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Instructions
PHIL 100 Final Essay Assignment
The Final Essay in this course will give you the opportunity to explore and compare ideas, concepts, and philosophies from the different philosophical traditions that you have been introduced to in the course.
I. Purpose of the Final Essay Assignment:
To give you experience synthesizing and integrating what you have learned in the course into a coherent written essay.
To give you experience analyzing and comparing philosophical ideas from different philosophical traditions
II. Technical Requirements of the Final Essay Assignment
1,250 -1,500 words (5-6 double spaced pages)
Word Cited (1-2 double spaced pages)
Microsoft .docx (not .pdf or .pages)
12 pt. Times New Roman Font, Double Spaced, 1” left and right margins
Works Cited must be in MLA format:
MLA Citation Examples: General Rules
Cite only the required readings, philosophical texts, linked articles and videos in the course. Do not cite external websites or videos that you “googled” and that do not appear in the course!
III. Subject of the Final Essay Assignment
Compare and contrast two (or more) philosophical texts and authors from different traditions in the same philosophical subject.
Example A: Compare ideas in Dharmaraja Adhvarindra, Vedanta-Paribhasa (W2.P2.3) with John Locke, Essay Concerning Human Understanding (W2.P2.6) on a topic in Epistemology.(Week 2)
Example B: Compare ideas in Han Fei Tzu, Sayings of Han Fei Tzu (W6.P2.5) with Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (W6.P2.6) on a topic in Political Philosophy (Week 6)
IV. Structure of the Final Essay Assignment
Structure your final essay as an expository essay. The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires you to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. A typical expository essay will have six sections of at least one paragraph each.
An introductory paragraph
Three evidentiary body paragraphs
A counterargument paragraph
A conclusion paragraph
The expository essay has the following components:
1. A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
Since your essay will have a comparison/contrast focus, your thesis statement should state the central aim of your essay as some kind of comparison or contrast.
Example A: Gautama Buddha’s First Sermon reflects the eastern focus on human suffering while Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics reflects the western focus on human value.
Example B: Aristotle’s Virtue Theory is superior to Confucian Virtue Theory.
2. Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
The reader needs to be able to follow the comparison argument you state in your thesis from start to finish.
3. Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
Each paragraph of your essay should be limited to the exposition of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. What is more, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.
Evidential support:
Use direct quotes of no more than a sentence in length from the philosophical texts you are expounding as evidential support for your thesis. Explain how these quotes are evidence for your thesis in the body paragraphs.
4. Address counterarguments to your thesis.
Devote at least one paragraph to a fair and honest counterargument to your thesis. [Beware of the Strawman Fallacy].
5. A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
V. Grading of the Final Essay Assignment
Your Final Essay Assignment will be graded as follows
Knowledge of Philosophical Subject/Texts/Authors: You are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the philosophical subject you are writing about, i.e., metaphysics, epistemology, political philosophy, ethics, and knowledge of the philosophical texts/authors you are comparing that are the subject of your essay.
Thesis Statement: You are expected to craft a clear and concise thesis statement that appears in the introductory paragraph of your essay.
Essay Structure: You are expected to organize your essay into introduction, body, counterargument and conclusion sections/paragraphs. You are expected to provide clear and logical transitions between the sections of your essay that will allow the reader to easily follow the logic of your thesis.
Body and Evidence: You are expected to provide direct quotes from the philosophical texts as evidence for your thesis, and to explain these quotes in the body of your essay.
Counterargument and Conclusion: You are expected to devote at least one paragraph to a fair and honest counterargument to your thesis, and to conclude your essay by readdressing your thesis in light of the evidence provided.
PHIL 100 Final Essay Grading Rubric
Excellent
Good
Needs Improvement
Percent
Knowledge of Philosophical Subject/Texts/Authors:
Essay demonstrates excellent knowledge of philosophical subject/texts/authors
Essay demonstrates good to satisfactory knowledge of philosophical subject/texts/authors
Essay demonstrates no to unsatisfactory knowledge of philosophical subject/texts/authors
30% (63 points)
Thesis Statement
Thesis statement is concise and clear and stated in introductory paragraph; exceeds expectations
Thesis statement is concise and clear and stated in introductory paragraph; meets expectations
Thesis Statement is not present, not clear or does not meet expectations.
10% (21 points)
Essay Structure
Essay is organized to allow the reader comprehension of the author’s logic; transitions present. Exceeds expectations.
Essay is organized to allow the reader comprehension of the author’s logic; transitions may or may not be present. Meets expectations.
Essay is disorganized; unable to follow author’s logic; transitions not present
15% (32 points)
Body and Evidence:
Body paragraphs provide sufficient evidence to support thesis statement. Direct quotes present
Body paragraphs provide some evidence to support thesis statement. Direct quotes present. Meets expectations.
Body paragraphs do not provide sufficient evidence to support thesis statement; direct quotes not present.
25% (52 points)
Counterargument and Conclusion:
Counterargument paragraph is present and fair; conclusion is present; exceeds expectations.
Counterargument paragraph is present ; some elements may be missing or underdeveloped; meets expectations.
Counterargument paragraph is not present, not fair (strawman); conclusion is not present; does not meet expectations.
20% (42 points)
