Animal Rights

Animal Rights

September 4, 2014

Thesis Construction

Choose one of the following issues and write a five paragraph essay in which you provide three reasons why the issue is ethically significant. The paragraphs of your essay should conform to the following guidelines:

a. Paragraph 1:

Provide a brief introduction to the issue. Your introduction must make clear to the reader exactly what issue you are choosing and what you take to be the boundaries of the issue. For example, if you were writing on criminal punishment, you would need to make clear whether you were considering only imprisonment and harsher penalties, or whether you were also considering penalties such as fines for speeding. (Note, you may not write on criminal punishment, this is just an example). The final sentence of your paragraph must be a thesis sentence which lists the three reasons you will put forward in your essay.

b. Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4:

The first sentence of each paragraph must be a topic sentence that clearly states what reason you will be considering. The remainder of the paragraph should make clear why this is a reason for thinking the issue you have chosen is ethically significant. Each paragraph must contain at least four sentences.

c. Paragraph 5:

Conclude your essay by very briefly reviewing the three reasons you have discussed and why they show the issue is ethically significant. Your paragraph should contain a paraphrased restatement of your thesis.

Animals

* What does it mean to respect non-human animals in the way we as individuals live our lives?

* What kinds of behaviors would that involve?

* What kinds of behaviors would that exclude?

* Do we as individuals have moral obligations toward non-human animals when our own behavior has very little direct effect on the overall state of things?

* How should we weigh human needs and/or desires against those of non-human animals?

* Does a government have an obligation to care...