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Instructions. Choose one prompt from the options on the next page. Then, write a 3-5 page paper that: 1. Summarizes the ethical issue you are discussing (1-2 paragraphs) 2. Explains the argument as instructed in your prompt and described below (2-3 paragraphs) 3. Raises an objection as described below to a premise in that argument. Some prompts direct you to consider an objection to a specific premise (1-2 paragraphs) 4. Explains the objection as described below (1-2 paragraphs) Format & Style Guidelines ? ? ? ? ? ? Each paragraph consists of at least five complete, relevant, substantive sentences Typed, double-spaced, 10-12pt font Please proofread your essay, or ask a tutor or trusted friend to proofread All outside resources must be cited; citation format does not matter You do not need an introduction or conclusion, though it’s fine to include them Your paper should be titled “[Topic] Prompt [X]” … e.g., “Abortion Prompt 2” etc. Writing Goal Stage 2 Standard. See pages 4-5 below for more explanation of these items ___ 1. Factual explanation of issue is adequate and accurate (1-2 paragraphs) ___ 2. Clearly identifies and explains ethical problem addressed by argument under discussion ___ 3. Gives adequate explanation of argument under discussion (2-3 paragraphs) ___ 4. Presents relevant objection that meets the conditions specified in prompt (1-2 paragraphs) ___ 5. Gives adequate explanation of objection ___ 6. Each paragraph consists of at least five complete, relevant, substantive sentences ___ 7. Paper follows all format & style guidelines above Prompts The Environment. First, summarize the issue as instructed below. Then choose one prompt to respond to: 1. In your own words, explain the Biocentric Argument. Then raise and explain an objection to the argument’s first premise. 2. In your own words, explain the No Difference Argument. Then raise and explain an objection to the argument’s first premise. Explanation of Standard If you’re not sure what you’re being asked to do, read these explanations carefully. Follow up with me by email or during office hours if you need further clarification: 1. Summarize the central ethical question, problem, or issue (1-2 paragraphs). This means: a. Give a factual explanation of the issue. This should be at least one paragraph. ? ? ? For example, if you were writing about capital punishment, you would explain what, precisely, “capital punishment” is, how common it is in the US, what its current legal status is, etc. You can use the “Just The Facts” section and glossary of your issue’s chapter in Living Ethics for this You can also use any reliable, unbiased sources, but you must cite them b. Explain the specific ethical problem or question that you will be exploring. ? ? It’s not enough to say, “I will examine an argument for the pro-choice position.” You need to explain what the pro-choice position is. This may require distinguishing it from other positions that are related. For example, are you using “pro-choice” to describe the claim that abortion should be legal? Or to describe the claim that abortion is morally permissible? Those are different claims, and you should be clear what you mean. 2. Follow the directions in the prompt (4-5 paragraphs). Each asks you to explain an argument, then to raise and explain an objection to one of its premises. Here is what that means: a. For definitions of “premise” and “argument,” see Writing Goal Stage 1 reading and checks b. To “explain the argument” means to: ? put it in context relating it to the issue you’ve just summarized (e.g., “The argument I’ll be discussing in this paper lends support to the pro-cheating position. It does not actually show that cheating is morally acceptable, but it does show that cheaters don’t deserve to be punished.”) ? state each premise in your own words, demonstrating that you understand the key concepts by giving examples, making comparisons, or applying it to concrete situations ? define any philosophical terms in the premises that you haven’t defined already ? clarify any ambiguity, vagueness, or other potential source of confusion in the premises ? most importantly: explain what makes the premises plausible; i.e., what reasons there are for thinking that the premises are true. An adequate explanation will take at least two paragraphs. c. To “raise an objection” means to present a reason to doubt that something is true. ? Stating your disagreement is not raising an objection. ? If you say, “I don’t believe that God exists,” you are reporting something about your beliefs, but not giving any reasons, and hence not raising any objections. ? On the other hand, if you say, “God would never have allowed the Holocaust to occur, which shows God does not exist,” you have given a reason, and hence raised an objection to the belief that God exists. ? You do not have to believe that the objection is correct! The point is to consider it, not to endorse it. Raising an objection will require at least one full paragraph. d. To “explain an objection” means to: ? state it in your own words, showing that you understand it by giving examples and/or applying it to specific cases ? define any key terms if they haven’t already been defined ? clarify any ambiguity, vagueness, or other source of confusion ? most importantly: explain what makes the objection plausible; i.e., what reasons there are for thinking that it’s true. An adequate explanation of your objection will require at least one paragraph Instructions. Choose one prompt from the options on the next page. Then, write a 3-5 page paper that: 1. Summarizes the ethical issue you are discussing (1-2 paragraphs) 2. Explains the argument as instructed in your prompt and described below (2-3 paragraphs) 3. Raises an objection as described below to a premise in that argument. Some prompts direct you to consider an objection to a specific premise (1-2 paragraphs) 4. Explains the objection as described below (1-2 paragraphs) Format & Style Guidelines ? ? ? ? ? ? Each paragraph consists of at least five complete, relevant, substantive sentences Typed, double-spaced, 10-12pt font Please proofread your essay, or ask a tutor or trusted friend to proofread All outside resources must be cited; citation format does not matter You do not need an introduction or conclusion, though it’s fine to include them Your paper should be titled “[Topic] Prompt [X]” … e.g., “Abortion Prompt 2” etc. Writing Goal Stage 2 Standard. See pages 4-5 below for more explanation of these items ___ 1. Factual explanation of issue is adequate and accurate (1-2 paragraphs) ___ 2. Clearly identifies and explains ethical problem addressed by argument under discussion ___ 3. Gives adequate explanation of argument under discussion (2-3 paragraphs) ___ 4. Presents relevant objection that meets the conditions specified in prompt (1-2 paragraphs) ___ 5. Gives adequate explanation of objection ___ 6. Each paragraph consists of at least five complete, relevant, substantive sentences ___ 7. Paper follows all format & style guidelines above Prompts The Environment. First, summarize the issue as instructed below. Then choose one prompt to respond to: 1. In your own words, explain the No Difference Argument. Then raise and explain an objection to the argument’s first premise. Explanation of Standard If you’re not sure what you’re being asked to do, read these explanations carefully. Follow up with me by email or during office hours if you need further clarification: 1. Summarize the central ethical question, problem, or issue (1-2 paragraphs). This means: a. Give a factual explanation of the issue. This should be at least one paragraph. ? ? ? For example, if you were writing about capital punishment, you would explain what, precisely, “capital punishment” is, how common it is in the US, what its current legal status is, etc. You can use the “Just The Facts” section and glossary of your issue’s chapter in Living Ethics for this You can also use any reliable, unbiased sources, but you must cite them b. Explain the specific ethical problem or question that you will be exploring. ? ? It’s not enough to say, “I will examine an argument for the pro-choice position.” You need to explain what the pro-choice position is. This may require distinguishing it from other positions that are related. For example, are you using “pro-choice” to describe the claim that abortion should be legal? Or to describe the claim that abortion is morally permissible? Those are different claims, and you should be clear what you mean. 2. Follow the directions in the prompt (4-5 paragraphs). Each asks you to explain an argument, then to raise and explain an objection to one of its premises. Here is what that means: a. For definitions of “premise” and “argument,” see Writing Goal Stage 1 reading and checks b. To “explain the argument” means to: ? put it in context relating it to the issue you’ve just summarized (e.g., “The argument I’ll be discussing in this paper lends support to the pro-cheating position. It does not actually show that cheating is morally acceptable, but it does show that cheaters don’t deserve to be punished.”) ? state each premise in your own words, demonstrating that you understand the key concepts by giving examples, making comparisons, or applying it to concrete situations ? define any philosophical terms in the premises that you haven’t defined already ? clarify any ambiguity, vagueness, or other potential source of confusion in the premises ? most importantly: explain what makes the premises plausible; i.e., what reasons there are for thinking that the premises are true. An adequate explanation will take at least two paragraphs. c. To “raise an objection” means to present a reason to doubt that something is true. ? Stating your disagreement is not raising an objection. ? If you say, “I don’t believe that God exists,” you are reporting something about your beliefs, but not giving any reasons, and hence not raising any objections. ? On the other hand, if you say, “God would never have allowed the Holocaust to occur, which shows God does not exist,” you have given a reason, and hence raised an objection to the belief that God exists. ? You do not have to believe that the objection is correct! The point is to consider it, not to endorse it. Raising an objection will require at least one full paragraph. d. To “explain an objection” means to: ? state it in your own words, showing that you understand it by giving examples and/or applying it to specific cases ? define any key terms if they haven’t already been defined ? clarify any ambiguity, vagueness, or other source of confusion ? most importantly: explain what makes the objection plausible; i.e., what reasons there are for thinking that it’s true.