Beginning next week, we will be focusing on a variety of Enlightenment Age philosophy.  As one of the earliest playwrights of the period, it is fitting that we focus on the ways that he incorporated various aspects of Enlightenment thought into his most famous drama Tartuffe((1669).  Having read the play, refer to your notes and to the variety of information posted on Bb to draft a thesis that might be featured in a longer paper about the play.  

Remember that your thesis/argument/position could address ideas, such as theme, language, enlightenment principles, and women’s roles.  There are innumerable topics for discussion, and I want you to practice exercising discipline, focusing on an argument that would be reasonable and supportable.

Before submitting your final Word document onto the Blackboard platform, please adhere to the following guidelines:

◾Use MLA formatting and parenthetical citation guidelines, and submit a WORD document ONLY.  We will review some of these elements in class, and you may refer to the following website for more detailed information: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html.

◾Answer the question directly, avoiding phrases, such as “to me”, “I think”, “in my opinion”, or ” I believe”. (Refer to class notes.).

◾Avoid using second-person pronouns — “you”, “your”, “you’re”, “yours” are NOT appropriate.

◾Use the present tense, or what is referred to as the “historical present” when recounting instances in the text..

◾Full credit will be given ONLY to those responses that incorporate textual evidence to support a larger thesis/argument

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz: “Reply to Sor Filotea de la Cruz” & poems (1691)

◾“The Song of Ch’un-hyang” (early 1700s)

◾Alexander Pope, “An Essay on Man” (1733–1734) 

◾Denis Diderot, Encyclopédie (1751-1777) 

◾David Hume, From “Of National Character” (1753)

◾Immanuel Kant“What is Enlightenment?” (1784)