GS/POLS 5090 3.0                                  YORK UNIVERSITY                              AS/POLS 4090 3.0

Due:               October 16, 2007

Value:            20% of final grade (undergraduate)
15% of final grade (graduate)

Write a brief (1250 to 1500 word) essay exploring some aspect of the meaning or
significance of Marx’s early works, those written in 1843 and 1844.

One approach to this assignment might be to focus closely upon one of  these works,
identifying its central arguments and major themes, and to draw out the importance
of what Marx had to say. A second approach might be instead to compare two or
more of these works, drawing out the relationship between them, and discussing the
development of Marx’s ideas. A third approach might address an important theme
or issue (such as the insufficiency of merely political democracy) as it is treated in
several of these works. Yet another approach might be to offer a critique of the way
in which Marx develops one or more concepts, or formulates his argument.

The point of the essay is to have you engage the ideas Marx puts forward in these
texts in some way, and to begin developing your own approach to his work. You are
NOT asked to refer to any works other than Marx’s own writings from the period (but
if you are familiar with some other work that you would like to bring to bear on the
subject, that is acceptable). This is NOT intended to be a research paper, but rather
a “thought piece,” based on Marx’s texts. The development of your own ideas, in your
own words, will count for more than quoting other authors on the subject.