PAPER

Introduction to Philosophy

The Paper

Reading: “The Apology.” Thesis: “The purpose of this paper is to summarize and critically

evaluate Socrates’ Horse Trainer Analogy and Unintentional Argument.”

Issue: Do Socrates’ two arguments refute the charge that he is a wrongdoer who corrupts the youth?

Label the 4 sections Introduction Summary Argument Conclusion

DraftsPlagiarism

Writing the Introduction

5 points125 words or less.Content

Thesis Summary Statement Position Statement Argument Statement Minimal Background

Writing the Summary

45 points350 words+Objective: summarize the text

Clearly Concisely Accurately In your own words.

Writing the Summary

Outline Charges

A doer of evil who corrupts the youth Does not believe in the gods of the state but has his own divinities

The Corrupter of the Youth Socrates will prove Meletus is

A doer of evil Pretending to be earnest Is eager to bring men to trial

Questioning Meletus Meletus claims to think a great deal about the youth Socrates asks Meletus to tell the judges who improves the youth Every Athenian, except the sole corrupter Socrates, improves the youth

Writing the Summary

Socrates’ Horse Trainer Analogy One is able to do the horses good The trainer does the horses good Others injure the horses This is true of horses and any animals The youth would be happy with one corrupter and everyone else

improving them Meletus shows he has never thought about the young.

Writing the Summary

The Unintentional Argument Meletus Agrees

It is better to live among good citizens than bad The good do their neighbors good, the evil do evil No one would rather be injured than benefited No on likes to be injured

Meletus accused Socrates of intentionally corrupting the youth. Meletus admitted the good do good and the evil do evil Socrates knows that if he corrupts a man he has to live with, he is likely to

be harmed Socrates either does not corrupt or corrupts unintentionally. Either way Meletus is lying If his offense is unintentional, Meletus should have corrected him Meletus has no care about the matter.

Grading the Summary

Excellent Summary (A) (41-45 points) Clearly and concisely presents all the key points in your own words. Clearly shows the connections between the key points. Presents the summary as a coherent whole. Clearly presents the arguments in the text and shows their structure and relation

to the whole. Is extremely well organized.

Good Summary (B) (36-40 points) Does most if what an excellent summary does, but has some flaws that prevent it

from being excellent.Adequate summary (C) (32-35 points)

Presents all the key points. Is adequately clear and organized. Does not achieve the quality of a good summary, but does not have any major

flaws.

Grading the Summary

Poor Summary (D) (27-31 points) Leaves out some key points. Leaves out some key arguments. Is unclear and /or presented in a disorganized manner. Has a few major flaws or numerous minor flaws.

Failing summary (F) (0-26 points) Leaves out most key points. Is very unclear and/or disorganized. Has many major flaws.

Writing the Argument

45 Points500 + wordsPosition Statement

Does the HTA (Horse Trainer Analogy) succeed as an analogy?

Does the HTA refute the original charge? Does the HTA refute the modified charge? Does the UA succeed as an argument? Does the UA refute the original charge? Does the UA refute the modified charge?

Writing the Argument

Assessing the HTA Form

Premise 1: X has properties P, Q, and R. Premise 2: Y has properties P, Q, and R. Premise 3: X has property Z as well. Conclusion: Y has property Z.

Assessment The number of properties X & Y have in common. The relevance of the shared properties to Z. Whether X & Y have relevant dissimilarities.

Writing the Argument

Assessing the HTA Form

Premise 1: X has properties P, Q, and R. Premise 2: Y has properties P, Q, and R. Premise 3: X has property Z as well. Conclusion: Y has property Z.

Assessment The number of properties X & Y have in common. The relevance of the shared properties to Z. Whether X & Y have relevant dissimilarities.

Writing the Argument

Does the HTA respond to the charge? Original Charge: Socrates corrupts the youth. Modified Charge: Socrates is the sole corrupter of the youth.

Writing the Argument

Assessing the UA Assessing the premises

Key premise: “if he corrupts a man he has to live with, it is very likely he will be harmed by him.”

Assessing the premises using an argument from example. Historical examples for/against

Assessing the premises using an argument from analogy Dog analogy

Assessing the reasoning Do the premises support the conclusion?

Overall Assessment (premises & reasoning)

Writing the Argument

Does the UA respond to the charge? Original Charge: Socrates corrupts the youth. Modified Charge: Socrates is an intentional corrupter of the youth.

Grading the Argument

Excellent Argument Section (A) (41-45 points) Clearly and concisely presents your position on the issue. Presents effective and well-developed arguments. Presents the argument section of the work as a coherent whole. Clearly presents how the arguments impact on the overall issue. Is extremely well organized.

Good Argument Section (B) (36-40 points) Does most of what an excellent argument does, but has some minor flaws. Adequate Argument Section (C) (32-35 points) States your position. Presents basic arguments that are relevant. Does not achieve the quality of a good argument section but does not have any major flaws.

Adequate Argument Section (C) (32-35 points) States your position. Presents basic arguments that are relevant. Does not achieve the quality of a good argument section but does not have

any major flaws.

Grading the Argument

Poor Argument Section (D) (27-31 points) Does not clearly present your position. Presents weak or poor arguments. Contains some fallacies. Is poorly organized. Is incomplete. Has some other major flaws or has numerous other minor flaws.

Failing Argument Section (F) (0-26 points) Contains very poor arguments. Contains fallacies. Is unclear. Is poorly presented. Is very poorly organized. Is incomplete. Has many other major flaws.

Writing the Conclusion

5 points125 words or less.Content

Thesis Summary Statement Position Statement Argument Statement Final Relevant Remark

Checklist & Comment Sheet

ChecklistComment CodesGrade+5