Assessment

Assessment is by one 2,500 word essay (50%) and one pre-seen exam (50%).

Assessment of the essay

The feedback you receive on your essay will be divided into short sections as follows:

Relevance (in terms of chosen topic/title). To fulfill this criterion you must address the question that is asked.

Knowledge and sources (accuracy, appropriate selection, citations, bibliography).

Analysis, argument and structure (clarity, relevance, fairness, coherence).

Independence of thought (including critical engagement with other views).

Written presentation (spelling, punctuation, grammar, appropriate language).

Overall comments and mark.

You should bear all these criteria in mind when you write your essays in philosophy, indeed, in any university level writing. Use these criteria as a check list and consider the draft of your essay under each one. When you’ve done this, make the appropriate improvements to the final version of your essay.

The Essay Question (2500 Words)

• FIRST: Outline an argument for scepticism about the external world. Then:

• EITHER: Does Putnam’s discussion of being a brain in a vat undermine the sceptical argument?

• OR: Does Davidson’s argument from radical interpretation undermine the sceptical argument?

Remember the usual caveat: Make sure the essay is your own work. You are encouraged to cite other people’s work and ideas, but it is important that you acknowledge their work when you do this. To copy or paraphrase someone else’s words or arguments without crediting them - so that the reader is given the impression that this work is yours - is a form of theft called plagiarism.

You must submit your essay via Turnitin on WebCT. This will check for plagiarism.

Essay Submission Deadline, 5th December.

The exam paper is here.