Your
assignment is to write a 3-5 page essay in which you use the tools
developed in class to examine and evaluate a pseudoscience.
You
should begin by picking a pseudoscience to examine. A Google search or a
search on Wikipedia will yield numerous results. Then you should employ
the SEARCH method to evaluate that pseudoscience. As a reminder, the
SEARCH method consists of four steps:- State the claim: what exactly is being claimed. We should try to be as detailed and clear as possible when we perform this step.
- Examine the Evidence
for the claim: what arguments are made on behalf of this claim? Are
they good arguments or bad arguments? Do the arguments commit any
fallacies?
- Consider Alternative
Hypotheses: are there any other possible explanations for the claim
being made, perhaps a simpler explanation (Ockham’s razor) or an
application of Hume’s maxim?
- Rate, according to the Criteria of adequacy, each Hypothesis:
We should apply our earlier criteria for evaluating and deciding
between competing hypotheses: Testability, Fruitfulness, Scope,
Simplicity, Conservatism.
Finally,
you will conclude the essay by describing an experiment that could test
the validity of that pseudoscience. Be sure to consider controlling
variables, the use of a control group, and double-blinding.
A successful essay will contain 7 paragraphs: - An
introductory paragraph in which you describe what you will be doing in
the essay and take a stand on the plausibility of the pseudoscience you
will be writing about. It might be helpful to offer a brief history of
the development of the pseudoscience here as well.
- A paragraph devoted to each of the four steps in the SEARCH method.
- A paragraph describing your experiment.
- A conclusion in which you summarize the essay and draw some conclusions about the validity of your pseudoscience.
The
essay should be typed, double-spaced in a 10-12 point legible font. In
addition to the final draft of the paper which is due on Tuesday, July 29,
you will also need to complete the following pre-writing assignments.
Though these assignments will not be graded, failure to participate in
them will result in an F on this essay:
- You will need to select a topic which you will bring to class on Thursday, July 10.
- You will need to bring two copies of a draft of your paper to class on Thursday, July 24 for in-class peer editing.
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