8-10 pp. double spaced, or around 2000-2500 words
12 pt font with reasonable (1-1.5in) margins and reasonable (Times, Helvetica, Garamond, etc.) font
Upload your essay on iCollege as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf
Include a (descriptive!) title and word count at the head of the document.
This essay should have an introduction, thesis, central argument, and conclusion.
You may use first-person language (e.g. I believe that a law of nature is . . . because . . . “), but do so sparingly and be mindful not to write in an overly casual tone.
Use in-text citations and include a bibliography at the end of the essay. Do not include the bibliography in your word count. I have included the written proposal for the final(this one) paper.
The paper format builds on the format of weekly commentaries, with additional dialectical requirements and an emphasis on a rigorous and argument-centered critical discussion. The paper should include (i) a summary of relevant primary texts, (ii) a discussion of the dialectical setting of the topic area, and (iii) a critical discussion that takes the form of an argument, which should be the central focus of the paper. The paper must include an introduction, thesis, and conclusion, and it may include section breaks. The paper should be written in the style of an analytic philosophy paper. Any changes to the topic or dialectical setting of the paper between proposal and submission must be discussed and approved. Changes to the argument sketch and the bibliography are expected to occur organically as the project develops.
The paper will be assessed according to 4 criteria as follows:
Summary (30 pts): Do you summarize the paper(s) that constitute your primary texts accurately? Do you summarize the relevant positions accurately? Do you attribute views to their authors correctly? Have you focused on the relevant portions of the topic that will help you to develop your argument?
Dialectical Setting (15 pts): Do you correctly identify the central issues in the debates about your topic? Do you locate the views of the authors you discuss accurately within the dialectical landscape? How does your discussion of the dialectical setting offer a new perspective on, provide motivation or context for, or otherwise enrich the argument you make?
Argument (40 pts): Do you give a clear statement of your conclusion and offer adequate evidence for it? How well do you explain the evidence and reasoning that led you to your conclusion? Are the views that you argue for (or against) consistent with one another?
Writing and Organization (15 pts): How easy is it to understand the points you are trying to make? Do I have to guess at what you mean or is your writing helping to make your point clear? Did you include an introduction, thesis, and conclusion?
