Triple Notes: Effective Altruism

Triple Note on “Effective Altruism”

Submit triple notes on

the reading on Effective Altruism (Links to an external site.)

. For more information on how to complete triple notes, go to the instruction page:

Instructions on Triple Notes

.

Submission Guidelines

• 1 inch margins, double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font (Be sure to check these formatting guidelines as these may not be the default setting on your word processor).
• Pa.per must be at least one full page, but the goal is to demonstrate thorough engagement with the text. Hence, it is important that you paraphrase, quote, and cite appropriately to make clear how you are reading and interpreting the text.
• Feel free to use grids and tables if you find that structure to be helpful, but you are not required to. You must at least make clear which main claims go with which supporting statements and responses.
• Upload your pa.per in Word or PDF format (doc, docx, pdf). Other formats (e.g. Pages) will not be accepted.
• Your pa.per will be run through the plagiarism detection program. I take academic integrity very seriously as a matter of fairness to all PCC students, and though in many cases, students unknowingly violate the academic integrity policy, you will still be held responsible for making sure your work complies with those policies. If you have any questions, I am more than happy to help.

2022/8/29 12:34 Instructions on Triple Notes: Fal22 PHIL 007 #71108 CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS

https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1125818/pages/instructions-on-triple-notes 1/2

Instructions on Triple Notes
What are Triple Notes?
Throughout the course, you will be asked to write what are called “Triple Notes,” which is just a
fanciful name for a particular note-taking system. As you engage with the readings in the course,
you will periodically be asked to write notes on your reading. The purpose of this exercise is to: 1)
improve reading comprehension, and 2) identify areas of the reading that you may have questions
on.

Triple notes ask you to answer the following three questions:

1) what are the major claims made by the author;

2) how does the author support these claims (i.e. what reasons does the author give for these
claims, identifying key quotes to support your understanding of the author); and

3) what is your response to the author’s argument? (For instance, do you agree/disagree and
why? How would you apply the author’s claims to other cases including your own life? Was there
anything the author claimed that was puzzling/confusing?)

Each major claim identified for #1 should have corresponding responses to #2 and #3. Below is a
sample:

“Spiderman is not a good role model, nor is he an exciting character. For one, Spiderman whines
all the time and makes terrible decisions, which is not something that I’d like my kids to emulate.
He’s also a one-dimensional character who has simple, uninteresting desires, which makes him
so boring.” (quote by Albert Shin)

Major claims by author Support for claims Response to author

Spiderman is not a good role
model.

Spiderman whines all the time
and makes terrible decisions.

I agree. Take, for instance, his
“woe is me” attitude toward his
superpowers.

Spiderman is not an exciting
character.

Spiderman is one-dimensional
and has uninteresting desires.

What might the author mean by
“one-dimensional”? Does the
author mean Spiderman does
not have a personality?

Though you do not have to write in this grid form, you may find it helpful as it allows you to keep
track of the main claims, the reasons used to support them, and your responses to those specific
arguments.

How will I be graded?

2022/8/29 12:34 Instructions on Triple Notes: Fal22 PHIL 007 #71108 CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS

https://canvas.pasadena.edu/courses/1125818/pages/instructions-on-triple-notes 2/2

You will not be graded on accuracy, only on completeness (at least 200 words of meaningful
engagement with the text). As long as you engage with the text (e.g. quote and cite
appropriately) and do your best to identify all the key elements of the readings, you will be given
full credit. So do not feel anxious about getting everything “right”! Just focus on developing your
reading skills.