Enlightenment+Paper+handout

COMM 111 Enlightenment Paper Handout 6-8 pages

__Overview __ The first section of this course explores the rational and scientific interpretation of evidence. We link this idea that evidence can be interpreted accurately and consistently to ideas generated during the Enlightenment. Your paper should evaluate whether Enlightenment principles were violated in two very different controversies: prescription drugs for mental health patients and the reasons to go to war with Iraq. To be clear, you should not spend the bulk of your paper showing how each and every Enlightenment value (**transparency, methodical, objectivity, skepticism, and competition**) was violated in both controversies. You should emphasize the few Enlightenment values from this longer list that you can convincingly argue were violated the most. Concentrate on a few overall questions:
 * 1) Were Enlightenment values violated by key analysts and decision-makers in the Iraq and prescription drugs controversy?
 * 2) Were //different// Enlightenment values violated in each controversy?
 * 3) If analysts and decision-makers had followed specific Enlightenment values more closely, would the outcomes have changed in either case?

__Research __ Students may find it necessary to do some outside research on the Enlightenment period, the controversy over prescribing drugs to treat mental health issues, or the controversy over Iraq’s possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction, //but outside research is not a requirement for this paper//. In fact, your conclusions about failures to interpret evidence about mental health and Iraq should be based primarily on evidence presented in two articles (“Drug Companies and Doctors” and “Team B Intelligence Coups”) that are posted on Oaks. __To be clear, your job is not simply to summarize these essays, but to integrate these articles’ conclusions into your take on the controversies these articles cover.__ Whatever evidence you cite or quotations you use should be primarily from these articles as well as either lecture notes or the //Advocacy and Opposition// textbook. (Make sure to use APA style correctly when citing.)

__Your paper should include the following __:
 * 1) A clear structure with a memorable thesis, organized main points, and a conclusion. Think through the key organizational issue of whether you want to organize main points around a few Enlightenment values and discuss how they were violated in each controversy //or// whether you want your discussion of each controversy to serve as two main points.
 * 2) A discussion of how the prescription drug and Iraq controversies did or did not violate Enlightenment values
 * 3) A discussion of whether there are clear differences in how each controversy violated Enlightenment principles. (This may help you generate a specific thesis.)
 * 4) Vivid language and examples in a polished paper with minimal grammatical errors.