in mind this quotation from Hegel concerning Antigone: “Both [sides] were wrong … but at the same time, both were right."  In a sense, you will be Sophocles, presenting two opposing sides as valid up to the moment of your divine (or authorial) judgment where you will actually do the opposite of Creon and Antigone, and you will practice the art of compromise by discussing how the two sides could reach a compromise and by offering up recommendations.

Format:

• Clear thesis, probably fully developed after you complete your resolution and suggestion paragraphs

• Bulleted lists (in sentence form) of the key elements of each side of the tension

• Fully developed paragraphs covering the compromises needed for the resolution and recommendations

• Conclusion paragraph that draws some parallel to Antigone or Oedipus