Sample Paper and Grading Rubric - Kent State University



Sample Paper and Grading Rubric

Socrates, Corrupter of Youth

Socrates was tried for impiety and for corrupting the youth of Athens. He was found guilty and executed for his crimes. While some people argue that Socrates was judged unfairly, I think that he was guilty of corrupting the youth of Athens.

The issue of Socrates corrupting the youth is relevant because Socrates was a teacher who encouraged questioning and independent thinking. In Euthyphro, Socrates encourages Euthyphro to discuss piety by asking Euthyphro to teach him. Socrates says “my dear Euthyphro, I cannot do better than become your pupil” (p. 4). In Crito, Socrates tells Crito that they should explore the topic together. Socrates says “let us examine this question together, my friend” (p. 58). In both cases, Socrates is encouraging those he is speaking with to think for themselves. I think that why the Athenians convicted Socrates was because he encouraged the youth to question the leaders, to think for themselves. It seems that Socrates was successful because, when reading about him, students are encouraged to think for themselves as well.

In his cross-examination of Meletus in Apology, Socrates does a good job proving that he does not corrupt the youth in several ways. Socrates proves that he does not make his companions evil (p. 31). The best evidence he gives is when he says “if it were really the case that I have already corrupted some of the young men, and am now corrupting them, surely some of them, finding as they grew older that I had given them bad advice in their youth, would have come forward today and accuse me and take their revenge” (p. 40). The fact that no one comes forward during the trial is a strong case for Socrates. But, I think the corruption Socrates was convicted of was not making the youth evil, but teaching them to question authority.

Socrates says in his trial that he has caused much indignation (p. 34). The citizens of Athens, particularly the wealthy and those in power, were angry with Socrates because he made them look foolish. According to Socrates, “the persons who are cross-examined get angry with me instead of with themselves” (p. 28). In challenging the men who thought that they were wise and proving that they weren’t Socrates accomplished several things. First, Socrates made the powerful angry at him. Second, he showed that he was wiser than the person he was questioning because Socrates knew what he did not know. Third, Socrates taught those who were present at the event that the powerful really weren’t as knowledgeable and as powerful as they were supposed to be. Socrates showed the youth of Athens that their leaders were ignorant like everyone else and that questioning them was the way to reveal their ignorance.

Questioning authority can be detrimental to any society, because societies are based on obeying rules. Society would be chaotic if everyone questioned everything. Imagine how hard it would be to run a business if every employee questioned everything they were told to do. Things were not very different in Socrates’ day. Athens was a successful democracy because the citizens followed the rules of Athens. By questioning those in power and by teaching the youth of Athens to question them, Socrates was challenging the authorities’ power. I think that Socrates did corrupt the youth because he taught them to question everyone. Today, people who question those in power are thought of as rebellious or unpatriotic. It’s clear that in ancient Athens, questioning those in power was considered dangerous enough to deserve the death penalty.

Socrates’ teachings and his reputation outlasted any of his accusers which is probably the best indication of his success. Socrates clearly didn’t corrupt any of his companions by making them evil. He probably made most of his friends and students better by teaching them to think and encouraging them to pursue what was really important. In ancient Athens, though, Socrates was a dangerous man because of his teachings. Hopefully, modern democracies will be more like Socrates and less like the ancient Athenians by encouraging independent thinking and constantly questioning the powerful of society.

Paper Grading Rubric

OVERALL PAPER MULTIPLIER POINTS

Spelling and Punctuation (10 points)

Words are correctly spelled. Punctuation rules are observed.

1 2 3 4 5 x2 _______

Grammar (10 points)

Sentences are grammatically correct.

1 2 3 4 5 x2 _______

Structure and Organization (10 points)

Paper is well-organized and demonstrates clarity and substance.

1 2 3 4 5 x2 _______

Introduction Paragraph (5 points)

Main point of analysis is clearly introduced.

1 2 3 4 5 x1 _______

Conclusion Paragraph (5 points)

Conclusion coherently follows from the body of the paper.

1 2 3 4 5 x1 _______

ANALYSIS SECTION

Relevance (20 points)

Relevance of the topic is clearly stated and demonstrated.

1 2 3 4 5 x4 _______

Analysis (40 points)

Analysis is coherent and lucid. Points are supported with examples/citations from the text.

1 2 3 4 5 x8 _______

TOTAL _______

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