Homo sapiens sapiens: What makes us human?
REWRITE
of Paper
1
Due October 21
Typed, double-spaced, stapled, and with pages numbered
1 copy only
Guidance for evaluating and rethinking your
first version of paper 1.
- Did the two sides actually answer each other's points, not just state
their own?
- If you were to block out the dialogue (if that was your format), how
much
discussion would you have left and what substantive points did it
actually make?
- Was it always clear to readers which side was speaking?
- Did the debaters clearly lay out their reasoning and evidence for
their
preferred dividing line?
- Did each paragraph have a clear point, and did it relate directly to
the
debater's thesis?
- Did the paper exploit information in the readings, or was it pretty
much
disconnected from them?
Potentially helpful discussion of the link
between brain and body, intellect and emotion
Carter, Rita (1998).
Chapter 4,
Mapping the Mind. Berkeley: University of
California Press.
Original Assigned Task
- What would transform humans into non-humans,
or vice-versa? That is, what is the dividing line between human and
non-human?
- Please present two competing views of
where to draw that line. Then make the two views
compete (as in a debate).
- Conclude by saying what your own view is and
why. If you disagree with both or if
you have not yet reached a conclusion, please
explain your reasoning.
- Please clearly specify the criteria each side
is using to determine what is human vs. what is not, that is, where each
says we should draw the
dividing line.
Format
- You may use any format that is effective for your purpose.
I welcome creativity!
- It can be in the form of a debate, a conversation, regular
expository essay, etc. It can even be a single person’s change in view
over time.
- If you are summarizing or quoting some article,
please insert a citation in the text. It need include only the author,
page, and whatever else required to distinguish it from other
readings. If
it is not a class reading, please also provide the full citation in a
bibliography at the end of the paper.
- Please pay attention to the instructions at the top of
this page.
Evaluation criteria
- A clear "dividing line" for both sides of your
debate
- An argument--a clear and persuasive one--to support
each side of the debate
- Your third-party commentary on the debate explains
why you reached the conclusion you did
- Demonstrates knowledge of ideas and evidence in the readings by
using them where appropriate to support, explain, and decide between the
two sides.
- Clear, well-organized writing that stays on topic and does
not drift into irrelevancies
- Words and sentences have “meat” and meaning (not empty or
fuzzy).
Advice
- Reread the assignment, guidance, and grading
criteria one more time
after you have finished
your rewrite.