Philosophy

Midterm Paper Prompt PHIL 1301: Introduction to Philosophy

Prof. Norwood

DUE March 28th 2021 by 11:59 PM Central

Students are required to submit a 750-word (minimum) midterm paper, which will count for 15% of their final

course grade. The student will present a situation requiring an ethical choice made by an individual drawn from

the real world (i.e. a news story), consider the possible choices available and their consequences, take a position

on the situation (i.e. state what choice they would make in the same situation), and justify that choice. The

student must incorporate significant references to at least two thinkers discussed in the course so far as part of

their evaluation of the situation requiring an ethical choice. The paper will be graded according to the attached

rubric. The student should do the following (please note—this is not an outline):

1. Choose a news story involving an individual faced with an ethical decision. Include a link to the news story at the top of your first page.

2. Summarize the situation, the available choices, and the consequences of those choices. Based on your chosen news story, identify the person making a choice, the options that person had available to

them, and the potential consequences of those possible choices. You should also make it clear what

choice the person actually made and what the consequences of that choice have been.

3. Take a position. In other words, make a choice. Explain what you would have done in that person’s position. You are free to agree or disagree with the choice that was actually made.

4. Justify that choice with rational arguments. In other words, explain why you would make that choice.

5. Include significant references to at least two thinkers discussed in class (from Unit 1 or Unit 2). These references can be used in any part of the paper and should demonstrate thoughtful engagement

with the philosophers and ideas encountered in this course. In other words, this should be more than

using two random quotes from philosophers. You could use references to different philosophers to

explain your choice (For example, “I would have chosen to do _________ because I agree with Plato

that __________.”). You could use these references when you outline the possible choices a person

could have made (For example, “The person in this news story could have taken an Epicurean

approach and done_________”, or, “Someone following virtue theory would choose to _________

because…”).

Papers must be submitted through eCampus. Any student who turns in plagiarized work for the midterm

paper will receive a failing grade for the course.

Students will receive 2 points of extra credit if they have the MVC Writing Center look over their paper

prior to the due date and provide Prof. Norwood with proof of that meeting.