Examination Questions  on Machiavelli, The Prince

Final Examination Questions: General Questions

For the midterm examination, I will give you two questions. You will have to answer one of these two questions. You will have 45 minutes to answer the question. The final examination with have two parts. In part I, you will have to choose to answer one question on Machiavelli, Galileo or Shakespeare. In Part II, everyone will have to answer two general questions about the whole course.

The examinations will be graded on both the logic and presentation of your argument. I am not concerned with your particular answer to these questions. You are expected to be aware of, and understand, the interpretation(s) of the texts presented in class. But you should also feel free to criticize these interpretations and present your own views. My main concern is that your answers make a good, that is well defended, case for the interpretation of the text that you find plausible and interesting. So you should make an argument that is logical and is supported by the texts. You should present your arguments in a coherent manner. Your answers should be as thorough and detailed as possible. Possible objections to your interpretation of the text should be raised and answered. While you should certainly answer the specific question asked, you should also try to place your answer in the context of an overall interpretation of the text under consideration. In doing this, you should make reference to important passages in the texts or to the structure of the text as a whole. It would be nice if you can quote some passages from the text, but it is not necessary: A paraphrase of appropriate passages from the text will be fine. No reading in secondary materials is necessary or desirable in preparing your answers to these questions.

All examinations should be written in pen. All examinations are to be taken without notes or books.