Weight: 3 marks style, 2 marks opening paragraph, 20 marks as specified below = 25 marks
Specifications:
- a cover page including all necessary information
- 57 pages (strict) of text, typed, dbl-spaced, 12-pt serif font, indented paragraphs, pages numbered
- an opening paragraph, clearly stating your topic (the issue), a brief statement of what you are going to do in the paper (including the two readings) and what you are going to argue for (your conclusion in the final part of your essay), and absolutely nothing else
- make the structure of your essay isomorphic to the essay question
- no padding, i.e., an extra space between paragraphs, wide margins, subheadings, biographical material, etc.
- be as clear and concise as possible throughout your paper, avoid jargon words, flowery language, and bafflegab, and do no more or less than what the question asks
- all references and quotations must use a professional style, preferably the author-date system (see, notably, the Chicago Manual of Style), with the original source year cited in the body of the text and page numbers referring to the pages in the original text (or in the reprint source if you have to), and the original source (including the reprint source if there is one) included in the list of references (given on a separate page at the end of your paper)see my brief example below
- you dont cite my lectures, unless you want to use an idea of mine aside from my summaries (unlike our readings in our text, I am not a primary source, I am a secondary source)
- if using outside sources (you dont have to), confine yourself to academically respectable sources, i.e. sources found in peer-reviewed academic books and journals (not the Web)
- do not use endnotes and use footnotes only for discursive purposes
- when arguing your own view, you must keep your argumentation down to earth (i.e., you must restrict yourself to philosophical arguments everyone in the class can relate to)
- in particular, you need to know the difference between a religious argument and a philosophical argument
- keep in mind also that agreeing is not the same thing as arguing
- e.g. (7 marks) does not mean you need seven points; it merely refers to the grading value of that section
Topics (choose one):
1) Explain what Socrates means by The unexamined life is not worth living(7 marks). (This does not say summarize the entire reading.) Then, explain to what extent, if any, Robert Nozick would agree with Socrates (7 marks). (This does not say summarize the entire reading.) Then, argue for which philosopher has the stronger position on the topic (6 marks).
2) Explain what William Lane Craig means when he says, without God, life has no meaning (7 marks). (This does not say summarize the entire reading.) Then, explain to what extent, if any, Nozick would agree with Craig (7 marks). (This does not say summarize the entire reading.) Then, argue for which philosopher has the stronger position on the topic (6 marks).
Text (examples of the author-date style with variations):
According to Bertrand Russell (1912b), this is an interesting essay topic (95).
According to Russell (1912b, 95), this is an interesting essay topic.
As Bertrand Russell (1912b) notes, those who are interested in their essay topic tend to write a better essay (96). He then finishes by claiming, through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good (108). I wonder if he still believed this when he died in 1970.
References (example):
Russell, Bertrand (1912a). The Problems of Philosophy. London: William & Norgate.
(1912b). The Essence of Religion. Hilbert Journal 2, 4662. Reprinted in Al Seckel, ed. (1986). Bertrand Russell on God and Religion. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 95108.
