Note-Taking

PIA EXERCISE SHEET 7

Due 12 noon Monday, 9 November (Week 8)

Complete your work on a separate page, only include the sources and the questions in your answer sheet

(leave out all the extra instructions). Remember that you should be spending 4 hours per week on

independent study for each 20-credit module.

TASK 1: Reading and Note-Taking

1. Read: Marwah, Inder S, 2014, “Liberal Theory”, The Encyclopedia of Political Thought, Blackwell Wiley

online (six-page article) and answer the questions below based on the article. Remember to include inline

references with page numbers following summarised or quoted passages. (You must download the pdf

version of the article to get the page numbers. Write in complete sentences. You should write at least two

sentences for each answer and make sure to elaborate sufficiently to fully answer each question. Make

sure you look up and make note of any words you don’t understand. Use your reading as an opportunity to

widen your vocabulary.

A) What are the foundational moral and political principles of the liberal tradition of thought? B) What are the variants of liberal theory discussed in the article? C) What are the main criticisms of the liberal tradition discussed in the article?

2. Read: Constant, Benjamin, 1819, “The Liberty of the Ancients Compared to that of the Moderns” (13

page speech): Write a paragraph-long reflection on whether you think republican liberty (or “ancient

liberty”) is still relevant today. Refer to the article and include a short quote from it that helps to define

republican liberty. Explain some of this definition in your own words. Name some reasons why you think

this idea of liberty is still relevant today. Name some ways that you think it isn’t relevant anymore. Then

weigh these up and make an argument for or against the continued relevance of republican liberty. Try to

give examples to illustrate each argument.

3. Watch: the 10-minute you tube video on John Stuart Mill’s famous liberal statement, On Liberty (1869)

and answer the questions below. You may also want to read the first two chapters of the actual book if

interested in the relevant essay topic (Find it on our Reading List or online in the University Library).

Answer the following questions –brief note-style answers is fine here as long as we can see that you

understand.

a. Why does Mill argue that no opinion should be banned? Do you agree (why or why not?)

b. Why does Mill think differences among citizens should be encouraged? Do you agree (why or why

not)?

c. Mill argued that laws should not interfere with individual action unless the action will cause harm to

others. Do you agree (why or why not)? Are there any exceptions to this rule, in your opinion?

How to Submit your Work

Submit your notes to the Turnitin portal for your seminar tutor. We encourage you to handwrite your

notes and answers and to take a photo of all your pages in one shot with a smart phone and then upload

that to Turnitin. Please save your photo as a pdf.

If you find it hard to handwrite for whatever reason, or you are not able to photograph your notes with a

smart phone, then you are free to type your notes up as you did previously.

Please only submit the following types of files: pdf or MS Word

Inside the document, whether hand written or typed, include your name, student number, seminar tutor’s

name, and the section headings from this sheet so we can easily see which parts you are answering.

Please save the file as: “Your Full Name, Exercise Sheet 7”. Submit your work by 12:00 noon on Monday,

November 9th through the appropriate Turnitin submission portal in the Week 5 Folder on Bb.

Ongoing module info you are expected to know:

• Bring your answers to the seminar and be prepared to use them to participate in discussions.

• Read the ENTIRE Exercise Sheet and open all of the materials as early as possible, before asking

questions. Do not assume you can do all this at the last minute!

• Leave sufficient time to complete the Exercise Sheet tasks (reading, thinking, notetaking, processing the

material, reflecting on the material, and answering questions). It may well take longer than you think.

• Leave sufficient time to deal with the technology (finding, accessing and downloading resources, using

Turnitin etc). Please download everything you need including this Exercise Sheet as soon as you get

access to it. This gives you time to get help from the appropriate staff member. Do not expect answers

to questions on a weekend or last thing on a Friday.

o Problems using Bb or other online systems within the university? Spend time learning to use them

by visiting the Bb help pages and the Bb Institution Page (see Sources of Support on PIA Bb site)

o Problems accessing or downloading reading materials? Ask a Librarian – library help pages

o Problems submitting your work? Don’t leave it to the last minute. Log a call to IT with a screen

shot, and keep trying to submit.

o Problems understanding module instructions? Ask the Module Leader via the Discussion Board.

o Problems with understanding your reading or lecture material? Do your best to complete your

exercise sheet anyway. Then, ask your seminar tutor to clarify things in the seminar. Ask the

Module Leader on the PIA Discussion Board (you can start a new thread). If having trouble

regularly, see your seminar tutor or the Module Leader during their office hours AND consider

getting help from your Personal Tutor, Learning Support or Disability Support if appropriate (see

Sources of Support on the PIA Bb site).

• If you haven’t completed Exercise Sheet 1 yet, you can still do this now without penalty. Make sure you

have sent it to your personal tutor (with the covering letter) and copy this to me.

• If you have missed any other Exercise Sheets, you can still complete and submit up to three late.

However, be aware all students are only allowed three late Exercise Sheets without formal Mitigating

Circumstances. Note: If you submit your work on time but do not attend and participate in the

seminar, your work will still count as late.

• Watch the lectures on in the Week 7 Folder and make structured notes for your own use (not for this

Exercise Sheet).

• Catch up with any of the previous Lectures that you haven’t seen yet. Makes structured notes for your

own use.

• If you have questions about this sheet or the module, please use the Module Discussion Board!