Personal Memoir

For this unit, you’re writing a personal memoir on the Good Life. You will select one or two key defining events that have occurred in your life that have determined your thinking on what constitutes the Good Life.

I. Guidelines for the Essay

· Your final product should be 750-1000 words.

· Be clear and compelling! If you were to show your writing to a friend who is not in the class, they should be able to understand how…., and how what you’ve written addresses each of the elements below. They should also find what you’re saying compelling or interesting!

· It is ok—and even encouraged—that you write in the first person. This assignment is about you (or the person whose identity you’re exploring)!

II. Elements of the Memoir

· What (~150 words, 3 pts.)

· Clearly and concisely state what the Good Life is. (e.g., Aristotle’s objective list? Utilitarian maximization of happiness in the world? Creating meaning for yourself?)

· This needs to include elements regarding your own individual life, and your relationships with others (those who are close to you and in broader society). If you don’t think the Good Life involves relationships with others, say that.

· How (~150 words, 3 pts.)

· This is the memoir part. Clearly and compellingly share the 1-2 event(s) that have shaped your thinking on the Good Life.

· Why (~150 words, 3 pts.)

· Clearly and compelling describe why you think the Good Life is as you articulated it, and what specifically about the selected memoir event(s) highlights your reasoning.

· This is also a natural place to incorporate a discussion of what philosophical worldview is founding your understanding of what makes a life good. (E.g., is Existentialism or Confucianism that which makes a life good?)

· Worries? (~150 words, 3 pts.)

· Imagine someone who disagrees with you about your account of what the Good Life is. What would their biggest worry be? (E.g., is there a counterexample they might offer? Would they be worried about the societal implications of your view?)

· How would you respond to their worry?

· Future Concerns (~150 words, 3 pts.)

· The Good Life, no matter what account of it is given, must set its eyes on the future; that is, it must be lived out. Therefore, discuss what steps you are currently taking so that you can live the Good Life.

· Include future steps that you anticipate taking. (E.g., taking up a career to help people, having family/friends, etc.)

· Optional (~150 words, up to 2 pts. may be added)

· If the event you selected did not directly deal with dying in any way, consider what role death plays in your understanding of the Good Life.

· If it did deal with dying, expand upon something non-death related.

· Clearly mark your optional section , so that I can consider adding points for it!

· Other (5 pts for incorporation, up to 1 pt. can be subtracted for each of the other four criteria)

· Incorporate at least two of the readings into your essay.

· You can incorporate the readings into any of the sections.

· Organization

· The structure of the memoir should be clear. You can even use section headings to make sure the structure is clear.

· Clarity

· Can a student easily understand what you are saying?

· Compellingness

· Would someone who starts reading want to continue reading?

· Citations

· Make sure you cite any source that you use. Presumably, there should be at least two citations (for the readings you incorporate).