Option #1: Applying Philosophy to a Modern-Day Issue
In this option, you will complete the following:
Select a key idea from one of our five philosophers covered in weeks 1-5.
Apply that key idea to a modern-day context.
Demonstrate how that key idea helps the reader understand your perspective on the modern-day context.
For example, you may choose to discuss Plato’s concept of how knowledge changes perspective, and you may apply that idea to a modern-day novel, film, news story, or even a magazine advertisement.
The choice of what you apply the tool to is your own. By that, you may choose whatever text, or artifact that communicates a message, to apply the tool.
Imagine, for example, you watched Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, that film we talked about in our discussion of Plato. You might want to talk about how that film does or does not successfully apply the concepts of Plato to teach the audience about a larger idea.
Note: You may debate whether the text you choose does or does not meet the standards of your chosen philosopher’s ideas.
Remember, too, that you’ve likely done a lot of work on the key themes and examples in our weekly handouts. You can mine ideas and sources from there and from any feedback from your peers.
You have also done a good bit of work on your thesis and/or body paragraphs with your Portfolio Milestone Assignments from weeks 2, 4, and 6. Again, you are encouraged to revisit that work and comments from your Instructor on that work to outline and revise your ideas for the final portfolio project.
Hint: While you are putting together your final discussion presentation in Week 8 discussion, you will also get a chance to review your key ideas and quotes from the class, so be sure to leverage that step in locating key elements of your final paper’s body paragraphs and/or ideas to inform the final thesis, introduction, and conclusion.
Your paper must be two to three pages, 12-point font, double-spaced. That means no 1.5 page papers, and no papers longer than 3 pages. The length of the paper is designed to help you boil down the key ideas into a focused thesis with 3-7 body paragraphs and a conclusion. We are focusing on quality, not quantity. For more on the academic writing process for the final portfolio, review the Week 8 Lecture.
Include at least two references – one from a philosopher and at least one from a credible outside source. The CSU Global Library is a good place to find these references. To quickly access the Library, click on the tabs in the Course Navigation Panel.
Option #2: Explaining Why Ancient Tools Don’t Work Today
In this option, you will complete the following:
Select a key idea from one of our five philosophers covered in weeks 1-5.
Compare and contrast those ideas with ideas from Week 6, Neil Postman, to show how Postman’s ideas evidence that the ideas of the Ancients should be considered alongside today’s technology used to deliver our communications.
Demonstrate how that key idea helps the reader understand your perspective on the modern-day context.
For example, you may choose to discuss Plato’s concept of how knowledge changes perspective, and you may apply that idea to a modern-day novel, film, news story, or even a magazine advertisement.
And while Plato’s tools might still work in a general context, you may also add ideas about technology and constant information that
increase the need for teaching Plato, or
make Plato’s ideas antiquated without considering our modern-day technology and the constant presence of media.
The choice of what you apply the tool to is your own. By that, you may choose whatever text, or artifact that communicates a message, to apply the tool, the thinker, and Postman’s ideas.
Imagine, for example, you watched Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, that film we talked about in our discussion of Plato. You might want to talk about how that film does or does not successfully apply the concepts of Plato to teach the audience about a larger idea.
And you might want to add a discussion of how, while this film is old, we can watch parts of it at any time, out of context. And with that said, does that impact the power of any teaching the entire, full-length film might offer?
Note: You may debate whether the text you choose does or does not meet the standards of your chosen philosopher’s ideas.
Remember, too, that you’ve likely done a lot of work on the key themes and examples in our weekly handouts. You can mine ideas and sources from there and from any feedback from your peers.
You have also done a good bit of work on your thesis and/or body paragraphs with your Assignments from weeks 2, 4, and 6. Again, you are encouraged to revisit that work and comments from your Instructor on that work to outline and revise your ideas for the final portfolio project.
Hint: While you are putting together your final discussion presentation in Week 8 discussion, you will also get a chance to review your key ideas and quotes from the class, so be sure to leverage that step in locating key elements of your final paper’s body paragraphs and/or ideas to inform the final thesis, introduction, and conclusion.
Your paper must be two to three pages, 12-point font, double-spaced. That means no 1.5 page papers, and no papers longer than 5 pages. The length of the paper is designed to help you boil down the key ideas into a focused thesis with 3-7 body paragraphs and a conclusion. We are focusing on quality, not quantity. For more on the academic writing process for the final portfolio, review the Week 8 Lecture.
Include at least two references – one from a philosopher and at least one from a credible outside source. The CSU Global Library is a good place to find these references. To quickly access the Library, click on the tabs in the Course Navigation Panel.
