Summary guidelines: Your primary task in this essay is to reconstruct one of Mill’s arguments in a clear and concise way. You should not aim to merely summarize his main points, but rather to exhibit the structure of his argument. To do this you must carefully distinguish premises from conclusions, and in particular you should identify any unstated or controversial premises on which the argument depends.
Use a top-down approach. Start by identifying, in a sentence or two, the author’s answer to the question posed. Your summary may begin with that brief statement. Then identify the principal reasons the author advances in support of that answer. For each of those principal reasons, it may be necessary to repeat the process, identifying sub-arguments meant to bolster those reasons. Repeat the process until you have achieved a level of detail appropriate to the required length.
Do not gloss over any difficulties you find in the argument. Rather, strive to exhibit them clearly. Pick out any problems of interpretation or ambiguities you encounter. Sharpen any difficulties you find by offering alternative interpretations.
Once you have presented the argument as clearly and parsimoniously as possible, you should offer your own assessment of it. Indicate whether the premises and assumptions you have been asked to accept seem true or false, plausible or implausible, and also whether those premises give good reason to accept the author’s conclusion. It is always a good idea to try to find good reasons to disagree with what an author says, perhaps especially if you happen not to disagree.
A summary is not a proper essay. You may omit all the rhetorical and scholarly features of an essay, such as the introduction, background material, conclusion, and footnotes. You do not need to include a separate bibliography as long as you refer only to the course textbook.
You should not use any quotations unless the precise wording raises a problem of interpretation. Do provide in-text citations where appropriate.
This is not a research essay. It is not necessary to consult secondary sources. Secondary sources will only over-complicate your essay.
Format Guidelines: Use a standard font (such as Times New Roman) in 12-point size. Double- space your essay and leave 1” or 11⁄4” margins. Use standard MLA-style in-text citations. Your essay should be two to three pages in length, or approximately 800 words, and absolutely no more than 1,000 words.
Submission Instructions and Late Policy: Your essay is due in hard copy at the beginning of class on October 18. Late essays will be penalized at a rate of 3% per day, including weekend days. No essays will be accepted after November 2nd without prior approval from the instructor.