The following outlines what should be included in your paper. This structure should seem familiar to you because it flows from the Taylor excerpt you had read. Although Taylor addressed many of the following issues in more than a paragraph, you should also keep in mind that his essay is much longer—about 50 pages. Since your paper will only be 3 pages, you will have to be more concise and organize your ideas much more succinctly.
Paper Topic: Compare and contrast Plato and Descartes. Is contact with another necessary or beneficial for learning or is she a hindrance?
The following website will give you further pointers for developing a compare/contrast thesis.
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/comparing-and-contrasting/
I. The introductory paragraph should include the following. The first two items must be given in that order. You can reorder the last three components but all of them must appear in the introduction. The introduction should be ½ page to 1 page long.
1.A hook: why this topic would be important or interesting to readers?
2.A thesis: the point for which you will argue.
3.A brief explanation (one sentence) of the counterpoint: the position with which you do not agree or stands in contrast to the position that you will argue.
4.A reason that shows a flaw or weakness of the counterpoint.
5.A reason to support your own thesis. Why is your position stronger or more helpful than the counterpoint?
II. Body of the paper
1.A more thorough explanation of the counterpoint (points I 3and I 4 above). This should be ½ page to 1 page long.
2.A more thorough explanation of I 5. This should be ½ page to 1 page long.
III. Conclusion paragraph: This should explain how this topic is relevant to contemporary life through a pertinent example. This should be ½ page to 1 page long. For example, recall how I asked you to explain Descartes in conjunction with sexism and racism. (The thrust of Descartes’ proof is that what we think can be accurate or inaccurate representations of the the world. In other words, everything we know is filtered through the mind. How does this help to explain racism, sexism, or other types of prejudice?)
Students should identify and explain an example that helps you to make your point. The more the example relates to contemporary society and culture, the better.
Other required elements: One quote from either Plato or Descartes with proper citation. One paraphrase of Plato or Descartes’ ideas with proper citation. There should be one of each. One quote from Plato and paraphrase of Descartes or vice versa.
You can simply cite work like the following: (Plato, Cave, 515) or (Descartes, First Meditation, 2).
Do not cite my PowerPoints, notes, or responses on the discussion forums/blogs. They are meant to help you understand better the texts. So, you can use these guides to point you to places in the text. And, of course, the text can and should be your main resource for quotes and paraphrases. Define your terms properly, as Descartes does in his proofs.
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