PHI 103 Final Argument Paper

Final Argument Paper

This final assignment is designed to involve all of the main skills that you have learned during this course. In particular, your paper should demonstrate the ability to construct a deductively valid or inductively strong argument, clearly and accurately explain your reasoning, use high-quality academic sources to support the premises of your argument, fairly and honestly evaluate contrary arguments and objections, and identify fallacies and biases that occur within the arguments or objections presented.

You will continue to build on the arguments that you are presented in your previous two papers. In particular,, you will present a final improved version of your argument for your thesis that you begin for the Week One Assignment and fully address the objection that you developed for your Week Three Assignment. You will need to research a minimum of three scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library. (For further information about discovering and including scholarly research, take a look at the FindIt@AU Tutorial instructional resource.)

Write: in your paper

• Explain the topic you are addressing and your position      on it. Provide a preview of your paper and a statement of your thesis in      your opening paragraph. [Approximately 100 words]
  • For help crafting a good thesis statement, go to the       Ashford Writing Center.
• Present your main argument for your thesis in standard      form, with each premise and the conclusion on a separate line. Clearly      indicate whether your argument is intended to be inductive or deductive.      Follow up the presentation of your argument by clarifying the meaning of      any premises that could use some explanation. [About 150 words]
  • If your argument is deductive, then it should be valid       (in the strict logical sense of the word); if it is inductive, then it       should be strong. Make sure to avoid committing logical fallacies within       your argument (e.g., begging the question). Additionally, the premises       should be true, to the best of your knowledge. If one of your premises       has a pretty obvious counter-example, then you should either fix the       argument so that it does not have this flaw, or later, in your paper       (steps three through five) you should address the apparent       counter-example (showing that it does not really refute the truth of your       premise). Arguments that are not valid, not very strong, commit       fallacies, or that have counter-examples that are not adequately       addressed will not receive full credit.
• Provide supporting evidence for the premises of your      argument. [Approximately 350 words]
  • Pay special attention to those premises that could be       seen as controversial. Evidence may include academic research sources,       supporting arguments (arguments whose conclusions are premises of the       main argument), or other ways of demonstrating the truth of those       premises. This section should include at least one scholarly research       source.
• Explain a strong objection to your argument.      [Approximately 250 words]
  • Study what people on the other side of this question       think about your reasoning and present the best possible objection that       someone could have to your argument. Do not commit the straw man       fallacy here. Reference at least one scholarlyresearch source. See       the “Practicing Effective Criticism” section of Chapter 9 of the course       text for more information.
• Defend your argument against the objection.      [Approximately 200 words]
  • Once you have presented the objection, indicate       clearly how you might respond to it. It is acceptable to admit that       reasonable people might disagree with you or that there might be an area       in which your argument could be further strengthened, but you should do       your best to explain why your argument is sound or cogent despite the       objections.
• Provide an appropriate conclusion. [Approximately 75      words]
  • For guidance about how to develop a conclusion see the       Introductions and Conclusion resource from the Ashford Writing Center