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Please use common simple vocabulary
15 points for the strength of the argument (how convincingly you argue for your position, including how well you address potential counter-arguments).
• 3 points for using the correct vocabulary throughout the essay (valid; invalid; sound; unsound; strong, weak; cogent, uncogent.)
• 1 point for style, including spelling, grammar, and sentence structure, and
• 1 point for putting the argument formally (i.e. P1….; P2….C…) at the beginning of the paper correctly and titling the paper correctly; in other words, putting the text of your slide from the workshop at the beginning of the paper.
The Assignment: The paper will make an argument for a topic of interest to you. You will be expected to use the logical framework we have been developing in the first unit of class. Topics could be on anything, from a political issue, an issue involving a sports team, a band, a TV show, movie, or video game, or anything else. The point is to argue for your position, either inductively or deductively, and to say explicitly what you are doing. At the outset of your paper, you must put your argument put formally, for example:
Use this dedective Arguement:
P1. All Sylvester Stallone movies are better than all Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.
P2. The Terminator is an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.
C. Therefore, any Sylvester Stallone movie is better than The Terminator.
Example 1 Deductive Argument:
P1. All albums by Led Zeppelin are better than all albums by Bob Dylan.
P2. Blood on the Tracks is an album by Bob Dylan.
C. Therefore, any Led Zeppelin album is better than Blood on the Tracks.
Further, the title of this paper must be something that states your conclusion in some way, such as: “A Deductive Argument for the Superiority of Led Zeppelin over Bob Dylan.”
In this example, since the argument is valid, you will spend most of your time arguing for the truth of the first premise, thereby establishing that the argument is sound. You will want to use this vocabulary (deductive, valid, sound) at the appropriate times in the essay.
Example 2 Inductive Argument:
P1. All the movies directed by Martin Scorsese I’ve seen so far have been excellent.
C. Therefore, probably, Scorsese’s new movie will be excellent.
Further the title of this paper should be something like “An Inductive Prediction Regarding Martin Scorsese’s New Movie.”
Since this is an inductive argument, you will want to make it as strong as possible, by arguing as strongly as you can for the truth of the first premise. Things to bring in include the number of movies Scorsese has made, the positive reviews he has received, etc. How strong do you think your “probably” in the conclusion is, and why?
Use the appropriate vocabulary for inductive arguments – strong, weak, cogent, uncogent — as you make your points.
Counter-Examples: No matter how strong or sound you think your argument is, there are always possible counter-examples that could be raised against it. For example, one could argue that Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited is in fact better than Led Zep’s Houses of the Holy, thus proving your desired conclusion false. You need to raise, and respond, to at least one counter-example in your paper.
Sources: Depending on your topic, evidence from external sources may be appropriate. You may cite from any source you choose, using any citation method you choose. That said, failure to cite appropriate sources will be counted against you, because you are not making your argument as strong as possible. Eg: in the inductive argument above, you will want to cite reviews of Scorsese’s other films and what critics are saying so far about his new film.
Tips For Writing Philosophy Papers:
1. Use the 1st person! For example: “In this paper, I will argue inductively that Tom Brady is the best quarterback of the modern football era. I will use statistics about his X, Y, and Z to make my point.”
2. Get right to the point! NO FLUFF IN PHILOSOPHY PAPERS! EVER! Every sentence should be doing some active work in directly advancing your argument.