Philosophy of Love (S13) - Warm Up Paper
Topic: Montaigne on Friendship
Explain Montaigne's argument for the claim that that we can have only one close friend. (To answer this question, you'll have to explain his notion of friendship. I do not want evaluation, only explication.)
Due Date
Tuesday, 2/18/2013
Length
You have at most 400 words (roughly 1 - 1 1/4 pages, double-spaced, Arial, 12 point font).
Goal
You don't have much space, so you will need to be clear and to the point. Clarity should be one of your chief goals in writing this paper. Pick your words carefully. Write to be understood. Assume that you are writing the paper to be read by someone unfamiliar with the issues.
Keep quotations to a minimum. I'm not looking for a pastiche. The goal of the assignment is for you to explain the objection in your own words, as clearly as you can.
This is simply a writing exercise. I am not asking you to evaluate the arguments. I just want you to explain the theories and objections as clearly as you can within the space limitations.
I do not want papers that are longer than the word limit. The space limitation is designed to force you to practice verbal economy. That said, it is impossible to write an adequate paper in much less space. You'll have to use most of the space, and use it well.
Format
The paper must be typed. It should be double spaced. It should have one inch margins. You should use a 12 point font. I prefer Arial, since it is easy to read. Please follow the general paper and exam instructions under the "course documents / writing" section on Blackboard.
Procedure
You are required to hand in a paper copy at the start of class on the due date. In addition you must submit the midterm through Safe Assign via Blackboard by 11:59 pm on the due date. (11:59 pm is after class, not to be confused with the night before.) Safe Assign is a plagiarism detection tool. It will compare your paper against others available online, in journals, submitted in this class, RIC, and from all other universities that use the software.
*If you are unable to submit the paper to Safe Assign due to technical difficulties, you must send an email to the helpdesk <helpdesk@ric.edu> explaining the problem. Make sure to CC me. If this happens, send me a copy of your paper as an attachment. Note: I will not accept your paper if you don't report the problem to the helpdesk.
Note: Plagiarism will result in a failing grade in the class, not just on this assignment.
Resources
Before writing, you must read three documents under the writing section of Blackboard: 1. Writing Tip Sheet, 2. General Instructions, and 3. Pryor's "How to Write a Philosophy Paper."
About the Paper
This is a warm up paper. Although it is only worth 5 points, it must be completed in order to pass the class. This is your chance to get a sense of my expectations. I'm giving you a gift here.