Eliot Glassheim Essay Scholarship

Overview

Description

The purpose of this essay is to explore what it means to be a citizen in a capitalist society. Is citizenship a political activity no longer meaningful when people are governed by their self-interest? Has participation in the marketplace replaced activity in the political sphere? Is it the case that all ways of life are equal? Ultimately, in this essay, we’d like you to answer the main question: is there something particularly noble in citizenship and if so, what might we do to encourage our fellow citizens to fulfill their duties and obligations to our political society?

The point of this essay is to examine the controversy and connect to its key philosophical ideas. You may take any position you want, including finding some middle ground, but you must explain the opposing positions in the debate. Compare claims and evidence for each side—persuasively argue against yourself while you defend your conclusion. Do not rely on straw man arguments; make the best case for each position and then come to a defensible conclusion.

The essay must conclude with a clear and definitive position. It should strive to be fair, not polemical, and can connect examples from popular culture, literature, science, or any other arena that helps clarify the controversy. It may also use evidence from political science, anthropology, psychology, history, economics, sociology, or other disciplines that ask about the human social experience.

Benefits

Prize money will be disbursed through UND in the form of a scholarship. The scholarship is worth $1,000.