Use the feedback you got on your analysis and evaluation to put the two together into a full draft of Paper #2. In this draft, you should think of yourself as explaining to your reader why you think the short argument you are working with is or is not a cogent argument (or is a cogent argument with some problems or a fallacious argument with a few bright spots).
Think of your reader as someone in this class, who knows the terminology of PHIL 2 but still needs you to tell what your analysis and evaluation are. Also, imagine a reader who is inclined to disagree with your evaluation and your position on the issue; work at convincing the reader that your evaluation is worth considering.
Introduce the paper with that reader in mind. Explain why it's an important or interesting issue to look at, what your first impressions of the text were, or anything that will get your reader interested in hearing your "take" on the analysis and evaluation of this argument. Also, it's considered proper in academic writing to give the author's full name and the full title of the text the first time you mention them, and then to refer to the author by last name throughout the paper. There's no need for footnotes or a Works Cited page or bibliography for this paper, as long as you give all the information about exactly where you got the text (newspaper or magazine title, date), what its title is (if any), and who the author is right in the introduction.
Clarify and develop your analysis and evaluation by illustrating with at least one syllogism, although you may need to illustrate with more than one. If you are saying, for example, that the argument is cogent with some problems, show a syllogism that is cogent andone that has some problems.
Some of the following questions might help you "flesh out" your paper:
- Why do you see the argument's conclusion as being what you are saying it is (as opposed to what others might say it is)?
- What are the implied premises underlying each premise/conclusion argument?
- Is each of the premises reliable, relevant, adequate to the argument? Why or why not?
- Is the argument valid? How can you prove that to your reader?
End your draft with several paragraphs on how you feel about the issue. Give your perspective on the issue (conclusion) and your reasons (premises). Try to imagine what you would have to address in order to convince those in the class who do not agree with you.
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