Weight: 2 marks opening paragraph, 20 marks as specified below, 2 marks for style = 25 marks
Specifications:
· a cover page including all necessary information
· 4–6 pages (strict) of text, typed, dbl-spaced, 12-pt serif font (12.5 if Garamond), indented paragraphs, pages numbered
· an opening paragraph with a brief statement of the parts of your essay, including at the end a brief statement of your conclusion (i.e., what you are going to argue for)—and absolutely nothing else, including argumentation
· no padding, i.e., an extra space between paragraphs, wide margins, subheadings, biographical material, etc.
· write in manner that makes it clear that you want to be understood
· be as clear and concise as possible throughout your paper
· do NOT use ChatGPT or similar AI programs.
· don’t write like you’re trying to impress, using jargon words (e.g., “deconstruct”), flowery language (e.g., “nuanced,” “robust”), and bafflegab (look up what that word means)
· don’t make grand and controversial statements, like you’re a well-published world authority on the topic
· do no more or less than what the question asks
· when you reference authors in our texts, your references must be text-based (with page numbers or something more specific if available), not my lectures or notes
· use the author-date system of referencing a text (see the examples at the end of this document), not endnotes or footnotes
· do NOT use outside sources (this is a thinking essay, not a research essay)
· when arguing your own view, you must keep your argumentation down to earth (i.e., you must restrict yourself to arguments everyone in our class can relate to, like a lawyer to a diverse jury); e.g., saying such-and-such is true or a good argument because it conforms with one’s religion is a religious argument, not a philosophical argument (an argument that may involve evidence but fundamentally involves logic)
· agreeing is not arguing—when you make an argument in support of what a philosopher says in one of our texts (or in an essay question), simply agreeing is not enough; you have to argue in defense of what you are agreeing with
· e.g. (5 marks) does not mean you need 5 points; it’s merely the grade weight for the section
· do not use section headings in your essay; write in a formal style, using paragraphs exclusively
Topics (pick one):
1) Apply Mill’s utilitarian calculus to the topic of laws against stealing food from grocery stores and restaurants while living in Toronto (8 marks), and then apply Rawls veil of ignorance thought experiment to the same topic (not the general conclusions that Rawls drew from the view of ignorance) (8 marks), and then argue for which you think is the better of the two applications on this particular topic (5 marks).
2) Apply Kant’s practical imperative to the topic of violent protests in Toronto (8 marks), and then apply Benedict’s cultural approach to the same topic (8 marks), and then argue for which you think is the better of the two applications on this particular topic (5 marks).
Examples of the author-date system (with variations):
According to Bertrand Russell (1912a), “this is an interesting essay topic” (95).
According to Russell (1912a, 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 that when he died in 1970 at the age of 97.
Note: page references using “p.” “pg.” “page” are old-fashioned and today look rather silly. Keep it simple and elegant, as you see above.
Note: Do not be ridiculously repetitive when referencing an author. See, e.g., the Russell (1912b) example above.
References (example):
Russell, Bertrand (1912a). The Problems of Philosophy. London: William & Norgate.
——— (1912b). “The Essence of Religion.” Hilbert Journal 2, 46–62. Reprinted in Al Seckel, ed. (1986). Bertrand Russell on God and Religion. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 95–108.
