Question Description
Analytical Essay Students are to write a 3-4 page analytical essay on an ethical topic of their own choosing. The paper topic must originate from Boethius’ Consolation, Kant’s Grounding or Sartre’s Existentialism. I want students to pick a question that one of these books sparked in them and then use the book, and only the book, to answer the question. There should be NO internet citations or resources. I do not want students consulting the internet for topics or already written essays or help of any kind for this paper. The point of this assignment is for students to answer an original question that the book ignited in them by using the book itself as evidence. • The first thing you should do is decide which author you intend to write on. • The second thing you should do is formulate your question. • Next you should collect and organize quotes from the book that relate to your question. • Generate your thesis. It should be your answer to the question. • Body paragraphs must include your reasoning that supports your thesis, and body paragraphs must contain substantial text support (quotations). • The paper should be typed, double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12, and in MLA format. It should also include a works-cited for your primary source text. Sample questions you might try to answer are: 1.) Does Lady Philosophy ultimately cure Boethius’ anxiety in the Consolation of Philosophy? Why or why not? 2.) What is the relationship between Fate and Providence in the Consolation and Philosophy? 3.) Why does Kant this it is possible to have an objective morality that is universal? What is his evidence? What are the strengths and weaknesses of his position? 4.) In section III of Kant’s Grounding, he references a distinction between and intelligible world and a sensible world. How does Kant’s distinction relate to Plato’s allegory of the Cave? 5.) For Sartre, does one have to exist in anguish and despair if God does not exist? 6.) Is everything permissible if God does not exist? These are only examples of questions these books provoke in me. You can use any of these, but I recommend you selecting your own question. You will get more out of the paper writing experience that way.