Trying Out One’s Sword Reading response
The Assignment: The Reading Response is a 600 – 1000 word (3 – 4 page) critical position paper that
responds to the argument from the assigned reading, not including the Ethics cases from Week 1. Your
paper should have a specific thesis (a specific conclusion about the argument of the reading, like that it is
convincing or problematic) and present arguments to defend that thesis. Philosophical inquiry uses the method
of argument construction. So your reading responses should each be an argument that responds to the author’s
argument.
Questions to Address:
1 – What is the issue/topic which the author is responding to? (Write a 2 – 3 sentence summary of the topic and
its importance.)
2 – What is the author’s conclusion? What view or idea are they arguing for? (They will often tell you what
they’re arguing at the beginning of their paper, so read carefully!)
3 – What reasons does the author give in support of their conclusion? How do these reasons imply the truth of
the author’s conclusion?
4 – What counterarguments, alternative/opposing views, or objections does the author consider? How do they
(the author) respond?
5 – Do you agree with the author’s conclusion? Why/not?
6 – Do you think the author’s argument establishes their conclusion? Why/not?
7 – Do you think the author has adequately responded to counterarguments, objections, or alternative/opposing
views? Why/not?
8 – What implications does the author’s argument (conclusion and reasoning) have for other topics or issues?
