Overview
Core Assessment Preparation: Summarization – In this assignment, you’ll summarize a policy proposal, the enfranchisement lottery, discussed in Garry Gutting’s articleLinks to an external site. (Links to an external site.mirror).
This week’s readings concern the ethics of voting, in particular questions regarding whether it is morally acceptable to restrict access to voting. David Hartvigsen discusses ways in which one might be able to manipulate voting. Rebecca Brenner Graham discusses how voting laws can be used to hinder a group’s political power. Garry Gutting discusses several arguments against universal voting. In this week’s essay, you will discuss the idea of an enfranchisement lottery discussing in Garry Gutting’s articleLinks to an external site. (Links to an external site.mirror) and present an original argument for or against such a system.
Assignment
This essay will consist of two sections, which may contain multiple paragraphs each. Use Bolded Section Headings to separate these sections.
Section 1: Summary
Summarize the idea of an enfranchisement lottery as discussed in Gutting’s articleLinks to an external site. (Links to an external site.mirror) in your own words. Explain how the lottery system might work, who is allowed to vote, and why one might prefer this system over our current democratic system. (Note that Gutting discusses at least 2 variations of the lottery; pick one of them and focus on that one system.).
Section 2: Analysis
Critically evaluate the enfranchisement lottery. Discuss at least one argument in favor or against the argument that hasn’t been discussed by Gutting.
A satisfactory section 2 will include some of the following:
- A discussion of theories, arguments, or examples from our readings and how they relate to the enfranchisement lottery.
- A discussion of your commonsense moral intuitions regarding the lottery system. (Is it consistent with your intuitions regarding voting? Fairness? Equality?)
- A thought experiment and/or real world case that helps the reader better understand the moral issues involved in this topic.
- A critical evaluation of the enfranchisement lottery proposal. Is it simple? Internally consistent? Intuitive? If not, can you propose a better version?
(Note: Make sure to include a references page if you use used external sources (beyond our assigned readings). Feel free to do independent research to support your analysis.)
| Essay Rubric | ||
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| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
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Essay Rubric
view longer description
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50 to >45 pts
A
Student follows assignment instructions and demonstrates an understanding of the theories, arguments, thought experiments, or examples relevant to essay instructions. Assignment is clearly written and well organized. 45 to >40 pts
B
Student follows assignment instructions and demonstrates a partial understanding of the theories, arguments, thought experiments, or examples relevant to essay instructions. 40 to >35 pts
C
Student follows most assignment instructions and demonstrates a partial understanding of the theories, arguments, thought experiments, or examples relevant to essay instructions. 35 to >30 pts
D
Major portions of assignment are incomplete or missing OR student fails to demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical topic at hand. 30 to >0 pts
F
Missing or inaccurate content. |
/ 50 pts
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