Essay #2 Guidelines
Guidelines for the essay on “The Island”
First Deadline: Each student must turn in a printed 1 page single spaced outline of his/her essay at class on 10 November.
Second Deadline: Each student must meet with me at my office to discuss the outline on Friday 11 November.
A sign up sheet will be passed around at class on 10 November.
Appointments will be 9 am until 4:30
Third Deadline: Upload essay at www.turnitin.com by 5 pm 22 November 2016.
Be sure to follow the Guidelines precisely in preparing the essay assignment!
Essay Assignment on the movie, THE ISLAND.
NOTE: MU used to allow access to this movie free via D2L. But this year policies have changed and that is not permitted. I just today (22Jan16) had this confirmed by MU. So you have to access the movie in another way. Here are some:
the MU library has two copies you can borrow;
both Amazon (rent for 48 hrs $3.99) and iTunes (rent for 24 hrs $3.99) have the movie available. Maybe other services also have it but I leave that to you to explore.
A suggestion: Perhaps you can rent it and view it with friends and then rent it a second time later with friends. You will have to study the movie for your essay. I suggest you see it once for fun and to have an overview of the whole movie and then you see it a second time to study it for your essay assignment.
The island [DVD videorecording] / DreamWorks SKG ; Warner Bros. ; Parkes/MacDonald Productions ; a Michael Bay film ; produced by Michael Bay, Ian Bryce, Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes ; screenplay by Caspian Tredwell-Owen and Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci ; directed by Michael Bay
[Universal City, CA] : DreamWorks Pictures : Distributed by Universal Studios Home Entertainment, [2005]
You must make use of the assigned readings: on the Reserve ARES System
(i) “Egoism,” by Robert Shaver, in the Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egoism/
(ii) “Egoism and Altruism.” by Richard Kraut in The Routledge
Encyclopedia of Philosophy also available via an MU link at
Also available at https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/egoism-and-altruism.
(iii) “Moral Relativism” by Chris Gowans,
in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy at
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-relativism/
In your essay,
(a) explain the key teachings of the following ethical theories: (i) Ethical Egoism, (ii) Moral Relativism, (iii) aspects of Aristotelian Virtue or Eudaimonistic Ethics, (iv) aspects of Kantian Deontological Ethics and (v) aspects of Mill’s Utilitarianism;
(Be sure your essay demonstrates that you have studied the assigned readings listed immediately above.)
(b) identify aspects of the movie which exemplify each of those ethical theories; and
(c) offer your view on what ethical approach is best used in determining what is right and what is wrong overall in regard to the central issues of the movie. Be sure to give reasons for your view in a reasoned and argued account.
Note the following:
Essays should not exceed ca. 1500 words or 6-8 typed, double spaced pages in 12 pt font Times font, with a full bibliography on additional pages.
NOTE: A ONE PAGE OUTLINE OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE ESSAY IS REQUIRED.
Electronic copies of essays must be uploaded to www.turnitin.com by 5 pm 22 November 2016. NOTE: PLACE THE OUTLINE OF YOUR ESSAY AT THE FRONT OF THE FILE YOU UPLOAD TO turninin.com. YOU MAY UPLOAD ONLY ONE FILE.
- Essays will be graded on the basis of philosophical content as well as clarity, proper grammatical form, and spelling. Proofread your essay before submitting it! Spelling counts!
- Each essay must be accompanied by a one-page detailed outline of the structure of the essay. Essays submitted without an outline will have the grade reduced by one letter grade.
Late papers will not be accepted.
NOTE: I will be available in my office to discuss essays during regular Tuesday 12:30-1:30 and Wednesday 1-4 pm Office Hours.
DEADLINE: Electronic copies of course essays on The Island must be uploaded to www.turnitin.com by 5 pm 22 November 2016 .
TURNITIN.COM class ID: 13156571
Password will be provided at class.