Task: Write a 500-word (main text only) essay that answers just ONE of the questions given below (which question you choose to answer is up to you). Make sure to carefully read and follow the Guidelines given after the questions.
(Read carefully, continues on the next page)
Your essay must demonstrate your familiarity with the relevant readings, ideas, and
We want to see you explaining and evaluating the key ideas and arguments in your own words, so quotes should be used very sparingly, but it should still be clear from what you write that you have studied the relevant readings and lecture materials from this subject. Also don’t rely on random things you find on the internet, as there is a lot of unreliable material out there. The SEP and IEP are reliable online resources and, of course, you can rely on any online resources that we have provided, but primarily you should
be relying on the works in the library reading list when doing your assignments. •
. For related information see the Library Guide on AI tools here, and La Trobe’s policies on academic misconduct here. It is permissible, although not advisable (as the quality of its advice varies and building up your own skills in these areas is important), to use generative AI as a tool for guidance on things like how to structure your essay or checking if your sentences are grammatical. But if you do that you must include in your reference
lecture materials from this subject.
Your essay must be your own work and you must not use generative AI tools (like e.g.,
ChatGPT) to write substantial parts of your essay or to generate your references. Failure to follow this guidance is potentially academic misconduct which may have serious
consequences
list/bibliography at the end of your essay a short statement of what AI tool you have used and how you have used it (e.g., “ChatGPT used for advice on how to structure my essay”).
• Do not plagiarise or commit other related forms of academic misconduct. For guidance see: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/students/admin/academic-integrity. And note that any sentences from another text that appear in your essay need to be put in quotation marks and referenced properly in the text as well as in your bibliography at the end. Just having the relevant work listed in your bibliography is not enough, as you have to make it clear what text in your essay is yours and what isn’t. And note also that quotes should be used sparingly, as what we want to see in your essay is how well you can explain and evaluate philosophical ideas in your own words.
• A late penalty of 5% of the total possible marks for the essay applies for each (working) day beyond the (original or extended) due date up to but not exceeding 5 days. An assignment submitted more than 5 working days after its due date will not be accepted without an extension or successful special consideration request.
• Extension and special considerations requests should be submitted online using the relevant forms here: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/?a=668155
• Essays should include proper referencing. You can use any one of the major referencing styles given here: http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/referencing-tool/ . The key thing is that the referencing be complete and consistent (i.e., choose one of these major referencing styles and stick to it).
• Make sure you state the exact question you are answering at the top of the first page of your assignment, and make sure that your essay clearly addresses the tasks set by that question.
• The word limit only applies to the main text and so it does not include things like your reference list at the end, or the text stating the question you are answering. Your essay should be within 10% +/- of the word limit (so 50 words over/under), and a failure to stay within that 10% +/- will impact your grade. If you are struggling to get up to the word limit that is usually a sign that key ideas are not being fully explained and/or examined. If you are struggling to get down to the word limit that is often a sign that your prose needs to be more direct and succinct, and you may also need to be more selective in what points you include in your discussion.
• For guidance on writing philosophy essays see: (i) the rubric for Assignment 1 (under ‘Assessments’), and (ii) the resources in the ‘Philosophy Toolbox’ under the ‘Start Here’ grid on the LMS site. Note also that Jesse Brindley (our subject support tutor) will do a seminar on essay writing in the run up to this assignment (an LMS announcement will be made in Week 2 with the details).
Excellent to Outstanding (A 80-100%)
Very Good (B 70-79%)
Good
(C 60-69%)
Pass
(D 50-59%)
Fail
(N 0-49%)
Focus and relevance
Same standard for As and Bs:
All the material in the essay is directly addressing the tasks set by the essay question,
and no key tasks have been left unaddressed.
The essay clearly demonstrates the student’s detailed engagement with the relevant lecture materials and readings.
Most of the material is addressing the tasks set by the essay question, but there may be some small exceptions.
The essay engages with the relevant lecture materials and readings, but the discussion suggests that these materials needed to be studied more closely and carefully.
There is significant material which is not directly helping to address the tasks set by the essay question, or a key task has been left unaddressed. The essay engages with some relevant lecture materials and readings, but that engagement is superficial.
There is lots of material which is not helping to address the tasks set by the essay question, and key tasks have not been addressed.
The essay does not demonstrate that the student has properly engaged with the relevant lecture materials and readings.
Exposition
The explanation of the core ideas is of an excellent standard being consistently clear, accurate, appropriately in-depth (relative to the short word limit), and succinct.
The explanation of the core ideas is of a very good standard being clear, accurate, appropriately in-depth, and succinct, with some exceptions.
The explanation of the core ideas is solid but in quite a few places it could be either more clear, accurate, appropriately in-depth, or succinct.
The explanation of the core ides ideas is poor with notable areas where the discussion is unclear, inaccurate, superficial, or long- winded.
The explanation of the core ideas is of a very poor standard. Key ideas are badly misrepresented or not identified at all.
Critical Discussion
The essay does an excellent job of identifying and examining one or two key critical issues with respect to the main topic.
The discussion is insightful and the main claims in the essay are clearly identified and well supported.
The essay does a very good job of identifying and evaluating some key critical issues, but there is room for improvement (e.g., perhaps the critical discussion needed to be more selective in what issues it covered so that it could be more in-depth).
The main claims are clearly identified and well supported.
The essay does a good job of identifying and evaluating some key critical issues, but there is notable room for improvement (e.g., the discussion may have failed to consider an important reply to an objection).
Main claims are identified and supported, but the execution could be improved (e.g., some key claims may be unclear, or the supporting reasons may be weak).
The essay has tried to identify and evaluate some key critical issues, but the execution is poor.
The essay may have seriously misrepresented some issues or failed to provide adequate support for its main claims.
The essay has done a very poor job of identifying and evaluating some key critical issues with respect to the main topic.
The critical discussion may be largely absent or very unclear. There are lots of unclear and unsupported claims.
Form
and mechanics
The writing is of an excellent standard being consistently clear, concise, and engaging.
The references are complete and accurate. There are almost no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
The writing is of a very good standard being mainly clear, concise, and engaging, with some exceptions.
The references are complete and accurate. There are very few spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
The writing is of a good standard but in quite a few places it could be either more clear, concise, or engaging.
There could be some small errors with respect to referencing (e.g., forgetting to give a page number for a quotation, or an incomplete reference). There may be a few spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
The writing is of a poor standard. There are notable places where the writing is unclear or long-winded.
There may be some notable referencing errors (e.g., not using quotation marks correctly, or missing references). There are several examples of awkward sentences, grammatical errors, spelling errors, or punctuation errors.
The writing is of a very poor standard. There are many places where the writing is unclear and difficult to follow.
There are many references errors and omissions. There are many examples of awkward sentences, grammatical errors, spelling errors, or punctuation errors.