essay

English 103 Essay Assignment 1: 

Machiavellian Politics

Your assignment is to write an essay of five or more pages, plus a work cited page. Your 

essay must have a title, a thesis statement, a beginning, middle, and end. I suggest you use 

prewriting techniques to generate ideas. Write an essay in which you analyze the excerpt from 

Niccolo Machiavelli’s book, 

The Prince

, that appears in our Barnet book. The purpose of an 

analytical essay is to divide a topic into several sections in order to give the reader a better 

understanding of it. Machiavelli’s thesis is this: “. . . it is necessary for a prince [political leader] 

wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to 

necessity” (644). Machiavelli seems to be arguing here that “the ends justify the means.” 

Based on Machiavelli’s arguments, does former President Richard M. Nixon (as 

portrayed in director Oliver Stone’s film Nixon) represent a Machiavellian “Prince”? Why or 

why not? If your answer is “yes,” explain how Nixon exemplifies the fictional “Prince” 

Machiavelli writes about.

Please use examples from each of the following sources to support your thesis:

1.

Machiavelli’s 

The Prince.

2.

Oliver Stone’s film 

Nixon.

Is President Richard M. Nixon, as portrayed in the film, a 

Machiavellian politician? If you are arguing against Machiavelli, you may use 

examples of Nixon’s failures (such as the Watergate scandal and the bombing of 

Cambodia) to support your argument. If you are arguing in favor of Machiavelli, you 

may use examples of Nixon’s successes (such as the opening of friendly relations with 

China) to support your thesis.  

3.

Your own knowledge of politics and politicians. You may include information on the 

historical Richard M. Nixon, and/or other historical or contemporary figures.

You may use other sources to support your points, but you must use the film 

Nixon

and 

the excerpt from Machiavelli’s 

The Prince

in our Barnet book as sources in your essay. On the 

next page is a sample works cited page using these sources. Your final draft must be typed word-

processed according to the MLA style. 

Relax and have fun with this assignment!