write an essay presenting your answer to the philosophical question you picked in Stage 1 and developed in Stage 2. Your essay should follow the classical formula for writing speeches, which has four parts:

Final Project Stage 3:
Arguing Your Philosophical Claim

     Stage 3 of the final project asks you to write an essay presenting your answer to the philosophical question you picked in Stage 1 and developed in Stage 2. Your essay should follow the classical formula for writing speeches, which has four parts:

     1. Introduction and Narration: The first part of the classical style asks you to introduce your question in a way that makes it relevant to the audience. One way to do this is to establish context by narrating problems or controversies associated with the question. Analogies or other devices may be used to amplify the issue’s importance. Phrases like “Have you ever wondered about . . . ?” or “Many people have debated whether . . . ” are common devices for stimulating audience interest. The introduction’s purpose is to prepare the audience for your main argument, and the better your introduction, the more amenable they will be to your position. Neither a very short introduction nor an overly long one is likely to persuade.

     2. Arguing for Your Claim: The second part of the classical style asks you to support your claim by weaving arguments and evidence together in a chain of reasoning that persuades the audience to agree with your position on the issue. Faithfully present the arguments of the philosopher(s) you are citing as authorities to bolster your claim as they can be very powerful when handled correctly. It is most persuasive to present your strongest argument and evidence first, your weakest ones second, and any middling ones last. You have already organized your arguments and evidence in Stage 2; now craft them into a convincing essay.

     3. Refuting the Counterclaim: The third part of the classical style asks you to concede or refute elements of the opponent’s argument. Never skip this step! You will always be more persuasive when you engage the opposing argument. Phrases like “Some people think X, but they are wrong because . . . ” are very popular for just this reason. You can refute objections before they are stated, concede one point to strengthen another, grant a minor point to show goodwill, or do any number of other ingenious tactical moves, but don’t undercut your main claim. You have already identified arguments for the counterclaim in Stage 2, so now refute them in your essay.

     4. Conclusion: The fourth part of the classical style asks you to tie everything together to create a sense of finality or closure and convince the audience that the question or problem stated in the Introduction has been answered. Often, speakers will include an emotional or ethical appeal in the conclusion in order to help sway the audience to their opinion.

     Your essay will be graded on its use of the elements of the classical style as well as its overall persuasiveness.