This document outlines the requirements for written reports and presentations from 5 student groups on major political thinkers. Each group is assigned a different thinker to cover: Group 1 on Machiavelli and The Prince, Group 2 on Hobbes and Leviathan, Group 3 on Locke and Two Treatises of Government, Group 4 on Rousseau and Discourse on Inequality/The Social Contract, and Group 5 on Marx and The Communist Manifesto. For each, they must submit a written report between 10-15 pages and a 8-10 slide PowerPoint by the specified dates, in preparation for a class website to be published with their work.

1. GROUP NO. 1
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI
The Prince
Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: July 17, 2013
Final Publication of Website: July 20, 2013
Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides
Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper,
Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing
Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com
Date of Group Report: July 19, 2013
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Why do we read The Prince? What is the main objective of Machiavelli when he wrote Il
Principe?
a. Characters in the The Prince: The Sforza Family, The Borgia Family, The Medici Family
(Rulers of Florence), Pope Julius II, Girolamo Savonarola, King Ferdinand, King Charles
VIII, King Louis XII and Emperor Maximilian II
2. Historical Context:
a. The political landscape of Florence, Italy during the Renaissance Period especially the
warring small states which were hostile with one another.
b. The Medici
c. The prince of the Papal States Cesare Borgia
3. Personal Background
a. Machiavelli’s political life in Florence, Italy
b. Desire to have a political position in Medici’s empire and his torture
c. Machiavelli’s involvement with the Republicans
d. Briefly compare the relatedness of The Prince and The Discourses on Livy
e. Did Machiavelli consider morality in his works and political thought?
B. Machiavelli: The First Modern Thinker
1. His rejection of Christian concept of virtue
2. Literatures of his Prince
a. His advices for Rulers: Winning over Fortuna and the classical Roman virtues
i. The Good Man and the Political Man.
ii. What makes a Good Prince
b. Contradicting literatures of Machiavelli
i. The Use of Power in Political Life
ii. Cultivating Different Virtues for a Successful Prince
3. Virtu: The Machiavellian virtue
4. Theory of Political Power and the powerful State
C. The Principalities and Advice to the Prince on Statecraft
1. The Mistakes of King Louis XII
2. Leaders Acquiring Power through virtu
3. Leaders Acquiring Power through fortune, relying on the good will of others, controlling
your arms and the case of Cesare Borgia
4. Leaders Acquiring Power through Wickedness. The Case of the King of Syracuse, Agathocles
of Sicily and that of Oliverotto of Fermo
5. Discuss and Share: Raison D ‘etat; the end justifies the means; the State as sovereign,
autonomous and non-religious; double standard of morality; Human nature is low and
ungrateful; Popularity of the Prince; Council of wise Men Not of Flatterers; Separate of
Politics and Religion; and, Remaining free from Emotions

2. GROUP NO. 2
THOMAS HOBBES
Leviathan
Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: July 19, 2013
Final Publication of Website: July 24, 2013
Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides
Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper,
Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing
Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com
Date of Group Report: July 23, 2013
1) INTRODUCTION
a. Why do we read Leviathan? Important terms: Empiricism, Materialism, Imagination and
Memory, Experience and Memory, Imagination and Dreams, Dreams and Superstitions,
Signs and Language, Mental Discourse, Regulated Thoughts, Seeking and Causation,
Time, infinite, Passions, Knowledge of Facts as History, the division of knowledge and
Spiritual Substance
b. Historical Context:
i. 1588: Spanish Armada’s attempt to invade England
ii. 1642: English Civil War and the execution of the King
c. Personal Background
i. Birth and Death: 1588 - 1679
ii. France: 1640 – 1651
iii. Hobbes as a Scientist, Mathematician, translator of classical works, writer on
law, disputant in Metaphysics and Epistemology.
2) Major Leviathan Themes
a. Materialism
b. Essentialism
c. Contractarianism
d. Utilitarianism
e. Egoism
f. Rationalism
3) Hobbes’ Political Theories
a. The State of Nature is a State of War
b. Establishing Sovereign Authority and the Purpose of Government
c. Absolutism, Limits of Political Obligation and Representation
d. Religion and Social Instability

3. GROUP NO. 3
JOHN LOCKE
Two Treatises of Government
Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: July 23, 2013
Final Publication of Website: July 27, 2013
Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides
Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper,
Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing
Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com
Date of Group Report: July 26, 2013
1) INTRODUCTION
a. Historical Context:
i. 1648: Peace of Westphalia (ending the 30 years war)
ii. 1663: Ottoman Army Defeated in Vienna
iii. 1689: The Whig Revolution, the Glorious Revolution
b. Personal Background
i. Birth and Death: 1588 - 1679
ii. Locke’s scientific mentors Robert Boyle and appreciation on Newton and
Descartes
iii. Locke’s writings
2) Major Themes
a. The Consent of the Governed
b. The Protection of the Property
c. On Absolute Monarchies
d. The State of Nature
e. Equality
f. The Purpose of Government and Limitations on Power
3) Locke’s Social Contract Theory

4. GROUP NO. 4
JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU
Discourse on Inequality
The Social Contract or Principles of Political Right
Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: July 26, 2013
Final Publication of Website: July 31, 2013
Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides
Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper,
Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing
Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com
Date of Group Report: July 30, 2013
1) INTRODUCTION
a. Historical Context:
i. 1731: Treaty of Vienna
ii. 1743: Treaty of Worms
iii. 1756: Beginnings of the Seven Years’ War
b. Personal Background
i. Birth and Death: 1712 - 1778
c. Other Writings of Rousseau
d. Brief Summary of the Discourse on Inequality and the Social Contract
2) Major Themes
a. State of Nature
b. Purpose of Government
c. On Representation
d. The State of Nature
e. Equality
f. The Purpose of Government and Limitations on Power
3) Rousseau’s Social Contract Theory
a. Concept of Sovereignty
b. On Legitimate Political Authority
c. Create Moral Obligation

5. GROUP NO. 5
KARL MARX
Communist Manifesto
Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: July 30, 2013
Final Publication of Website: August 3, 2013
Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides
Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper,
Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing
Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com
Date of Group Report: August 2, 2013
1) INTRODUCTION
a. Historical Context:
i. 1830: Revolution in France
ii. 1830 – 1831: Uprisings in Poland
iii. 1831, 1834: Uprisings in Lyons Weavers in France
iv. 1844: Silesian Weavers Uprising
b. Personal Background
i. Birth and Death: 1818 - 1883
2) Major Themes
a. The Evils of Capitalism
b. Bourgeoisie and Proletariats
c. On the Availability of Necessities
d. The Freedom of Consumer Choice
e. The Use of Machinery and the Division of Labor
f. Class Struggle and History
g. Capitalism Will Pave the Way Towards Communism
h. Ending the Exploitation of One Class By Another
3) Marxism
a. Marx’s Historical Materialism: Phases of Historical Development
b. The Workers’ Union
c. The Dictatorship of the Proletariats
d. Communism: The Abolition of Private Property

6. FRIEDRICH ENGELS
The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State
Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: August 2, 2013
Final Publication of Website: August 7, 2013
Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides
Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper,
Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing
Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com
Date of Group Report: August 5, 2013
1) INTRODUCTION
a. Historical Context:
i. 1848: Revolution in France
b. Personal Background
i. Birth and Death: 1820 – 1895
2) Major Themes
a. The Conditions of Women: Is The Oppression Eternal?
b. Family: Its Historic Development
c. The Evolution of Man
d. Ending the Exploitation of One Class By Another
3) Engels Theory: The Conditions of Women – Is the oppression Eternal?
a. The Subordination of Women
b. The First Settlement
c. The Dispossession of Women
d. Abolition of Family