The first paper assignment description that is due later next week, without any reading is below.

Your Moral Basis Essay is a 5 page critical statement and justification—not about any specific moral decision, incident, view or position you hold but—of the reasons, basis, principles, grounds, experiences, foundations, methodologies or whatever else serves as the basis of what morality is, or what an ethical decision is to you. Just as you "walk" into this course. What's Moral? TO YOU! Where did your handle on these three areas come form?

DO NOT MERELY ASSERT - YOU MUST OFFER A RATIONALE! Not in general - that is, not for everyone! You are the whole topic here; do not write about anyone/-thing else. DO NOT READ ANYTHING FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT!!! Clearly establish your thesis and provide support for it. THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE, PREFER OR FEEL - IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR "VIEW" - THIS IS ABOUT TURNIING WHATEVER VIEW YOU HAVE INTO A POSITION - THAT IS, A WELL-SUPPORTED DEFENSIBLE STANCE THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND EVALUATE FOR ITS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

Since this assignment is so early in the semester, and in fact is intended to be written before any assigned readings, producing a well-written paper that is cogent in your own objective terms is more fitting than trying to employ philosophical theories and jargon. Don't try to 'be philosophical', - you won't be graded on your knowledge - rather, you will be graded on how you support you position with evidence, and how well you write your paper irrespective of the content of what you write. TRY TO CONVINCE THE READER WITH JUSTIFICATIONS THAT THE READER CAN ACCESS AND ASSESS. Do not just list your views. And for the whole course, do not say you like or agree with anything - be convinced, persuaded, etc..

There will be no further description or example of the assignment, since figuring out how to do this paper is part of the assignment.

For this one essay you have permission to use the first person voice (I, My, etc.), but for the rest of the course you'll be using the third person voice, as is standard.

The syllabus contains font, layout, etc., including citation advice (though for this paper, you'll probably have little need to cite a reference)

You will post this assignment in the dropbox found under Lessons/Major Assignments.