Guided Research (Final) Essay
In "A Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau writes the following:
"I think that we should be men rust, and subjects afterward" (???).
"Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn" (292).
Thoreau also claims that if a citizen believes that a law is unjust, then it is the duty of the citizen to resist the law.
We have seen these ideas played out in the real life situations depicted in The Camden 28 and Cry Freedom - giving a face to the theories expressed by Thoreau. Both situations involved people resisting laws they find unjust - with varying results.
In your final paper, you will reflect on the ideas in Thoreau's essay, including the concept of expediency and non-expediency, people vs. the government, the right of revolution, the majority vs. the minority, opinion vs. action, and a person's conscience.
In addition, you are expected to connect Thoreau's ideas to the protests and events depicted in the two films, as well as the articles on Tim DeChristopher. One way you might want to frame your thoughts is to ask, "What would Thoreau think?" when you consider the various aspects of the situations.
Be sure to expand with your own ideas on the topic as well throughout the essay. You do not need to cover all three examples of civil disobedience in your essay. A thorough discussion of one, supported by evidence gathered from the list of approved resources, is all that is required.
Research:
You are required to incorporate information gathered from pre-approved sources in your paper. In addition to the Thoreau essay and the movie or article you choose to write on, your paper should include references from 3-4 secondary sources.
Assignment Length: 5 complete pages, double-spaced.
Assignment Format:
• You may choose to follow either APA or MLA guidelines for this paper.
While you have the choice, you will be expected to strictly adhere to those guidelines. Do not mix the two formats.