2.7: Essay 2 Duty, Justice, and Moral Responsibility

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    Essay 2: Duty, Justice, and Moral Responsibility

    Essay Overview

    In Unit II, you explored literary and philosophical works that examine justice, leadership, duty, and ethical decision-making across several ancient civilizations. Although these texts emerge from different cultural traditions, they ask many of the same enduring questions: What responsibilities do individuals have to others? When should personal convictions outweigh social expectations? What makes a just leader?

    In this essay, you will compare two works from Unit II to develop an analytical argument supported by textual evidence.

    Essay Prompt

    Choose one of the following prompts.

    Option A (Recommended)

    Compare Antigone and the Bhagavad Gita.

    Develop an argument explaining how each work defines duty and moral responsibility. Consider the difficult choices faced by Antigone and Arjuna and analyze how their decisions reflect the values of their respective cultures.

    Option B

    Compare two philosophical traditions from Unit II (for example, Confucianism and Daoism, or the Bhagavad Gita and the Analects).

    Analyze how each text defines ethical leadership, justice, or the good life. Explain how these similarities and differences reflect broader cultural values.

    Essay Requirements

    Your essay should:

    • Be 4–5 pages in length (not including the Works Cited page).
    • Follow current MLA formatting and documentation guidelines.
    • Present an original, arguable thesis.
    • Incorporate evidence from the assigned readings.
    • Focus on literary and philosophical analysis rather than plot summary.
    • Include a properly formatted Works Cited page.

    Learning Outcomes Assessed

    This assignment assesses your ability to:

    • Analyze literary works within their historical and cultural contexts.
    • Compare ideas across cultures and traditions.
    • Develop analytical arguments supported by textual evidence.
    • Use literary terminology appropriately.
    • Demonstrate proficiency with MLA style and documentation.

    Suggested Writing Process

    1. Review your annotations from the unit.
    2. Select two texts with a clear point of comparison.
    3. Develop a focused comparative thesis.
    4. Gather textual evidence from both readings.
    5. Draft your essay.
    6. Revise for organization and analysis.
    7. Edit for MLA format and clarity.

    Evaluation Criteria

    Criteria and Weight
    Criteria Weight
    Thesis and Argument 25%
    Literary Analysis 30%
    Use of Textual Evidence 20%
    Organization 15%
    MLA Format and Style 10%

    Before You Submit

    Use this checklist before submitting your essay:

    ☐ My thesis presents a clear analytical argument.

    ☐ I compare ideas throughout the essay rather than discussing each text separately.

    ☐ I support my claims with textual evidence.

    ☐ I analyze the evidence instead of summarizing the readings.

    ☐ My essay follows MLA guidelines.

    ☐ I have proofread my work carefully.

    This page titled 2.7: Essay 2 Duty, Justice, and Moral Responsibility was last modified on Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:34:53 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jessica Miller.