Writing Rebuttal Papers

High Level Overview

You just need to write clearly about your own opinions and a proper argument

Quotas

• Can be any length

Content

• Require a Thesis
  • You can be very explicit in the paper (“This paper’s thesis is __”)
• You should write in ‘I’, ‘let us’
• Define every technical piece of language like (Moral Skepticism, Truth-Aptness, Moral Disagreement)
• Write for the general reader
• http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html
• Address shortcomings of your own argument
• Just write one rebuttal
• Have a concrete stance, don’t stand in the middle
• Use Signposting

Roadmap

• Refer to Cemented Points. You should write a preamble for what is going to be discussed

Type Setting

• Times new roman
• 12pt font

Tips

• Don’t bite off more than you chew. Be modest, don’t aim to destroy an argument, just find small points that are rebuttles.

Steps

1. Choose a question you find easiest
2. State thesis. Flatly
3. Follow the outline of writing
4. Define terms
   1. Locate term
   2. Locate passage where kagan explains term
   3. Explain kagan citation in your own words
   4. Provide your own example or two
   5. Distinguish the term meaning from nearby meaning of which it is easily confused
   6. Provide important contrasts
5. Explain the argument
   1. Locate passage containing the argument
   2. Cite what you need from that passage
   3. Explain the citation in your own words
6. Provide criticism of support for kagan’s argument
   1. Argue that an analogy kagan provides is not good
   2. Counter examples of general claims
   3. Explain that the principles work in other domains or do not work in an domain
   4. Argue a premise is false
7. Provide Criticism of thesis and rebute it
   1. Note that the argument is missing or fails in some cases

Good Sources

• Philosophy Compass
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Fluffing word-count:

• Add more than one example