LIBA 205 essay assignment
due on March 22, 2007
Prof. Dowden

Write a five page essay, typed double-space, on the following:

  Does empty space exist or fail to exist?  What is it?  What different arguments
  have been given throughout history for how to answer these questions?  How do
  you assess those arguments, i.e., why do you believe some arguments are
  stronger than others?

Use outside research, and include footnotes plus a bibliography of references.  The
bibliography doesn't count as part of the five pages.  You may organize your essay in
any way that you believe is interesting.  Use page numbers and 8.5 x 11 inch standard
paper, with a 12 point type size.  Don't bother placing your essay in a special folder. 
Just staple the pages together.  Depth of philosophical insight and quality of
argumentation are the paramount factors in the grade on the essay, but English writing
skill is a significant factor. 
  Here are some additional points.  Write an academic paper.  Use a professional,
analytical style; don't be chatty; don't make non-academic jokes.  You should consider
yourself to be a philosopher writing this essay to other philosophers.  Assume that your
reader can think philosophically, but may not be familiar with your specific topic.
  You are required to give credit to other authors from whom you receive
significant ideas.  If your paper repeats word for word what someone else has said,
then place those words within quotation marks and give a footnote indicating where I
can go to double check.  For large quotes, skip the quotation marks and indent the
passage.  If your paper contains someone else's ideas that aren't normally considered
to be common knowledge in the philosophical community, and if you are not directly
quoting that person, then add a footnote indicating where the person presented the
ideas.  Do not give every paragraph a footnote.  A footnote is assumed not to refer
back to more than one paragraph unless you say something to the contrary such as
"The position on a priori truth in these three paragraphs originated in the work of G.
Frege, The Nature of A Priori Truth, pp. 98-101."  Any coherent footnoting style is
acceptable.  You can get an A on this assignment without quoting anybody.
  A good way to improve your essay is to complete it; let it cool for two days; then
re-read it as if you are a new reader.  Better yet, have someone else do this reading
and talk to you about what they thought of it.  Then revise your essay.
  More extensive tips on writing philosophy papers are available on the
Philosophy Department's web page at http://www.csus.edu/phil/req/writing.htm
  Late essays are accepted with a penalty of one-third of a letter grade for each 24
hour period after the beginning of class time on the due date.  Submit late essays as
soon as possible by email to dowden@csus.edu with the subject line of "LIBA 205
essay" so my spam filter won't dump your email into my Delete Folder.  If the essay is
late, you don't need to turn in a paper copy of the essay, but do make sure you get an
email answer (this shouldn't take over one day) saying your late essay was received.