PHIL 100 Moller

Prompt: state and defend a thesis related to egoism.

Second Paper

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Requirements: Your paper must begin with the following sentence: In this paper I will argue that. Papers not starting with this sentence will be penalized. You must state and respond to at least one objection to your own thesis. Policies: This is not a research paper. Do not use outside sources, the web, etc. Any extensions must be sought from your TA in advance; there will be no extensions without some compelling reason. Late work: marked down by a full grade for one day late, then a third of a grade for subsequent days (e.g., B+ to B). Papers will not be accepted more than a week late.

Format: 1500 - 1800 words. Due Tuesday 12/3. Your TA will request hardcopy or email. Include a word-count, your name, your section, a title, and page-numbers. No separate title-page. Use 12-point font, double-space, and print single-sided. Margins must be at least 1 inch. Staple. Include the honor pledge (Google UMD honor pledge). Cite sources by including parenthetical references to the last name of the author and the page number, so: his point (Collins 46). Or: this claim (Collins 46). Include a Works Cited page at the end of the paper listing sources. When citing authors in the course reader, use the last name of the author, the page number in the reader, and on the Works Cited page, list the author and article, and note that its contained in the PHIL 100 Course Reader. For more details, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ , but dont worry too much about formatting. You must observe academic integrity; any form of borrowing other peoples ideas without attribution is plagiarism and will be reported to the honor council. This can get you expelled.

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! Most college-level papers need to accomplish two things: !

Writing Analytical Papers

Offer exposition: you must engage with the course-readings. The early parts of your paper should explain the relevant ideas in the reading. If you are writing about Paley and design, you must explain his claims using your own words, but support them with references and occasional quotations. The exposition should be charitable, even if you later contest the views thus expounded. Think of yourself as explaining the material to an intelligent person who hasnt read the text.

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Offer critical evaluation: you must also evaluate the ideas you are writing about, which means (a) stating whether you think those ideas are right or wrong, and (b) giving reasons for your assessment. We dont just want a book-report; we want to know what you think! But its not enough simply to state that you agree with X or Y; you must explain what reasons lead you to accept or reject the views you consider. For example, you might object to someones claims because they rest on false assumptions, or you might dismiss an objection by devising a response on behalf of the author.

It is usually a good idea to organize your paper around a central thesis that you state clearly at the outset. Be clear, direct and straightforward. Avoid the following: Vague fluff: Since the dawn of man, people have wondered Being cute: little jokes, personal stories, slang, etc. This is a formal essay. Do the following: Be charitablethe views you criticize have to seem worth criticizing! Be originalshow that youve thought for yourself. Orient the reader by explaining what youre doing: In this paper I will argue that Dawkins fails to refute the argument from design. (Fine to use I.)

Writing-quality It is critical that your paper be well-written. You cannot be persuasive if you arent clear or if your English is distracting. You must edit. After writing a first draft, print-out your paper and read it aloud. (Even better: give it to someone you trust to proof-read.) Check for grammar and clarity. See the UMD writing center if necessary.