You are required to write a philosophical essay of 4–5 pages, double–
spaced. Your essay may cover or extend any topic or reading in our
course. The following criteria will be used to evaluate your essay:
1. Does the paper present a focused topic—one narrow enough
to consider the central question or theme slowly and with care?
2. How carefully and rigorously does the student read the texts
they’ve chosen for consideration?
3. Does the paper exemplify the qualities of reflection, rigor,
organization, readable prose, and creativity?
4. Does the paper cite at least one outside source (other than
what we have read in class) that has strong intellectual merit?
