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Assignment Details 2024SP-PHIL-100-002: Appreciation of Philosophy (GT-AH3)
PHIL 100 002 Appreciation of Philosophy
Semester Term Paper
Directions:
Write a persuasive paper on a philosophy topic. You will be required to write an argumentative and persuasive paper on any philosophical topic that we have discussed in class. You may select a philosophical topic from the possible philosophy paper topics list or you may come up with your own.
Minor Points
Beginning your paper
. Don't begin with a sentence like "Down through the ages, humanity has pondered the relationship between religion and ethics" There's no need to warm up to your topic. You should get right to the point, with the first sentence. Also don't hearin with a sentence like "Webster's
Beginning your paper
. Don't begin with a sentence like "Down through the ages, humanity has pondered the relationship between religion and ethics" There's no need to warm up to your topic. You should get right to the point, with the first sentence.
· Also, don't begin with a sentence like "Webster's Dictionary defines God or religion as ... " Dictionaries aren't good philosophical authorities. They record the way words are used in everyday discourse. Many of the same words have different, specialized meanings in philosophy.
Grammar
· Do avoid other sorts of grammatical mistakes, like dangling participles (e.g., " Hurt by her fall,the tree fell right on Mary's leg before she could get out of the way"), and the like.
. You may use the word "I" freely, especially to tell the reader what you're up to (e.g., "I've just explained why ... Now I'm going to consider an argument that ... ").
. Don't worry about using the verb "is" or "to be" too much. In a philosophy paper, it's OK to use this verb as much as you need to.
Secondary readings
Assignment Details
‹ 2024SP-PHIL-100-002: Appreciation of Philosophy (GT-AH3)
Secondary readings
For this assignment, please refer to our textbook (etextbook McGraw Hill).
You shouldn't need to use any additional readings when writing your papers. The point of this assignment is to teach you how to analyze a philosophical argument/s, and present your own arguments for or against some conclusion. The arguments we've considered in class are plenty hard enough to deserve your full attention, so you do not need to consult outside sources for this assignment.
Mechanics
Length: 4-6 pages is sufficient
Please include a works cited page (required) and a notes page if necessary.
‹ Assignment Details 2024SP-PHIL-100-002: Appreciation of Philosophy (GT-AH3)
Please include a works cited page (required) and a notes page if necessary.
Writing Style: APA or MLA
Longer papers are typically too ambitious, or repetitious, or full of digressions. Your grade will suffer if your paper has these defects. So it's important to ask yourself: What are the most important things you have to say? What can be left out?
But neither should your papers be too short! Don't cut off an argument abruptly. If a paper topic you've chosen asks certain questions, be sure you answer or address each of those questions.
Please double-space your papers, number the pages, and include standard margins. I prefer to get the papers simply stapled: no plastic binders or anything like that.
Include your name on the paper.
How You'll Be Graded
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Assignment Details 2024SP-PHIL-100-002: Appreciation of Philosophy (GT-AH3)
The comments I find myself making on students' phi most often are these:
o "Explain this claim" or "What do you mean by this understand what you're saying here"
o "This passage is unclear (or awkward, or otherwis read)" "Too complicated" "Too hard to follow" "Simp
o "Why do you think this?" "This needs more suppo should I believe this?" "Explain why this is a reason t "Explain why this follows from what you said before
o "Not really relevant"
o "Give an example?"
Try to anticipate these comments and avoid the nee
Your paper should do some philosophical work
A kind of complaint that is common in undergraduate philosophy papers goes like this:
Philosopher X assumes A and argues from there to B. B seems unattractive to me. Philosopher X just assumes A
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Assignment Details 2024SP-PHIL-100-002: Appreciation of Philosophy (GT-AH3)
How You'll Be Graded
You'll be graded on three basic criteria:
1. How well do you understand the issues you're writing about?
2. How good are the arguments you offer?
3. Is your writing clear and well-organized?
I do not judge your paper by whether I agree with its conclusion. But I will have no trouble agreeing about whether you do a good job arguing for your conclusion.
More specifically, I'll be asking questions like these:
. Do you clearly state what you're trying to accomplish in your paper? Is it obvious to the reader what your main thesis is?
. Do you offer supporting arguments for the claims you make? Is it obvious to the reader what these arguments are?
. Is the structure of your paper clear? For instance, is it clear what parts of your paper are expository, and what parts are your own positive contribution?
· Is your prose simple, easy to read, and easy to understand?
. Do you illustrate your claims with good examples? Do you explain your central notions? Do you say exactly what you mean?
. Do you present other philosophers' views accurately and charitably?
‹ Assignment Details 2024SP-PHIL-100-002: Appreciation of Philosophy (GT-AH3)
Philosopher X assumes A and argues from there to B. B seems unattractive to me. Philosopher X just assumes A and doesn't give any argument for it. I don't think A is true. So I can just reject A and thereby avoid B.
This line of thought may very well be correct. And the student may very well be right that Philosopher X should have given more argument for A. But the student hasn't really philosophically engaged with Philosopher X's view in an interesting way. He hasn't really done much philosophical work. It was clear from the outset that Philosopher X was assuming A, and that if you don't want to make that assumption, you don't need to accept X's conclusion. If this is all you do in your paper, it won't be a strong paper and it will get a mediocre grade, even if it's well-written.
Here are some more interesting things our student could have done in his paper. He could have argued that B doesn't really follow from A, after all. Or he could have presented reasons for thinking that A is false. Or he could have argued that assuming A is an illegitimate move to make in a debate about whether B is true. Or something else of that sort. These would be more interesting and satisfying ways of engaging with Philosopher X's view
‹ Assignment Details 2024SP-PHIL-100-002: Appreciation of Philosophy (GT-AH3)
to make that assumption, you don't need to accept X's conclusion. If this is all you do in your paper, it won't be a strong paper and it will get a mediocre grade, even if it's well-written.
Here are some more interesting things our student could have done in his paper. He could have argued that B doesn't really follow from A, after all. Or he could have presented reasons for thinking that A is false. Or he could have argued that assuming A is an illegitimate move to make in a debate about whether B is true. Or something else of that sort. These would be more interesting and satisfying ways of engaging with Philosopher X's view.
