Can computers (AI) think?
Can computers (AI) think?
instructions: Choose one topic from the list below. Write an essay of 1000 words
(minimum) using the guidelines that follow the topics list.
Topics:
● Can computers (AI) think?–> CHOSE THIS ONE
Final Essay Guidelines (choose all):.
● Check your essay for spelling, grammar, sentence structure, clarity, and word choice,
just as you did for your intro paragraph.
● Use only assigned materials from the course. Do not use external sources, even if
you cite them.
● Include and discuss the meaning and relevance to your argument of at least 4 short
quotes from the texts. The quotes must be from the portions of the texts that I
assigned. Include parenthetical citations with the author’s last name and the page
number if they were provided.
● On the first mention of an author, use first and last name. Every time after that, use
last name only. Be sure to spell their names correctly – very important.
● If you’re writing about one of the first four topics in the list above, you will be
submitting a standard 1000 word essay with an intro, body paragraphs, and a
conclusion.
● If you’re writing about one of the last four topics in the list above (they’re also
indicated with asterisks at the end of the topic description), you are still expected to
use and discuss quotes to demonstrate your understanding of the assigned texts,
and the word length requirement is the same.
The Fascinating Story of the World’s First
Programmer (VIDEO)
The Turing test: Can a computer pass for a human? –
Alex Gendler
The Chinese Room Experiment | The Hunt for AI |
BBC Studios
Ada Lovelace, her Objection, Turing Tests and Universal Computing
ARTICLE (USE THIS)
https://medium.com/swlh/ada-lovelace-her-objection-e189717bd262
Compose a title and intro paragraph for your final essay, using the following guidelines:
● 4-6 sentences for the intro
● Must begin by posing a question
● Must have a thesis statement that reflects your answer to the question (see below
for thesis statement guidelines)
● Do not begin with generalizations (from the beginning of time….all human beings
wonder…etc) and do not include biographical information about the philosophers
you will be discussing. I know who they are. Get straight to the point by posing the
question, and then tell your reader how you will answer that question (your thesis).
That’s all you need to do to begin your essay.
● After posing the question and stating the thesis, tell the reader how you will support
your thesis. Which authors and texts (only use authors and texts assigned in this
course, nothing else)? What reasons and evidence? How will the essay be organized?
● Indicate the “stakes” of your essay. Why does it matter in today’s world? Why should
we consult philosophers to help us think about the question you’re asking? How is
philosophy relevant?
Thesis Statement Guidelines:
● A thesis is not a title: Homes and schools (title) vs. Parents ought to participate
more in the education of their children (good thesis).
● A thesis is not an announcement of the subject: My subject is the incompetence of
the Supreme Court vs. The Supreme Court made a mistake when it ruled in favor of
George W. Bush in the 2000 election.
● A thesis is not a statement of absolute fact: Jane Austen is the author of Pride and
Prejudice.
● A thesis is not the whole essay: A thesis is your main
idea/claim/refutation/problem-solution expressed in a single sentence or a
combination of sentences.
● Please note that according to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers,
Sixth Edition, “A thesis statement is a single sentence that formulates both your topic
and your point of view” (Gibaldi 56). However, if your paper is more complex and
requires a thesis statement, your thesis may require a combination of sentences.
Make sure you follow these guidelines when creating your thesis:
● A good thesis is unified: Detective stories are not a high form of literature, but people
have always been fascinated by them, and many fine writers have experimented with
them (floppy). vs. Detective stories appeal to the basic human desire for thrills
(concise).
● A good thesis is specific: James Joyce’s Ulysses is very good. vs. James Joyce’s
Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to deal with the unconscious.
● Try to be as specific as possible (without providing too much detail) when creating
your thesis: James Joyce’s Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to deal with
the unconscious. vs. James Joyce’s Ulysses helped create a new way for writers to
deal with the unconscious by utilizing the findings of Freudian psychology and
introducing the techniques of literary stream-of-consciousness
