Friday, September 13th

Results from the This I Believe Essay Feedback Survey

Today's Plan

Goals:
1. Understand, in broad terms, what the study of moral philosophy is
2. Improve one aspect of your own writing by seeing student examples from TIB essays
 
Starter:  The Afghan Goatherds Moral Dilemma
From Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do by Michael Sandel


In June 2005, a special forces team made up of Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell and three other U.S. Navy SEALs set out on  secret reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border in search of a Taliban leader...their target commanded 140 to 150 heavily armed fighters and was staying in a village in the forbidding mountainous region.  Shortly after the...team took up a position on a mountain ridge overlooking the village, two Afghan farmers with about a hundred bleating goats happened upon them.  With them was a boy about 14 years old.  The Afghans were unarmed.  

Their choices were to let them go, thus potentially compromising their mission if the Afghans were to inform the Taliban of their location OR kill them. They didn't have any rope, so tying them up while they found a new hideout was out of the question.  

QUESTION:  What are the justifications for both option and what do you think they should have done?

Agenda:
1. Discuss Starter
2. Homework review and announcements
3.  Introduction to Moral Philosophy power point 

4. TIB essay mini-lesson (example student excerpts)

Read through these examples and:

• In your starter section/free-write, put today's date and title it "TIB student examples reaction"
• Write down one line from one of the student example excerpts that you think represents strong writing.  Explain why it is strong.
  
• Pick one example that will help you most with a skill you are working on in your essay and explain how you might apply this skill to your essay improvement or future writing.
• Want to see more examples? Check out this resource:
  Student Examples of TIB essays
• Want  help with passive voice or conciseness? See the "Student Resources" tab on the top of my DP

5. Work Time

• TIB Essay refinements
  
• Seminar Reflection
  
• Read and annotate "Doing the Right Thing" by Michael Sandel 
• Honors proposals

Handouts

• Seminar Questions
• Seminar Rubric
• Seminar Reflection and Makeup Instructions
• Sandel's chapter (paper copies available only in class)