Essay on "Compare and Contract a Use of Concept"

Quoted Instructions for "Compare and Contract a Use of Concept" Assignment:

ASSIGNMENT:

Somadeva*****s tale, *****The Red Lotus of Chastity***** depicts the maneuvers of the wily Devasmita as she manages her relationship with her husband, defends her chastity against four merchants***** sons, and obtains justice against the nun, her servant and the men who sought advantage over her. In this process, she uses a variety of strategies, many of which are theorized later by Niccolo Machiavelli in his famous treatise, The Prince.

Somadeva could not have read Machiavelli, and it is highly unlikely that Machiavelli had read Somadeva. Despite their differences in time, culture and genres, the parallels between texts are striking. Advance a specific thesis that compares and contrasts how effectively (or not) two(!) characters in *****The Red Lotus of Chastity***** use a concept as later theorized explicitly by Machiavelli in The Prince.

Your conclusion could explore TWO issues:

1. How your essay helps you understand the outcomes of these characters, a related character in one of the texts, a related moment/issue/problem in one of the texts.

2. Some significant difference or contradiction between these texts that is relevant to your essay.

STRUCTURE:

This Essay is a type of comparison/contrast essay called a lens comparison. It asks you to use an idea or concept from one text as a lens or filter for viewing or interpreting something specific in another text. Thus, you are using a concept from Machiavelli*****s The Prince as the lens for viewing two characters in *****The Red Lotus of Chastity*****.

1. Introduction

A. You must introduce Somadeva*****s text, contextualize it, and give a very succinct description of the text. Identify the characters you will explore

B. Identify your method*****that you*****re using a specific concept from Machiavelli*****s The Prince to compare and contrast these characters.

C. State your thesis.

2. Body

A. LENS PARAGRAPH. The first body paragraph identifies and explains ONLY the concept from Machiavelli that you*****re using as your lens. Your lens, in essence is your SIMILARITY. Your topic sentence is simply a statement identifying your concept.

B. APPLICATION PARAGRAPHS. These are the paragraphs in which you explore how effectively or ineffectively your two characters use the concept explored in 2A above. USE SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS FOR EACH CHARACTER. Each paragraph must begin with a topic sentence, which is quite simply a statement on how that character uses that specific concept from 2A above. A MINIMUM OF TWO APPLICATION PARAGRAPHS ARE NEEDED.

3. CONCLUSION*****TWO PARAGRAPHS

A. Your first conclusion paragraph explores how 2B above determines the outcome of each character, a related character in one of the texts, a related moment/issue/problem in one of the texts.

B. Your second conclusion paragraph explores some significant difference or contradiction between these texts that is relevant to your essay.

Standard 1***** margins;

Do not leave a blank line between paragraphs;

Do not include any identifying information within the essay.

In *****The Prince*****, ignore chapter 26, the last 2 pages in the PDF attachment.

Please carefully follow the essay structure.

General outline ideas:

The general idea of both texts is getting or keeping power.

Devasmita knows how to take risks and manage it, unlike the four merchants.

Explain what Machiavelli says about risk.

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