Attached are instructions for argumentive essay, ALONG WITH RUBIC AND SLIDES ON HOW TO DO IT AND WHAT IS REQUIRED ALSO THE JAMES RACHEL READING. AND THE WEEKLY LESSON TO INTERGRATE INTO ESSAY.
· You are to write an argumentative essay. PROMPT · · In class we discussed James Rachels’ critique of Cultural Relativism. Do you find his criticisms persuasive? Why or why not? · · Your paper should be 4-5 pages. · Your paper should be doubled-spaced with the following margins: 1” top & bottom; 1.25 inch left & right. · You must use Times New Roman, 12 point font. · You should include the following information (single-spaced) in the top left corner: (1) Your name, (2) Name of the Class, (3) Date. · List page numbers in the lower right corner. · You may use any of the following methods for citation: MLA, APA, or Chicago. Whichever one you choose, please use it consistently. Reading of this paper is ATTACHED. Attached also is Follow step guide for paper and weekly readings and lectures on how to look at Arguments. EVALUTING ARGUMENTS DISTILLING ARGUMENTS Writing Philosophy Papers Writing Philosophy Papers + Writing a Philosophy Paper Is probably different from other writing you’ve done. This is not a research paper. You are to defend a single position with argument. To do this you must offer reasons for your position and respond to potential problems with your reasons and your position. + Prompt In class we discussed James Rachels’ critique of Cultural Relativism. Do you find his criticisms persuasive? Why or why not? + Guidelines Your paper should be 4-5 pages. Your paper should be doubled-spaced with the following margins: 1” top & bottom; 1.25 inch left & right. You must use Times New Roman, 12 point font. You should include the following information (single-spaced) in the top left corner: (1) Your name, (2) Name of the Class, (3) Date. List page numbers in the lower right corner. You must staple your paper in the upper left corner. Please do not hand in loose paper. Please do not use a paper clip. You may use any of the following methods for citation: MLA, APA, or Chicago. Whichever one you choose, please use it consistently. + Plagiarism …is taking someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. Plagiarism is cheating and will result in an F on this assignment. If you use someone else’s work, YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT. Rule of thumb: if you (1) use 4 or more exact words, (2) a term the author has coined, or (3) an idea unique to the author, you must give credit. + Getting Started + The first thing you need to do is figure out what you’re going to defend. Be pragmatic. You may need to change once you get going. 7 Your Audience For your paper, assume that you are talking with someone who is: A normal adult of reasonable intelligence, Is not familiar with the terms & concepts we’ve covered in class, Is open to hearing your side, but may take some persuading, Is a professional colleague. + Secondly, you need to keep in mind who you’re writing for. Knowing you’re audience will affect every aspect of your paper. 8 Poor Fair Good Excellent Thesis Statement (5%)Student provides no thesis statement. Student provides thesis statement, but it lacks specificity/is vague and fails to provide reader with clear direction of the paper’s purposeStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader a clear sense of what the paper will defend, but lacks details concerning how it will be defendedStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader a clear sense of what the paper will defend, and how it will be defended Engagement with Readings & Lecture (30%)Student: (a) fails to engage with reading/lectures, (b) engagement is very superficial, or (c) engagement contains significant errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures some but (a) lacks sufficient depth, or (b) contains some errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures at a suitable level and is free of major errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures at a significant level and contains no errors Argumentation (20%)The student makes no argument or establishes no clear position to be defended.The student makes an attempt to offer argumentation for a position, but (a) their position is not clearly defined, or (a) their argument lacks persuasive forceThe student makes a reasonable argument, for a clearly defined position. Their argument may contain some weaknesses or unargued assumptions/premisesThe student makes a strong argument, for a clearly defined position, considers potential objections carefully, and has no obvious unargued assumptions/premises Organization (20%)The student’s paper is highly disorganized/does not follow the required outline. The student’s paper has a discernable organization and somewhat adheres to the required outline.The student’s paper has a clear organization and mostly adheres to the required outline.The student’s paper has a clear organization, and adheres exactly to the required outline Writing Style (20%) The student’s writing lacks sophistication, or contains numerous awkward constructions.The student’s writing displays average level of sophistication and some awkward/vague/obscure constructions.The student’s writing displays an appropriate (college) level of sophistication, but may contain some awkward or vague constructions.The student’s writing displays a high level of sophistication, appropriate word use, and no awkward constructions Grammar (5%)The student’s paper contains significant grammatical errorsThe student’s paper contains notable grammatical errors.Student’s paper contains few grammatical errors.Student’s paper contains no grammatical errors. Grading Rubric Poor Fair Good Excellent Thesis Statement (5%)Student provides no thesis statement. Student provides thesis statement, but it lacks specificity/is vague and fails to provide reader with clear direction of the paper’s purposeStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader a clear sense of what the paper will defend, but lacks details concerning how it will be defendedStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader a clear sense of what the paper will defend, and how it will be defended Engagement with Readings & Lecture (30%)Student: (a) fails to engage with reading/lectures, (b) engagement is very superficial, or (c) engagement contains significant errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures some but (a) lacks sufficient depth, or (b) contains some errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures at a suitable level and is free of major errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures at a significant level and contains no errors Argumentation (20%)The student makes no argument or establishes no clear position to be defended.The student makes an attempt to offer argumentation for a position, but (a) their position is not clearly defined, or (a) their argument lacks persuasive forceThe student makes a reasonable argument, for a clearly defined position. Their argument may contain some weaknesses or unargued assumptions/premisesThe student makes a strong argument, for a clearly defined position, considers potential objections carefully, and has no obvious unargued assumptions/premises Organization (20%)The student’s paper is highly disorganized/does not follow the required outline. The student’s paper has a discernable organization and somewhat adheres to the required outline.The student’s paper has a clear organization and mostly adheres to the required outline.The student’s paper has a clear organization, and adheres exactly to the required outline Writing Style (20%) The student’s writing lacks sophistication, or contains numerous awkward constructions.The student’s writing displays average level of sophistication and some awkward/vague/obscure constructions.The student’s writing displays an appropriate (college) level of sophistication, but may contain some awkward or vague constructions.The student’s writing displays a high level of sophistication, appropriate word use, and no awkward constructions Grammar (5%)The student’s paper contains significant grammatical errorsThe student’s paper contains notable grammatical errors.Student’s paper contains few grammatical errors.Student’s paper contains no grammatical errors. Grading Rubric Your Introduction The purpose of your introduction is to (surprise surprise) INTRODUCE the reader to your topic and state what you will argue. As such, it should help the reader by providing a basic blueprint of your paper. Typically has two parts: Introductory Remarks Thesis Statement + Two Parts of the Introduction (1) Introductory Remarks Purpose is to set up reader for your Thesis Statement. Don’t worry about trying to grab my attention. Just cut to the chase. Never EVER EVER EVER start a paper with a sentence like this: “Since the dawn of time…” “Webster’s defines “____” as …” + Two Parts of the Introduction (2) Thesis Statement A Thesis Statement is not necessarily a single sentence. It should accomplish two things: Tell what Position you are going to take “I will defend __.” Give a brief overview of the arguments you will develop in the main body of your paper. State the specific points you plan to make. + Bad Thesis Statements “I will discuss moral realism.” “The purpose of this essay is to inform readers on what is Moral Relativism, what is Moral Realism, my stance in the argument, and why I believe one side is more plausible than the other.” “I will state my personal stance on the subject as well as a counter argument for moral realism using points given in the power points, readings, and lectures provided throughout this class.” “In this paper I will give reasons for and against my views on moral realism.” + Good Introduction & Thesis Statement Cultural Relativism consists of two claims: (1) there are no objective moral truths, and (2) moral truths are determined by each individual culture. In this essay I will argue that Cultural Relativism is untenable. I defend this for two reasons. First, the main argument in favor of Cultural Relativism, the Cultural Differences argument, is unsuccessful. Second, Cultural Relativism is committed to the highly implausible consequence that all cultures are morally equivalent. + Good Introduction & Thesis Statement Cultural Relativism consists of two claims: (1) there are no objective moral truths, and (2) moral truths are determined by each individual culture. In this essay I will argue that Cultural Relativism is untenable. I defend this for two reasons. First, the main argument in favor of Cultural Relativism, the Cultural Differences argument, is unsuccessful. Second, Cultural Relativism is committed to the highly implausible consequence that all cultures are morally equivalent. Introductory Remarks + Good Introduction & Thesis Statement Cultural Relativism consists of two claims: (1) there are no objective moral truths, and (2) moral truths are determined by each individual culture. In this essay I will argue that Cultural Relativism is untenable. I defend this for two reasons. First, the main argument in favor of Cultural Relativism, the Cultural Differences argument, is unsuccessful. Second, Cultural Relativism is committed to the highly implausible consequence that all cultures are morally equivalent. Introductory Remarks Statement of Position + Good Introduction & Thesis Statement Cultural Relativism consists of two claims: (1) there are no objective moral truths, and (2) moral truths are determined by each individual culture. In this essay I will argue that Cultural Relativism is untenable. I defend this for two reasons. First, the main argument in favor of Cultural Relativism, the Cultural Differences argument, is unsuccessful. Second, Cultural Relativism is committed to the highly implausible consequence that all cultures are morally equivalent. Introductory Remarks Statement of Position Brief overview of arguments + BE SPECIFIC!!!!! 18 Poor Fair Good Excellent Thesis Statement (5%)Student provides no thesis statement. Student provides thesis statement, but it lacks specificity/is vague and fails to provide reader with clear direction of the paper’s purposeStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader a clear sense of what the paper will defend, but lacks details concerning how it will be defendedStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader a clear sense of what the paper will defend, and how it will be defended Engagement with Readings & Lecture (30%)Student: (a) fails to engage with reading/lectures, (b) engagement is very superficial, or (c) engagement contains significant errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures some but (a) lacks sufficient depth, or (b) contains some errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures at a suitable level and is free of major errorsStudent engages with readings/lectures at a significant level and contains no errors Argumentation (20%)The student makes no argument or establishes no clear position to be defended.The student makes an attempt to offer argumentation for a position, but (a) their position is not clearly defined, or (a) their argument lacks persuasive forceThe student makes a reasonable argument, for a clearly defined position. Their argument may contain some weaknesses or unargued assumptions/premisesThe student makes a strong argument, for a clearly defined position, considers potential objections carefully, and has no obvious unargued assumptions/premises Organization (20%)The student’s paper is highly disorganized/does not follow the required outline. The student’s paper has a discernable organization and somewhat adheres to the required outline.The student’s paper has a clear organization and mostly adheres to the required outline.The student’s paper has a clear organization, and adheres exactly to the required outline Writing Style (20%) The student’s writing lacks sophistication, or contains numerous awkward constructions.The student’s writing displays average level of sophistication and some awkward/vague/obscure constructions.The student’s writing displays an appropriate (college) level of sophistication, but may contain some awkward or vague constructions.The student’s writing displays a high level of sophistication, appropriate word use, and no awkward constructions Grammar (5%)The student’s paper contains significant grammatical errorsThe student’s paper contains notable grammatical errors.Student’s paper contains few grammatical errors.Student’s paper contains no grammatical errors. Grading Rubric Engaging With Readings/Lecture You must discuss the information we’ve discussed in readings/lecture. You will be graded on two things: level of detail, level of accuracy Don’t forget who your audience is!!! Also, BE CHARITABLE! + Poor Fair Good Excellent Thesis Statement (5%)Student provides no thesis statement. Student provides thesis statement, but it lacks specificity/is vague and fails to provide reader with clear direction of the paper’s purposeStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader a clear sense of what the paper will defend, but lacks details concerning how it will be defendedStudent provides thesis statement that provides reader