CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS

PHIL 2320: SPRING (II) 2001

Bob Corbett, instructor

THE ASSIGNMENT FOR THE FIRST PAPER: PREPARATION HINTS; GRADING CRITERIA

• ASSIGNMENT: This is actually two separate one page papers.
  • The situation is this: You are an avid computer user, and a virtual addict of e-mail. You are constantly on-line and have a huge correspondence. You are also desperately depressed and ready to commit suicide. (These two facts are not particularly related.) On e-mail you have told some of your correspondents about your plans to commit suicide. Now, your e-mail is invaded by someone with absolutely no permission to do this and you are extremely unhappy that this invader knows of your plan. Further, the invader now believes he or she is OBLIGATED to intervene to help you since you are "sick," and in need of help. You do NOT believe yourself to be either sick or in need of help, rather you believe yourself to be doing the right thing.
  • In writing these two one page papers you ABSOLUTELY MUST adopt the assumptions of the situation above.
  • Paper one: The invader is a beloved parent, either father or mother, or both. You know they love you; know they mean well though you are completely in disagreement with their beliefs and conclusion about you.
  • Paper two: The invader is either:
    • An official of Webster University. This person is an employee whom you like and whom you know likes you. He or she invaded your e-mail privacy as part of a policy of the university. There is no animosity at all between you and the employee and your e-mail was invaded as a general policy of the university to keep an eye on students.
    • A government official of the government of Austria. This person doesn't know you at all in any way, nor you the official. Your e-mail was invaded as part of a government planned and sanctioned plan to keep tabs on what citizens (or non-citizens who happen to be in Austria) are up to and the aim is to be sure people are not up to some terrible evils like terrorism, or about to harm themselves.
  • The actual paper # 1: Write exactly one page of argument concerning the violation of your e-mail privacy. Answer two questions:
    • In one single short sentence: Is this violation of your e-mail privacy morally acceptable behavior on the part of your parent(s)?
    • The rest of the page: Make the very best RATIONAL case you can make to defend your claim.
  • The actual paper # 2: Write exactly one page of argument concerning the violation of your e-mail privacy. Answer three questions:
    • Who violated your privacy. No more than 10 words.
    • In one single short sentence: Is this violation of your e-mail privacy morally acceptable behavior on the part of the person who did it?
    • The rest of the page: Make the very best RATIONAL case you can make to defend your claim.

    This is, in sum, a two-page paper (single spaced, small margins on all four sides. But it must be treated as two totally separate one page papers.

  • PRE-PREPARATION TASKS:
    1. Think through the two situations with care.
    2. Consider carefully if WHO the people are, and the nature of their relationship to you counts as a significant difference.
    3. Figure out your position(s). Reduce the main belief one claim of about 20 words.
    4. Figure out the primary reasons you have to offer for this thesis.
    5. Think it through. Are you convinced by the argument? What are its major strengths and weaknesses. Build arguments to support your beliefs.
    6. Imagine what counter-arguments are others likely to bring. Try to make your case in such a way that you don't leave yourself open to any obvious objections.
  • THINGS I WILL ESPECIALLY NOTE AND LOOK FOR IN GRADING THE PAPER:
    1. Is the thesis of each essay stated early in the paper in a single short sentence?
    2. Is the argument presented in clear and articulate language? Is all the argumentation originally the student's?
    3. Is the first paper exactly one page?
    4. Is the thesis of the second argument stated early in the paper in a single short sentence?
    5. Is the whole paper EXACTLY two pages, singled spaced with small margins and normal sized type?
    6. Is the paper carefully proof-read, in standard English and with a minimum of errors of grammar, spelling or missed typos?
  • THE GRADES THEMSELVES:
    • A grade of A will mean:
      The paper presents careful and thoughtful arguments which reflect the difference in who the people are in each case. The paper anticipates the easy objections and is worded in such a way as to avoid these counter-arguments. The position is persuasive. The paper is exactly two pages long. The whole of the paper was in standard English with a minimum of errors and a splash of style and taste.
    • A grade of B will mean:
      Both pages are well done and the argumentation tight and mainly successful. The paper meets ALL the basic requirements of size and form. However, the paper is not quite as exceptional as an A paper would be expected to be; or conversely, the content is quite brilliant, but there are excessive lapses in the form.
    • A grade of C will mean:
      A genuinely good paper that is primarily accurate and the form and style are strong. However, the paper lacks any glimpses of something beyond the expected, the reasonable expectation of college work. It is just that. Normal, good, solid work with neither noticeable weaknesses nor special moments of brilliance.
    • A grade of D will mean:
      Some more serious deviations from the criteria expressed above. These might be in inaccuracies of the analysis, noticeable lapses in form or special weaknesses in the use of the English language.
    • A grade of F may mean anyone of three things:
      
      1. The paper was not turned in on time.
      2. Significant failures to meet the assignment at the level of reasonable university level expectations of thought, attention to detail, attention to the time guidelines or presentation expectations. (Specifics will be pointed out).
      3. Some of the particular aspects of the assignment were ignored (length, form, separate of sections, etc.) or presented in quite unacceptable forms.

      Please note that any evidence of plagiarism, that is work that is not the student's own, will result not only is a grade of F for the paper, but for the entire course.

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