Assignment

Would you rather have lived in Sparta or in Athens during the classical period (5th and 4th century BCE)? Explain your answer using historical evidence from both societies.

Essay Format

I. Introduction

a. Opening sentence that gets the reader's attention

b. thesis statement: this is your argument in a nutshell! State your position.

c. give an indication of the sources/examples you will use to back up your thesis statement.

d. Example:

i. In the 5th century BCE, Athens and Sparta developed rival city-states whose different cultures continue to influence our understanding of western civilization. I would rather have lived in Sparta at the end of the 5th century BCE because it [example X, example Y, example Z]. This is evident in Thucydides'

History of the Peloponnesian War and in the way that Lycurgus depicts Spartan social and military life.

II. Body (minimum 3 lengthy paragraphs - go for more if you can/if you need to)

a. paragraph 1

i. Topic sentence - a "mini" argument that tells the reader what the paragraph is about.

ii. explain with evidence

b. paragraph 2

i. Topic sentence

ii. evidence

c. paragraph 3

i. Topic Sentence

ii. evidence

III. Conclusion: reiterates your argument referencing the evidence used in the body of the paper.