Directions: Reconstruct and evaluate the main arguments in the two essays on affirmative action on pp. 3-19 of the Barnet and Bedau anthology. The first essay, by Terry Eastland, arrives at the conclusion that “the time has come to end” affirmative action. The other essay, by Burke Marshall and Nicholas DeB. Katzenbach, defends affirmative action. You need not write a formal essay. Instead, simply state and evaluate Eastland’s main arguments and then state and evaluate Marshall and Katzenbach’s main arguments. Assignments are due on Monday, Nov. 21 in class. Severe penalties will imposed on assignments turned in late.

 

Here are some guidelines and suggestions.

 

a) Do not attempt to analyze all the arguments presented in these essays. Instead, pick the arguments that you think are the most important and the most interesting. Probably a couple of arguments from each essay will suffice. Your assignments will probably be about 4 pages long, although there is room for considerable variation.

 

b) Sometimes an author presents an argument and then presents a second argument in support of a premise of the first argument. You may reconstruct this as one complex argument or as separate arguments. The latter format is often a little easier to work with.

 

c) Include a paragraph explaining your reasons for reconstructing an argument the way you did if you think that it would be helpful.

 

d) Be sure that your reconstructions follow the guidelines presented in class and in the text. Use the various summaries from the appendices in the textbook.

 

e) Make sure that the criticisms you discuss are clear and substantial. Avoid flimsy criticisms and argument stoppers.

 

f) It is acceptable (in fact, it is good) to use ideas presented in one essay in your evaluation of the arguments in the other essay.

 

g) Always make clear where in the essays the arguments or claims you are discussing may be found.

 

h) It is likely that you will find this assignment difficult. You will probably have to read through each essay several times to figure out what the central arguments are. To get good reconstructions of the arguments, you will probably have to work through several revisions. Get started soon.

 

Additional comments about the assignment will be made in class.