Assignments

The assignments for this course are designed to introduce you to a variety of different forms of, and venues for, personal philosophical writing, and to progressively develop the skills needed to do it well. Each of the assignments will focus on a distinct genre and skill. Further instructions and advice will be given in class.

1. Magazine Column

• Subject: A philosophy paper supplied to the class.

• Target venue: Philosopher’s Magazine

• Target skill: Explaining an academic text at a level accessible to a broad public audience.

• Length: 750 words

2. Book Review

• Subject: A philosophy book supplied to the class.

• Target venue: The New York Review of Books

• Target skill: Writing about academic philosophy in a personal voice.

• Length: 750 words

3. Film Review

• Subject: A film supplied to the class.

• Target venue: The film section of The Los Angeles Review of Books 

• Target skill: Writing philosophically about non-academic material.

• Length: 750 words

4. Op Ed

• Subject: A paper you’ve written for a previous philosophy class, on a topic that matters to you.

• Target venue: The New York Times’ “The Stone” column

• Target skill: Making a philosophical argument in public.

• Length: 750 words

5. Personal essay

• Subject: An aspect of your own life with philosophical significance.

• Target venue: The Point 

• Target skill: Recognizing the philosophical in the personal and vice versa.

• Length: 1000 words

6. Profile

• Subject: The life and work of a philosopher you have interviewed.

• Target venue: The New Yorker

• Target skill: Integrating biographical material with philosophical argument.

• Length: 1000 words

• [Note: You'll submit a brief prep sheet for the interview to me on March 5. A third draft isn't required for this assignment.]

Portfolio

At the end of the semester you will submit: 

• a portfolio including, for each of your six assignments, 1) your first draft with your editors’ comments attached, 2) your second (workshop) draft, and 3) your final draft.

• a reflection on your portfolio and experience in the class.

Grading

• 15% for final draft of each assignment

• 10% for class participation (editing, comments in workshop, other activities in class)