Philosophy 140
Midterm Paper (50 points)
Due March 6th by midnight
For this assignment, submit a 3+ page paper on one of below prompts as it relates to Philip K. Dick’s
novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. In your analysis of the novel, be sure to also incorporate
a secondary author from the course from one of our assigned readings. No outside sources are
required. MLA format.
Choose one of the following prompts to write on:
1. In the novel, animals are so rare because most are extinct, and they are tended very carefully, but
not out of compassion or love–only as status symbols prized for their ability to confer an aura of
success on their owners. What does the novel have to say about Western consumerism? About
Western values in general? How current are these ideas? Can you apply any theories or ideas
found in any of our other texts in this class about consumerism to any of the issues that you see
raised in the novel?
2. One important question is “what is it to be human?” What is Dick’s answer to this
question? How are androids and humans contrasted in this novel, and to what purpose? Is his
view of human nature inherently negative, positive, mixed, or ambiguous? Can you apply any
theories or ideas about human nature found in any of our other texts in this class to any of the
issues that you see raised in the novel?
3. One of the goals of the novel is to show that so long as humans are anxious about their own tools,
those tools will be seen as having some innate power over mankind. In other words, regardless of
technology’s fallibility, if humans regard themselves as less smart or less able than their tools,
then they will be at the mercy of their tools. Technology will advance, regardless of what the
majority of humanity feels about that technology. Any struggle to remain the ruler or owner of
new technology will surely fail. Is this a reasonable viewpoint? What does the novel say about the
relationship between humans and technology? About inevitable technological progress? Can you
apply any theories or ideas about the relationship between humans and technology found in any
of our other texts I this class to any of the issues that you see raised in the novel?
For citation from the novel, use this format: (Dick, 110)
For citation from our text, use this format: (Author, 493)
Primary sources are the assigned readings from the primary textbook only. Summaries, handouts,
and videos do not count as primary sources, as they are not the authors own words. These are examples of
secondary sources, which are allowed as supplementary information, but do not meet the primary source
requirement. Choosing any author from the primary text won’t be sufficient, either. It must be an assigned
author/reading that we have covered so far in the course.
Quick note on length requirement: There is no strict length requirement. However, doing the minimal
(3 pages) will likely result in at most a basic C grade (which is fine, if that’s what you want). Minimal
requirements reflect passing C grades, not A grades. A grades show a student’s effort has gone above and
beyond stated minimums. However, submitting 6 pages of poor writing also will not get you an A. The
substance needs to be excellent as well.
Philosophy 140 Midterm Essay Grading Rubric
Introduction and Conclusion
______
Introduction (0 – 5): Does the introduction contain a specific thesis statement (the claim you
intend to prove)? How well does the first paragraph introduce your topic and the issue in
question? Is your introduction concise and focused?
______
Conclusion (0 – 5): How well did you state what you have accomplished in your essay? Do
you convey the wider ramifications? Is your conclusion concise and focused?
Supportive Body Paragraphs
______
(0 – 30) How well did you explain and support your ideas? Did you apply any ideas or concepts
from our class materials to the novel? Did you define relevant key terms? Does your writing
exemplify understanding of both the key concepts you are discussing from the novel and the
secondary author you selected? Is your writing factually accurate? Do you demonstrate mastery
of the materials you choose to discuss? Are the quotes you use relevant to your discussion?
Composition and Mechanics
______
Composition, Spelling, and Grammar (0 – 5): Is your language clear and precise collegelevel writing? Are you using correct terminology? Did you proofread your essay carefully?
Are the ideas in your essay logically ordered?
______ Mechanics (0 – 5): Did you draw upon ideas from at least one other author from the class? Did
you use parenthetical citation and cite your sources? Is your essay in 12 point Times New
Roman Font with 1-inch margins? (MLA format)
Total (out of 50 points)

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