Introduction to Philosophy Paper instructions
Required reading:
1. Sartre, “Existentialism is a Humanism,” link to reading: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/works/exist/sartre.htm
After reading the entire file attached, write an essay around 500-600 words in response to the following question:
Discuss what Sartre means by “abandonment.” Do you agree that we are abandoned in the way he describes? Why or why not?
You should write as if your reader is an intelligent adult who isn’t in our class, hasn’t read the required material, and who isn’t familiar with philosophy. Because of who your intended reader is, you need to explicitly, fully, and accurately explain all points, terms, claims, etc. to them—doing so is a key way to demonstrate mastery of material when writing a philosophy essay.
The first half of the paper should fully answer and explain what Sartre means by “abandonment.”
And the last half of the paper should answer “Do you agree with him? Do you agree that we are abandoned in the way he describes? What do you think? Why or why not?”.
Be sure to look for the answer in the reading attached. Do not use any other sources, this reading should be your only source.
What is expected:
Ideally, a philosophy paper’s introduction will include a brief (1-2 sentences) of the paper’s main points because it helps set the stage for the intended reader.
As with most academic papers, you should include a thesis statement so that your answer to the prompt’s question(s) is clear at the outset.
Using the first person helps differentiate when you are writing about your view.
Your intended reader doesn’t know what you know, so you need to explicitly explain why you’re saying this. Remember, your intended reader doesn’t know thing such as: specific arguments from the text; your reason(s) for taking a particular view; the supporting reasons for your argument (note that there’s often more than one possible reason, so you reader may not know which reason you have in mind); etc.
Capitalize all names, even in your in text citations!
After answering all parts of the prompt, do not forget to include a conclusion. Just a short conclusion to briefly recap Sartre’s views and once again restate your stance regarding his view.
