Writing Portfolio

AS91475

Credits: 6 Word Range: 650-1000 words per piece

Due Dates: Piece #1: Term 1, Week 6 (Fri, 11 March) Piece #2: T2, W10 ( Fri, 8 July) Final Hand-In: T3, W10 (Fri, 30 September)

A "selection of writing" means that at least two pieces are chosen from a range of drafts and taken to publication standard (showing that you can accurately use conventions like spelling, punctuation, capitalisation, and paragraphing).

Instructions

We have provided different philosophy-related prompts to help you structure your portfolio. You will have to choose your audience and consider your particular purpose in light of the prompt so that your language choices show intentional crafting for effect.

Prompt #1

What is your response to the ideas in a text (or texts) you’ve studied?

Craft an essay that engages with the philosophical themes or ideas in one of the texts you will use for Connections, or compare how well two different texts tackle the same theme (example here).

Keep in mind that pieces written with flair tend to better engage readers. Think about which style of writing will best capture attention.

Prompt #2

Which philosopher is most worth learning about?

Craft a review, script, or opinion article to persuade your reader to adopt your stance on the philosopher.

This can be serious and / or entertaining. Read this excellence exemplar - possible the funniest introduction to Confucius ever written!

Prompt #3

Write a personal essay / review where you consider an everyday, mundane thing in a philosophical way.

In the vein of John Green's Anthropocene Reviewed podcast/essays, explore how something mundane can reflect metaphysical, epistemological, political, ethical, or aesthetic ideas...or just add meaning to your life :)

This option would also work well in combination with the oral text standard. You could listen to some of the podcasts for inspiration.

Prompt #4

Write a piece of fiction which explores philosophical ideas.

This could be an A.I-related story (Excellence exemplar) where you explore the slippery intersection of the human and the non-human, or a "Great Silence"-inspired story where you use a non-human animal narrator to muse on humanity.

Or, roll a die to generate some creative constraints for your story.

Prompt #5

What would a better world look like?

Many agree that the current capitalist model is broken, in terms of equity and sustainability (for starters). What would a better world look like? This could be your own imagining or your presentation of another thinker's answer.

How can you persuade us that your vision is the best vision? How will we get from here to there?

Use thought experiments, historical examples, anecdotes, and/or rhetorical questions; consider objections and refute them.

Prompt #6

How might different moral theories influence what we deem ethical?

Choose a moral dilemma and analyse it through the lenses of at least two different moral theories. You could use a popular moral dilemma like the trolley problem or you could consider using a moral dilemma you're aware of in the world.