Instructions
From 7a to 11b in Plato’s Euthyphro, Socrates refutes the idea that the pious can be defined as that which is loved by the Gods. Your first paper will be an exegetical analysis of this passage. You are not being asked to provide a commentary on the quality of the argument. Nor are you being asked to provide your own opinion on the topic (yet). Your main goal is to articulate and explain the argument as it is given by Socrates.
Your paper should be between 650-750 words, well-written, proof-read, double-spaced, and formatted according to the guidelines of the Chicago Manual of Style.
Grading Criteria
Clarity: The clarity of your paper is of utmost importance. At the very least this means that you must have a mechanically readable paper. If your writing is so littered with grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that I can’t make sense of it, you will not receive many points in this area. Additionally, clarity also refers to how efficiently you are able to make your point. Your concepts and claims should be straightforward. Do not use a key concept or term without explaining it.
Focus: Generally speaking, you should avoid making claims about things outside of the core material/argument you’re asked to cover. You should not fall back on ‘filler material’ i.e. don’t start your paper with a claim like ‘Since the beginning of time philosophers have contemplated…’ These kinds of statements add to your word count, but do nothing to move your paper forward
Textual support: Since you are being asked to represent a specific argument, reference to the text will be necessary. Whenever you give an interpretation of what the text says, you should you should specifically note which section of text is being interpreted with a properly formatted citation (the footnote below should serve as an example for the formatting of your citations).
Analysis: This is an exegetical paper which means that your primary goal should be the clear, precise presentation and explanation of the argument. Your paper needs to faithfully represent the text. Your explanation of the relevant argument should avoid being either too particular or too general.
