To posit a thesis regarding the text’s argument, give reasons (arguments) that support your thesis, and defend it from at least one plausible objection.
The purpose of this paper is to critique Jean Harvey’s essay, Gratitude, Obligation, and Individualism, to write a paper that makes a friendly suggestion to the author and criticizes their argument in a way that you believe will ultimately strengthen the conclusion they are trying to support.
it must meet all of the following:
1. A clear thesis. Your job is to take a position on the validity or soundness of the argument you
are analyzing. Thus, your first task is to clearly state your thesis, which will be about the
chapter in question.
2. A controversial thesis. Your thesis should be controversial and not true by definition or
universally acknowledged as true. If your thesis could not possibly be false, come up with
another one.
3. Arguments in support of your thesis. You are to defend your thesis. Provide reasons for
believing it that someone other than just you would accept.
4. Recognition of and response to at least one objection to your thesis or argument. A good
way to be both fair and strengthen your argument is to anticipate and respond to objections.
Ask yourself, “What would someone who disagrees with my thesis say, and why?” This
demonstrates that you understand the issues thoroughly, have considered reasons on both
sides, and have come to the conclusion that is most reasonable.
5. More than one reference to at least one work we have read in class. This essay is intended to
be a detailed response to one of the readings that critically analyzes the author’s argument.
This means that you must refer to specific aspects of that argument.
