SHORT PAPER

1. Choose a set of readings & sign up for your presentation.

2. Read the articles!!!

3. Pick the most interesting article.

4. Identify the author's main point or most interesting claim.

5. Lay out the author's argument in logical form (i.e., MP, MT, etc.)

6. Critically evaluate the author's argument.

7. Explain why you think the author is right or wrong.

8. The point of this paper is for you to engage in a critical evaluation of the author's main point or most interesting claim.

9. Prepare an outline of your paper for class.

10. Present your paper to the class.

 

LONG PAPER

1. Pay attention to the various accounts of human knowledge covered in the course.

2. Formulate your own account of human knowledge.

3. Present/explain your claim(s) or idea(s).

4. Lay out at least one argument for your view.

5. Critically evaluate your view.

6. Explain why you think your view is correct.

7. The point of this paper is for you to present and defend your own account of human knowledge.

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DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING PAPERS

1. INTRODUCTION

         *Begin by stating your objective/purpose

         *(i.e., The purpose of this paper is ...)

         *Say why you THINK this is an important topic/ question

         *Explain what you are going to do/show in the paper

 

2. MAKE YOUR CASE

         *Present your evidence/set up/lay out your argument(s)

         *i.e., Plato thinks that Socrates is NOT a Sophist BECAUSE:

                           P1--If a Sophist, Then Lots of $$$

                           P2--~(Lots of $$$)

                           C--S0 ~ a Sophist

         *REMEMBER--you are trying to justify what you believe

 

3. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE ARGUMENT(S)

         *State what kind of argument it is

         *(i.e., Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Induction, Disjunction)

         *Check its validity/strength

         *Explain why its PREMISES are TRUE or FALSE

         *Any counter-examples???

         *Say what you THINK about the argument(s)

 

4. CONCLUSION

         *Say what you have done/shown

         *(i.e., This paper has shown that ...)

 

5. NOTE : GRAMMATICAL & MECHANICAL MISTAKES COUNT!!

    3 OR MORE WILL RESULT IN A FULL GRADE REDUCTION!!