CIE100: Common Intellectual Experience - Essay 3 (100 Points)

Purpose, Task, and Criteria

Purpose: To synthesize science, scripture, journalism, philosophy, and fiction into one argument about humanity's place in nature and technology's place in human life.

Task: Write a 1500-1800 word MLA essay advancing an arguable thesis that engages at least two texts from the second half of the semester, built through the draft-and-revision process.

Criteria: Assessed on your thesis, argument development, synthesis across texts, organization, and citations, with real weight on the revision itself; see the rubric below.

Assignment Goals

The goals of this assignment are:
  1. To formulate a clear, arguable thesis statement about humanity's place in nature and technology's place in human life
  2. To support a thesis with carefully chosen quotes from primary sources
  3. To synthesize texts spanning scripture, science, journalism, philosophy, and fiction into a cohesive argument
  4. To engage substantively with the drafting and revision process

Background Reading and References

Please refer to the following readings and examples offering templates to help get you started:

The Assignment

In this final essay of 1500 to 1800 words, you will construct an argument that synthesizes texts from the second half of our semester: Genesis, Darwin, McPhee, Deloria, McLuhan, and Forster. The essay takes up the third and fourth core questions of the course, how can we understand the world and what will I do, by asking how we should understand humanity’s place in nature, and technology’s place in human life.

Prompt

Choose one of the following options. Whichever option you choose, your essay must engage at least two texts from this unit, advance a specific, arguable thesis, and support it with carefully selected quotations cited in MLA format.

  1. Genesis, Darwin, and Deloria offer profoundly different accounts of humanity’s place in nature: created stewards of a garden, one branching lineage among many, and inhabitants of sacred places to which obligations are owed. Construct an argument about how we ought to understand our place in the natural world, engaging at least two of these accounts seriously rather than dismissing either.

  2. McPhee documents our engineering contests with rivers and mountains, and Forster imagines a civilization that has surrendered entirely to its own Machine. Construct an argument about the limits we should accept on technological mastery: where does the control of nature, or the delegation of life to machines, cross from prudence into hubris, and how would we know?

  3. McLuhan claims that media reshape us regardless of their content, and Forster dramatized exactly that reshaping nearly a century before the technologies arrived. Construct an argument about what your generation should do about its Machine, grounded in both texts and in at least one earlier text from the semester (for example, Plato’s cave or Coates’ Dream) that gives your argument historical depth.

Scaffolded Deliverables

This essay is developed in three stages, and the stages together constitute the 100 points of this assignment. The thesis statement, quote list, and rough outline are worth 10 points; the complete first draft is worth 30 points; and the revised final draft is worth 60 points. You will meet with our Writing Fellow between the first and final drafts, and your final draft should respond substantively to the feedback you receive; cosmetic edits do not constitute revision.

  1. Thesis Statement, Quote List, and Rough Outline. A one to two sentence working thesis, a list of five to eight quotations (with page numbers) drawn from at least two texts, and a paragraph-level outline.
  2. First Draft. A complete draft of the full 1500 to 1800 words, not a partial sketch.
  3. Final Draft. The revised essay, due during final exam week (date TBA), accompanied by a brief (one paragraph) revision memo describing what you changed and why.

Submission Instructions

Submit each deliverable through Canvas before the start of class on its due date, as listed on the course schedule; the final draft is submitted by the announced finals-week deadline. If you consulted a generative AI tool for a permitted purpose under the course policy, disclose that use in your Acknowledgements section; the writing itself must be entirely your own.

If collaboration with a buddy was permitted, did you work with a buddy on this assignment? If so, who? If not, do you certify that this submission represents your own original work? Please identify any and all portions of your submission that were not originally written by you.

Submission

Submit a word processed or PDF document through Canvas; the final draft is due during final exam week (date TBA).

Assignment Rubric

Description Pre-Emerging (< 50%) Beginning (50%) Progressing (85%) Proficient (100%)
Thesis Statement (25%) Lacks a clear thesis statement or the statement is irrelevant to the topic. Thesis statement is present but lacks clarity or specificity. Thesis statement is clear and specific but may lack depth or originality. Thesis statement is clear, specific, original, and thought-provoking, guiding the reader's understanding of the essay's purpose.
Introduction and Conclusion (20%) Introduction lacks a hook or relevance to the topic, and conclusion does not summarize or provide closure. Introduction and conclusion are present but lack connection to the thesis or main argument. Introduction effectively introduces the topic, and conclusion summarizes the main points but may lack insight or reflection. Introduction engages the reader with a strong hook and clear connection to the thesis, and conclusion provides insightful summary and reflection.
Argument Development (25%) Arguments are underdeveloped or irrelevant, lacking evidence or logical reasoning. Arguments are present but lack sufficient evidence or reasoning, making them weak or unconvincing. Arguments are well-developed with some evidence and reasoning but may lack depth or complexity. Arguments are thoroughly developed with strong evidence and logical reasoning, contributing to a persuasive and compelling essay.
Paper Organization (10%) Paper lacks clear organization, making it difficult to follow the flow of ideas. Paper has some organization but lacks clear transitions or logical flow between paragraphs. Paper is mostly well-organized with clear transitions but may have minor inconsistencies in flow. Paper is excellently organized with clear transitions and logical flow, enhancing the reader's understanding and engagement.
Use of References and Proper Citations (10%) Lacks references or citations, or they are improperly formatted. Includes some references and citations but with inconsistencies or errors in formatting. Includes appropriate references and citations with minor errors or inconsistencies in formatting. Includes appropriate references and citations, all properly formatted according to the relevant citation style.
Synthesis of Materials into a Cohesive Argument (10%) Lacks synthesis of materials, resulting in a disjointed or fragmented argument. Some synthesis of materials is present but lacks cohesion or connection to the main argument. Materials are mostly synthesized into a cohesive argument but may lack depth or complexity. Materials are expertly synthesized into a cohesive and complex argument, enhancing the overall quality and persuasiveness of the essay.

Please refer to the Style Guide for code quality examples and guidelines.