Nick Trileski
11/11/2010
Contribution Rough Draft
The move towards a desacralized society is something our civilization has seen during the 20th
and 21st centuries. Many statistics show that especially in the West there is an increased amount of
atheists and agnostics. Which factors in our society can be attributed to this influx of non-believers? Is it
modern medicine that relieves symptoms of hopelessness? The dazzling technology that makes Godly
miracles seem possible? Or is it avant-garde science which proves just about everything but God? All
these factors contribute to society’s overall increasing doubt of God. Technology, science and medicine
are all common angles that atheists use to argue the validity of God.
The current debate between atheists and fundamentalists at this moment is about the existence
of God. Writers like Arendt argue that there is no way to prove or disprove the transcendental meaning
of God, while Atheists like Hitchens argue that even if there is a God his name only brings violence, so
why should we worship him?
Nick Trileski
11/11/2010
Contribution Essay
76-101: Interpretation and Argument
Carnegie Mellon University
Fall 2010
Write a paper in response to the conversation our authors have been having all semester.
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The proposal is due Wednesday, November 3.
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The rough draft is due Friday, November 12, at the beginning of class.
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The final draft is due Friday, December 10, by 5pm. Please turn in your rough
draft with my comments along with the final.

The Contribution Essay should be 1800-2700 words, typed, double-spaced. It
should include a Works Cited. You must hand in your drafts (both rough and final)
in both electronic and paper form.
RESEARCH QUESTION
Framing your argument in response to a question will help keep it focused. It’s fine to
change the question while you are writing your draft; sometimes you won’t know what
question your answering till you’ve already answered it.
Nick Trileski
11/11/2010
STATE OF THE DEBATE
A good contribution paper builds on the skills you practiced during the synthesis paper.
Show the state of the debate about the issue you are addressing with a mini-synthesis of
perspectives about the issue. This means citing authors and approaches, but in a condensed
form compared to the synthesis paper. This sets up where your contribution fits into the
overall conversation.
ANSWER THE QUESTION
This is your “contribution” – the position you are arguing. It’s important to explain where it
fits into the overall debate (that is, the authors we’ve read in class). Two ways of framing a
contribution are: (1) identifying a “gap” that seems to be overlooked in the debate as a whole
(i.e., our class readings), or (2) using a specific case (like zombies) to illustrate the issues
we’ve already looked at in class. As you figure out your contribution, you may need to revise
your research question so that it reflects the answer you are giving.
COUNTERARGUMENTS
Acknowledge counterarguments – whether directly from our authors or simply what you
anticipate from a reader. Confronting counter-arguments can persuade readers (1) that your
view makes sense and (2) that your argument considers this critique and can acknowledge
where its points have merit. You must make it clear that there are good reasons for not
being swayed by the counterarguments you introduce.
SUBHEADINGS
Your job as a writer is to make your ideas clear to your reader. Help your reader navigate
your text by “chunking” your essay into meaningful sections that are separated and defined
by subheadings. For this essay, your subheadings will be most effective when they forecast
the main claim of the section.
AUDIENCE
Direct this paper toward a Carnegie Mellon University academic audience that is interested
in religion and power as the course has defined it. Basic ideas about religion and power
would be familiar to your readers, but they may not have read the authors you’ve included in
your essay, so you should be sure to provide definitions. They may also not be familiar with
the complexities we have explored in this course. Hence, some background or context is
necessary for your reader to understand the significance of the question you’re exploring –
i.e., that it’s not been addressed and you’re filling a gap in the literature, etc.