Abstract and Response Directions

1.  Format -

a. Name, Phil 361-03, Date at top of first page. 

b. 1 to 2 pages - 12 point font - double spaced - 1 to 1-1/4 inch margins.

c. Bibliographical Information goes at beginning so we know what source you are abstracting.  In most cases this is all you will need as you are abstracting a primary source only.  If  for some reason you include information from other sources, you will need to cite them at the end.

Examples of MLA Citation Format:

Internet Source:  Mill, John Stuart. "Chapter 2 - What Utilitarianism Is" in Utilitarianism.  Classical Utilitarianism Website. Eds. D. Bonevac and  P.  Lyon. 24 September 2003. University of Texas at Austin. 20 Jan 2007 <http://www.la.utexas.edu/research/poltheory/mill/util/util.c02.html>.

Chapter in a multiple authored book:  Harris, Charles E.,  Jr., Michael S. Pritchard, and Michael J. Rabins, "Chapter 2 - Responsibility in Engineering,"  Engineering Ethics:  Concepts and Cases.  3rd ed.  Belmont, CA:  Thomson/Wadsworth, 2005.  21-47.

Primary Source within an anthology:  Kant, Immanuel, "Excerpts from Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals" in  Morality and the Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics through the Classical Sources. 4th ed. Eds. Robert C. Solomon and Clancy W. Martin.  Trans. James W. Ellington. Boston: McGraw-Hill College, 2003. 290-99.

Editorial comments in a two-author edited anthology:  Solomon, Robert C. and Clancy W. Martin, eds. Morality and the Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics through the Classical Sources. 4^th ed.  Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. pages.

2.  Content

    a.  Abstract (Short Summary) = essentially a boiled down summary.  The minimums for an abstract as described by H. Bedau, Thinking and Writing About Philosophy. 2nd ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2002 (17) are as follows:

    *State in a few words the main idea, theme, or thesis . . .  [may be several ideas, themes, or theses]

    *Indicate or sketch the line of argument being used to establish this idea [or ideas]

    *Restate any definition, distinction, principle, and so on necessary to understand . . .

 A rule of thumb, although it is not exact, is one or two sentences per paragraph when a work is organized in ordinary modern paragraphs.

The purpose of the abstract or short summary is for you to capture the essence of what you have read, reinforcing and demonstrating your understanding.  When the work is not modern, it may also involve translating the old fashioned language and examples into modern terms.

    b. Response - Engage with the reading and show me that you have engaged with the reading by writing a brief comment.  Some examples of the types of comments students might make are:

*Identifying one key strength and one key weakness of the argument.

*Locating and briefly discussing an important assumption behind the argument

*Explaining why the reading is or is not relevant to a consideration of ethics or to our lives today

*Discussing an implication of the views or argument if adopted

*Pointing out questions that the text raises, but does not address.