Guidelines for Outline

And Text Box: Write out the question Sample Outline

Text Box: State your thesis (your one sentence answer to the question).

  

 

 

 


 

Question:  According to Plato, how is the “Allegory of the Cave” related to education?

 

I Introduction:   The Allegory is a story about education because the man who sees what lies outside of the cave has come to realize that the shadows that he has experienced were merely illusions, and in returning to the cave, he has the responsibility to pass this new wisdom on to he peers.

           

A. Shadows as Reality 

 

B. Becoming Enlightened

                       

            C. The responsibility of being educated

Text Box: A, B, and C should correspond with the A, B, and C in the introduction

 

II Body of EssayText Box: Show how you will answer the question (What are you supporting arguments?)

 

            A.        Shadows as Reality      

                       

                        1.         After a life of viewing shadows, the men in the cave believe that what seems to be real to them is in fact real   

                

2.         Accepting this false reality, they are unable to progress to the next level of thought

 

            B          Becoming Enlightened

 

                        1.         The man leaving the cave and experiencing what exists beyond the shadows gains some wisdom

 

2.         He comes to understand that the way things appear to us are merely imperfect reflections of Truth

 Text Box: Provide some details to help elucidate your argument. (For a research project you will insert quotes form sources with the appropriate citations).

            C.        The Responsibility of Education

 

                        1.         The Man goes back to the cave and tries to tell everyone what he learned but people reject what he is teaching

 

                        2.         He can return to his old ways and stay in the cave, he can leave the cave and not return, or he can remain and teach

                             despite the oposition; since the first 2 choices are a waste of the wisdom that he gained; only the 3rd option is morally correct.    

 

III. Conclusion

 

            A.        “Allegory of the Cave” is related to education because along with the acquisition of knowledge comes the responsibility to use it.

 

            B.         To return to old patterns of thought is to waste the newly acquired knowledge.

 

Text Box: 1. Restate the thesis. 2. Reinforce your main points. 3. Leave the reader something         to think about (a question, quote, etc.).

            C.        To give in to the protests of your peers that speak against your new found wisdom is to deny it.

 

            D.        What would posterity have thought of Socrates if he had denied his wisdom?

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