Paper Guidelines:
The following guidelines will be taken into consideration in the assessment of papers.
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Understanding: Have you demonstrated a strong understanding of the text? Some signs that a student has strong understanding include: explaining textual material accurately, clearly and in their own words; elaborating on textual evidence; relating textual evidence related back to the argument at hand (i.e., making it clear why your chosen evidence helps build your argument).
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Argument: Have you developed and sustained a strong argument? Some signs that a student has a strong argument include: taking a clear position on the question prompt; logically unpacking that position through the paper; supporting and developing that position with relevant evidence from the text.
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Structure: Is your paper structured according to the logical steps that will develop your argument?
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Short Introduction: Your introduction should include the question you are responding to, a brief outline of the logical steps you are taking to make your argument, and thesis statement.
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Body: Excellent body sections have a clear purpose in developing your argument and moving it forward. Remember to explicitly state the purpose of each section at the beginning of that section (i.e., topic sentence). Each section should logically progress one to the next.
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Concluding sentence(s): Due to the short length of these papers, a brief conclusion of one to two sentences is fine.
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Writing Style: Is your paper well written and have you cited textual evidence? Simple, precise writing that clearly communicates meaning is preferable to more complex writing that does not clearly communicate meaning. Clarity is when the writer helps, rather than hinders, the reader from following their logic. In-text citations should be in Stephanus (Plato) or Bekker (Aristotle). Bibliography can be in the citation style of your choice.
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Citation: From text (book) in text citation example: (Euthyphro 3a-b) or (Apology 31c)
Topic:
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Is Socrates destroying Athens, or trying to save it? Why? Support your answer with textual evidence from Euthyphro and Apology. (Pursasive – Yes he is trying to save the Athens)