How can you clarify these essay instructions? (college)?

Question

I am writing a summary paper on a social darwinism book. The book is composed of many authors and their philosophies and ideas. The instructions specifically say "present the authors' ideas objectively, without inserting your own opinion".

Can someone clarify what it means to present ideas objectively?
An example would help greatly also.

thank you.

The first answer below does not help at all. sorry

Answer 1

Objectivity is an illusion. Having said that you want to look at the ideas presented by the authors and avoid loaded language. For example pro-choice and pro-life are loaded language. If you wanted to write objectively about the subject you would use less politicized words. "The Abortion Issue" is how many newspapers aproach it so they can take on an air of neutrality.

My guess though is that your professor is not looking for an entirely journalistic objectivity. They are looking for you to entertain multiple perspectives.

The problem of course is that you will always have a point of view. So avoid or hide your point of view in what you are writing by using the authors words without offering your opinions. If you have a perspective that you need presented, find another author/expert who shares your opinion and quote them.

An example of this would be to use Darwin's words to refute the social Darwinist creed "Survival of the Fittest." Point out Darwin's explanation of "Natural Selection" as having to do with random adaptation, which doesn't have much to do with eugenics or robber barron justification for excess.

Answer 2

Hmmmm...I understand what the professor wants, but I'm not sure I'll be very good at providing an explanation.

Actually, the instructions are very clear, but I think that fact is what is causing you to not trust your own understanding of the instructions. Your professor doesn't want an opinion paper. He/She wants a summary just like one would do if writing a book report. Typically, in a book report, we simply summarize the action in the story. On the other hand, if we do an analysis, we stating facts (summary of the details) AND our opinions of those details.

REALLY, what your professor is expecting you to do is to paraphrase what each author's contribution is. Don't mention anything about what you THINK about any author's philosophy or idea, not even what the general public thinks about the author's philosphy or idea or how the public may have corrupted the expression of that philosphy UNLESS you are presenting one of the other author's commentaries about the philosophies/ideas of another author covered in the book and EXPRESSED in the book in question....just present a "summary" of philosophies and ideas attributed to the authors.

Keep yourself out of the summary because you weren't one of the author's in the book and the professor doesn't want to know what you think....nothing personal, mind you.

If this isn't what you had in mind, feel free to e-mail me.
[e-mail]
and I'll try to come up with something more useful. My brain isn't coming up with any examples right this mnute.

Lee

Answer 3

First examine Cronon with a dictionary reachable something ought to be self explanatory, take it one step at a time look up any words in the project training that have you ever puzzled

Answer 4

ob·jec·tive /əbˈdʒɛktɪv/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[uhb-jek-tiv] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; goal; target: the objective of a military attack; the objective of a fund-raising drive.