Foundations 111 Fall 2013 Thesis-Driven Essay Two Context We continue to explore a wide variety of arguments in FDN111—about, for instance, how and how not to govern (Antigone, Machiavelli, Hobbes), how to achieve self-knowledge (Plato, Augustine, Wordsworth), what it means to be a Christian (Paul, Augustine, Luther) or a hero (Homer, Chretien de Troyes), how humans behave with no laws (Hobbes), and about how to achieve greater equality between the sexes (Wollstonecraft). Understanding the arguments we read about, and the arguments we encounter every day, is key to engaging with the world around us. It is also fundamental to your college and post-college education and career, in whatever field you choose to pursue. Goals To practice defending a claim To practice reading a text closely for full comprehension To practice using examples and evidence to support assertions To build critical thinking and writing skills through the exploring, outlining, drafting, revising process To practice editing and proofreading Assignment TDE 2A: Exploratory writing The second thesis driven essay (TDE 2) will raise the expectations a little higher in two ways: (1) you will be expected to defend a thesis comparing two of the selections in the Fdn 111 reader, and (2) you will be expected to explore this topic at a little greater length (1500 words minimum vs. 1200 for TDE 1). One problem that students often encounter in writing longer papers is that they find it difficult to write at greater length without repeating themselves or having to bring in evidence and arguments that are weak or marginally relevant (if not completely irrelevant). Hopefully from this course you have learned several strategies that you can use both to make a more persuasive argument and to write papers that are longer because they investigate the topic in greater depth. These strategies include: Finding and summarizing specific evidence from the texts you are discussing (or other types of evidence depending on the subject matter), and being sure not just to paraphrase or quote the text but also to explain how this evidence relates to your thesis. Including material that establishes ethos and pathos, in addition to the logos (i.e. logic) you use to support your thesis with specific evidence. (As we have seen in the readings, these are often a focus of the introduction and conclusion. In these sections you should think about not just relating your specific thesis to a broader context, but also think about how you can do this in a way that will make your readers more willing to be persuaded by the logic of your argument.) Carefully describing and explaining counter evidence that appears to contradict your thesis, and then explaining how you can reconcile this evidence with the thesis. Carefully describing alternative theses, describing and explaining evidence that could support these alternatives, and then evaluat.