University Writing

Philosophy 300/H-- Philosophical Writing

Coordinator: Dennis Rasmussen
Contact information: 3194 JKHB, 422-6659

Course Description:

Philosophy 300 is designed to build upon the basic critical reasoning and analytic writing skills taught in Philosophy 105. It is designed to give advanced instruction in reading expository and philosophical texts, and in writing analytical essays.

Prerequisites:

English 115 or equivalent, Philosophy 105 strongly recommended

Year to be Taken

After freshman year

Recommended Majors Served

Philosophy

Skills Taught in Support of Academic Training and Vocation

1. Proficiency in recognizing arguments.
2. Reading with skill and understanding.
3. Ability to accurately represent arguments of others.
4. Ability to criticize arguments.
5. Writing types of research papers expected in upper-division Philosophy courses.
6. Writing reports on the job.

Vocations Prepared for

Graduate work in any field.

Major Assignments

1. Reading carefully and discussing intelligently the assigned texts.
2. Three writing assignments restating and criticizing a specific argument.
3. Two major research papers.

Sample Textbooks:

1. Plato's Dialogues.
2. Martinich, Introduction to Philosophical Writing.
3. Hacker, A Writer's Reference, 3rd edition.
4. A collection of sample writings about the arts and humanities.