For your paper topic, chose a topic question from one of the topic folders you chose for Module 1, Module 2, or Module 3. Use the topic question from a folder you have already read and used for assignmetns. Do not write your Essay based on a brand new topic folder!
Here is what your essay needs to contain.
In the intro paragraph of your paper, describe your topic question. Your intro paragraph must also describe what the paper will cover—keep this very brief. State your topic question, name the two authors you’ll be discussing and let the reader know you will be making your own argument. This paragraph should be no more than 150 words long.
Explain how one of the author you read in the topic folder answered the topic question; include their main argument or, if they made multiple arguments, one of their arguments for their view. Present the argument in full—in your own words—and discuss it thoughtfully so your reader understands how it works. You must draw from assigned reading only. Do not use other sources.
Explain how a second author included in the topic folder answered the question; include their view and one of their arguments for the view. Present the argument in full—in your own words— and discuss it thoughtfully so your reader understands how it works. You must draw from assigned reading only. Do not use other sources.
Evaluate the two arguments presented so far. You must use argument evaluation techniques we learned in the lecture on “Argument Evaluation.”
Apply a moral theory. Choose utilitarianism, Kantianism, or virtue ethics and apply it to answer your moral question. YOU MUST choose a moral theory that will show your reader a unique perspective on the moral question. This means DO NOT apply a moral theory that result in an analysis similar to one of the two authors you already summarized or to your own argument. Examples:
Author Peter Singer is a utilitarian and applies utilitarianism in his argument in the reading “Animal Rights.” A student who chose Singer as one of the two authors they wrote about earlier in the Essay should not choose utilitarianism for the “Apply a moral theory” section of the paper.
A student whose own argument utilizes Kant’s principle of autonomy should not choose Kantianism for the “Apply a moral theory” section of the paper.
Give your answer to the topic question. Provide an original argument to support your answer. If you agree with one of the philosophers you already presented, you must still provide a new argument for the view. You can use ideas from other philosophers’ arguments, but your must mention those philosophers by name and credit the idea to them, and your argument must include new, original elements. You can use a moral theory we have studied in this section if it will help you support yoru view. This is a great way to develop a very strong argument, so try to do it if you can. Your score for this section will be based on how strong and how original your argument is.
Provide a very brief concluding paragraph that recaps the main points of the paper; mention the two philosophers you discussed and briefly restate your ultimate reason for accepting or rejecting their arguments. Briefly recap your own argument. This paragraph should be no more than 150 words long.
Formatting, mechanics, and other instructions
DO write an essay in a standard essay format. Write in complete sentences and break your writing into appropriate paragraphs.
DO NOT include bullet points or argument reconstructions. DO NOT include the Essay instructions in your submission like you would do for a question set.
DO use a standard font such at Times 11 pt. or 12 pt., 1.5 or 2.0 spaced, with standard margins.
DO NOT include a Works Cited page, in-text citations, footnotes, or endnotes.
DO write 2-4 pages.
DO NOT write more than 6 pages. Points may be deducted for unnecessary content.
DO use a written voice you are comfortable with. You may write in the first person singular (i.e. “In his essay, I will describe . . . “), first person plural (i.e. “ We will see that Descartes’ argument fails because . . . “), or third person (i.e. “Both Hume and Descartes take a position on this question, and ultimately Hume succeeds.”)
DO NOT include any quotes. The entire essay must be in your own words.
DO spell-check and proofread your paper.
DO NOT turn in a paper with more than three typos or mechanics errors per page. Points may be deducted for writing errors (such as in spelling, grammar, usage, and so on) if there are more than just a few.
DO submit your work as a file. Use one of these formats: .doc, .docx, .docm, .ppt, .pptx, .odt, .txt, .rtf, .pdf, or .html. I cannot allow submission in any other format because I will not be able to read the file. It is your responsibility to use an allowable file type and check in the online system to make sure your work was submitted successfully.
Scoring
The following rubric will be used to score the Essay:
1. Intro (penalty of up to 2% if missing or incomplete). Criteria:
The intro describes what the paper will cover.
The moral question to be addressed is stated.
The authors to be discussed are named.
The moral theory to be applied is named.
It states the author will make their own argument.
Brief, 150 words or less
2. First Philosopher (worth 20% of the total score). Criteria:
An argument by this philosopher from the assigned reading was analyzed.
All key premises and the conclusion of the argument are stated clearly in the student’s own words.
The argument is explained so that an average college-level reader unfamiliar with the topic would understand it.
3. Second Philosopher (worth 20% of the total score). Criteria:
An argument by this philosopher from the assigned reading was analyzed.
All key premises and the conclusion of the argument are stated clearly in the student’s own words.
The argument is explained so that an average college-level reader unfamiliar with the topic would understand it.
4. Evaluation Section (worth 20% of the total score). Criteria:
The arguments presented in the previous two sections of the paper are evaluated using evaluation techniques taught in Module 1.
The evaluation techniques used are applied properly.
The evaluations are effective.
5. Apply a Moral Theory Section (worth 20% of the total score). Criteria:
The moral theory is applied as taught on the course
6. Student’s Own Argument (worth 20% of the total score). Criteria:
The argument has at least six distinct, effective, original premises, one of which is a moral principle.
The argument includes relevant factual content drawn from assigned readings and online research.
When premises are borrowed from other philosophers, those philosophers are credited.
The argument is explained so that an average college-level reader unfamiliar with the topic would understand it.
The conclusion is stated clearly.
The argument is effective in supporting the conclusion.
7. Conclusion (penalty of up to 2% if missing or incomplete). Criteria:
Highlights of each section of the paper are briefly restated
Author’s conclusion is reiterated
Brief, 200 words or less
IMPORTANT note on academic dishonesty
The work you submit must be your own unique, original writing. Do not use someone else’s words, phrases, sentences structure, sequence of ideas, or paragraph organization and present it as your own. The only exception is that you may use keywords related to the topic and special philosophical vocabulary that are necessary for discussing a particular topic. For example, if you are summarizing an author’s view on human rights, you will need to use the word “rights.”