Assessment

This course is assessed through two means: a written essay, worth 40% of the marks, and a final examination, worth 60%.

The Essay

The essay is due in on Monday, November 27, 2000.  There is no harm in submitting it earlier.

It should be approximately 2000-2500 words.

The topic of the essay leaves a lot to your choice: I want you to take a moral controversy that interests you, state (some of) the major issues on both sides and their associated arguments, and evaluate them. This may lead you to favour one side in the controversy over the other(s), but it need not. You may decide that no position is clearly preferable to any of the others. The point of the assignment is not to decide the issue as such but to evaluate the considerations involved in the various positions that people have maintained on it.

I recommend that you do not take an issue where you are passionately committed to one controversial position, since the passion may hinder your consideration of alternatives. Choose something where you can see a possibility of changing your mind in the light of reflection.

I recommend that you read around the issue you are interested in as early as possible in the course, and then let me know – by email (ebrandon@uwichill.edu.bb) preferably – what it is and what you see as the main issues. This may allow me to make a few suggestions before you get too committed.  I suggest you do this before the end of September.

For some advice on writing essays in philosophy, see Ronald Hepburn’s guide (courtesy of the Edinburgh Department).  If you want a longer guide, you could look at Douglas Portmore's Tips on Writing a Philosophy Paper (this link takes you off the local server).

The Exam

The examination will be held on December 13th at 2.00 pm. The examination will last two hours.