English 101 – Dr. Jeffries
Fall 2015
Essay #2
“Morality, insofar as it condemns for its own sake, and not out of regard for the concerns,
considerations, and contrivances of life, is a specific error with which one ought to have no pity –
an idiosyncrasy of degenerates which has caused immeasurable harm” (Nietzsche 351).
Purpose: While continuing to practice the prewriting techniques we learned in Essay 1,
we will also focus on strategies for constructing a clear and concise thesis statement in
response to an essay prompt. In addition, Assignment #2 will emphasize critical reading,
argumentation, and counter-argumentation skills.
Readings: (from A World of Ideas)
Henry David Thoreau (301-326), Frederick Douglass (327-342), Friedrich Nietzsche
(343-358), Iris Murdoch (359-374), Martin Luther King (375-396), Kwame Anthony
Appiah (397-414), Michael Gazzaniga (415-432), and Aristotle (epage)
Writing Task: Write a 4-5 page argumentative essay in which you defend or reject
Nietzsche’s assumption that morality is anti-nature. Use at least two other texts from the
“Ethics and Morality” section of A World of Ideas (see writers listed above) in your
argument to help you persuade your readers.
Consider the Following:
Be sure to define the term anti-nature as carefully as possible.
Your essay must integrate Nietzsche PLUS two additional sources from above.
You must include a WORKS CITED page that lists at least THREE sources.
Your essay must be properly formatted (this includes heading, font size, spacing,
margins, and page numbers; review formatting guidelines in course syllabus). Your essay
should have an introduction paragraph with a focused thesis, body paragraphs, and a
conclusion.
Due Dates:
10/28
One page typed summary of Nietzsche’s “Morality as AntiNature”
Monday 11/2
Rough Draft Due for Peer Review (bring TWO typed copies)
Monday 11/9
Final Draft Due (include all prewriting in folder)
Wed.
Rewrite the assignment prompt in your own words: