Topic #1: The Problem of Evil

Essay #1: Assignments instructions

NB: Before starting your essay, you should read this entire document as

well as the information in the ‘Essay Assignments: Grading Criteria and

Helpful Information’ folder.

The articles given below are from The New York Times. Non-subscribers are

limited to the number of articles they can read, but the Richland Library has full

access to The New York Times. You can access The New York Times via this

DCCCD Library web page.

Topic #1: The Problem of Evil

Chapter 3 of our text deals with the problem of evil. Read this article from The

New York Times and write an essay that connects the article to the

philosophical problem of evil. Your essay must include reference to chapter 3 of

our text as well as at least one reference to an article/entry in either The

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy or The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,

through quotation and/or paraphrase. Rather than your opinion on the problem

of evil, your essay should be a discussion of the problem of evil.

Topic #2: The Problem of Personal Identity

Chapter 5 of our text deals with the problem of personal identity. Read this

article from The New York Times and write an essay that connects the article to

the philosophical problem of personal identity. Your essay must include

reference to chapter 5 of our text as well as at least one reference to an

article/entry in either The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy or The Stanford

Encyclopedia of Philosophy, through quotation and/or paraphrase. Rather than

your opinion on the problem of personal identity, your essay should be a

discussion of the problem of personal identity.

In addition to what is described above, your essay must include the following:

• A heading done according to MLA

• An original title

• An introductory paragraph that contains your thesis (see this VERY

helpful advice on how to write your intro/begin your essay, and if you are

unsure of how to write a thesis, read this advice on developing a thesis)

• A summary of the New York Times article (If you are unsure of how to

write a summary, read this helpful advice on how to correctly summarize

a text)

• Body paragraphs that discuss the problem of evil or the problem of

personal identity, depending on the topic you chose, through reference to

the article, chapter 3 or 5 of our text, depending on your topic, and at

least one of the sources mentioned above (here is some excellent advice

on how to structure body paragraphs)

• A minimum of 3 full pages (your works cited page doesn’t count as a

page)

• A conclusion (see this VERY helpful advice on how to conclude your

essay)

Your essay should be double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point font; your

paper should be written in Standard English and done in MLA format. You must

include a MLA works cited page that includes all sources used in your essay,

including the article I provided.

To submit your paper, click on ‘Essay 1.’ You should attach a file that can be

opened with Microsoft Word (doc or docx); do not submit a pdf or type in the

submission box.

Any instance of plagiarism will be punished by a minimum of an F on the

assignment and a report to the associate dean of the humanities division.

Further punishment could include failure in the course, suspension, or

expulsion.