Comparative essay between Platos the cave and the movie the matrix

Most humans believe in the manifest reality that they perceive with their senses but, asks Morpheus,
what is reality but the electrical impulses perceived by your senses? The premise of The Matrix is that
reality” (as almost everyone perceives it), is actuallyjust an illusion perpetuated by the Artificial
intelligence, which rules the world and lives off human “bio-electricity”. While humans think they live
in the real world, actually their physical bodies are imprisoned in pods of slime from birth to death and
their minds are held in a convincing virtual reality world (a computer program called the matrix)
controlled by the Al.
Essay “star/Tom”

There are MQ components to the question: Ho w do es existence in the slime
pod compare With existence in Plato ‘s Cave, AND what does each piece of work
imply is the role of the citizen in a democracy?
Directions”

This is a comparative essay and research paper, so the more sources you cite, the better. While
Wikipedia can be a good starting point for an overview of the modern example of your choice, don’t
quote Wikipedia unless you want an F. Always evaluate the source of information you find on the web
to make sure you can defend the credibility of the source. STUDENTS FAILING TO CITE A PROPER
SOURCE, BOTH IN THE BODY OF.THE ESSAY AND IN THE WORKS CITED LlST, WILL LOSE
ONE WHOLE LETTER GRADE. The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University,
httpszllowlenglish.purdueedu/owll, houses writing resources and instructional material that will
provide valuable insight into proper citation formats for any citation style you choose to utilize.
A reminder on the practical matters: This is a major research paper for the course, and should be
roughly 5-6 pages, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman. Quality, clear, concise writing is
preferred over fluffy filler. I prefer MLA style citations, but ask only that you pick a style and stick with
it consistently.
The Matrix is a modern-day version of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Organize your essay in a
structure that establishes a relationship between concepts.
E? There must be a concise introduction in which you cite the government connections between
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and The Matrix.
0 Do NOT lose sight of the purpose of your essay. is your purpose to inform,
persuade, etc.?
0 Establish a strategy for your essay. (What is the approach you use to accomplish
your purpose with your audience?)
59 There MUST be a concise introduction paragraph in which you cite the government-related
implications from each piece of work
C? There MUST be FOUR comparisons of concepts with an explanation of what they represent in
modern government through a specific modern example
0 Open each comparison of concepts paragraph with the comparison in order to set
up your specific modern example. (The Plato reference should come first since it
influenced The Matrix)

0 Do NOT move on to the next comparison of concepts Until your analysis of each

comparison is complete,

0 Make sure to explain how symbolism is used to represent things in’modern
government! (shadows, sunlight, fire,’puppet masters, etc.)

o Cite specific examples from’each piece of work and clearly define each concept!
(Modern examples are tough for the reader to interpret without concise definitions of
the symbols.)

0 Provide M modern-day government examples to explain the symbolism of the

A, comparison of conceptsandelaboratewrththomughdetails You. MUSTPrOVIdea

separate modern example for each comparison of concepts. For example, do
not use the Watergate example for each comparison of concepts.

C? Provide specific analysis of what each piece of work is trying to convey about the role of the
citizen and how one goes about. fulfilling that role. (knowledge is duty, participation, etc.)

0 This should be explained in a paragraph separate from‘the comparison of concepts
paragraphs towards the end of the essay.

o This is NOT intended to be a conclusion paragraph. Your conclusion paragraph
MUST be separate!

C9 There MUST be a concise conclusion paragraph in which you express the relevance of each
piece of work to modern government.

1-79 Do not write the paper from a first-person perspective!

4-75 There is a grading scale provided in this paper! Check it thoroughly to avoid mistakes.

5? Reading it out loud is a useful practice to notice mistakes.

C? I am available in room E-12 to review drafts of your essay with you at the following times:
7:30~8:0oAM Monday-Friday; 2:05-2:35PM Monday-Friday, lunch period Monday~Friday.
Drop-ins are fine, but appointments are recommended.

4? Newbury Park High School has a Writing Center. The Writing Center is open every day at
lunch and 5th period with tutors available to assist you. You must bring-the assignment
directions with you for the tutors to examine. Mr. Bradley is also available in the Writing
Center every Thursday at lunch.

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l Specific modern government examples MUST be provided with detailed information as to-why
they are an example of the concepts conveyed in the Allegory of the Cave and The Matrix
(Watergate Scandal, Pat Tillman, Tonkin Gulf Resolution, Iran Contra Scandal, Declaration of
Independence, Constitutional Convention, Martin Luther King Jr., Trayvon Martin Case, Prop 8,
WikiLeaks, Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Edward Snowden, Upton Sinclair, USS
Lusitania. etc.) A lack of sufficient detailed SUpport will cause a loss of points in the grade.

I There can be too much retelling of the stories as opposed to clearly explaining and defining the
concepts

l The role of the citizen must be explained – knowledge is duty, voting, participation. The
significance for each aspect of the role of the citizen must be explained.

I Too many concepts per paragraph – there should only be one, concise comparison of concepts
per paragraph

I Less than four concise comparison paragraphs

I No concise conclusion paragraph (of the “Role of the Citizen” analysis is used as a conclusion
paragraph).