Instructions for Written Dialogue on Religious TopicTopics: Dialogues may be on any topic, subject to my approval. For various reasons, it is probably a good idea to develop the topic based on materials covered in our class materials. The topic can be theological, ethical, or practical. Try to formulate the topic in a question or as a phrase. All topics must be cleared by McDowell.Form: The form must be a written dialogue with at least three interlocutors. The dialogue should pursue its central question through a logical (after all this is a philosophy class) and dramatic movement, with a beginning, middle, and end.Regarding interlocutors, each one must begin with and develop a distinct position on the question. I consider three interlocutors to be ideal for our purposes because it is a manageable number that nevertheless avoids a simplistic “two sides to everything” approach. Bear in mind, however, that interlocutors’ positions may overlap in various ways, and may change in the course of the dialogue. Regarding structure and movement, a good philosophical dialogue usually begins with each interlocutor staking out a position or pursuing a question in a particular way. The middle portion should develop the opening positions, with a fuller statement of arguments and responses to cross–‐questioning. In the middle, some modifications also occur: early statements are abandoned, the nature of the question shifts, or the means of pursuing the question changes. At the end of a dialogue, the reader should have a sense of a conclusion and this can be achieved in various ways. The goal is that each religious position has been explained and understood by the other interlocutors. The conclusion should promote cross cultural understanding and affirm places of agreement and commonality while not denying differences. Dialogic structure is also prone to digression. If you use digressions, be sure to integrate them with the overall structure. (Ask yourself: what does this digression add to the dialogue?) Pacing: Think about and try to use some of the things we all see in dialogues we have read or had among ourselves, e.g. the initiating question or issue, a first exploration, discovery of related questions, cross–‐questioning of each other, clarification and refinement of positions, changes of mind, digressions, and resolutions. This is a project of the imagination. You should seek to imagine how informed adults would converse about topics that they understand and are committed to. Length: This project should be 6–‐8 pages. You may write more, but if you do, it had better be interesting.Research and Citation: The dialogue should show some understanding of major religio-philosophical positions on the question or issue. Any sources used directly or indirectly must be cited. There are two levels of citation: arguments and authors should be mentioned by the interlocutors as one would refer to these in live conversation, and the full citations should be included in a list of works cited at the end of the paper.Style: Typewritten, double–‐spaced, 12–‐point Arial font, grammatical English, following MLA format.
