Your Philosophical Essay on a Nigerian Question
The capstone project for World Philosophies: From Ancient Times to Today — a free Civic & Life Skills course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 6 steps
- Pass mark 70%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
One Google Doc of 1,500 to 2,000 words containing all six parts with clear headings, shared so that anyone with the link can view it. Submit the link.
What to do, step by step
- Part 1. The question (100 to 150 words): choose one real, contestable question from Nigerian life and state it in a single sentence. Examples: is it right to pay a bribe to get what you are already owed; do I owe my extended family a share of my salary; may the state ban adults from harming only themselves; should a job go to a relative if he is nearly as qualified. Say in a few sentences why facts alone cannot settle it.
- Part 2. Your position (50 to 100 words): state plainly the answer you will defend, so that a reader could disagree with it. Define the key term or terms your answer depends on (for example bribe, owe, fair or harm).
- Part 3. Three traditions (600 to 800 words): explain how at least three traditions or thinkers from this course would approach your question, for example Socrates on doing versus suffering wrong, Aristotle's virtues, Confucian rectification of names, Buddhist or Jain ideas, Stoic duty, Ibn Rushd or Aquinas on reason, Menkiti, Gyekye or Ubuntu on the person in community, Kant's universal-law test, Mill's harm principle, Rawls' veil of ignorance or Fanon. Describe each accurately, in terms its holders would recognise, and say where they agree and disagree.
- Part 4. Your argument (300 to 450 words): argue for your position in numbered premises leading to a conclusion. Show which tradition or traditions you draw on and why you find them more persuasive here than the others.
- Part 5. The strongest objection and your reply (250 to 350 words): state the best objection to your position, in its strongest form, as someone who holds it would put it. Then reply to it honestly, or concede the part you cannot answer and say how your position changes.
- Part 6. Sources (a short list): list what you read or watched, including at least two primary or reference sources (for example a dialogue of Plato, the Analects, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Quote only short passages, accurately and with the source; if you are not sure of the wording, paraphrase instead.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| The question is genuinely philosophical, clearly stated and drawn from real Nigerian life | 10% |
| The position is clear and contestable, and key terms are defined | 10% |
| At least three traditions are described accurately and fairly, as their holders would recognise them | 25% |
| The comparison and the argument proceed in clear numbered steps without leaps | 20% |
| The strongest objection is stated fairly and genuinely answered or conceded | 20% |
| Sources are cited, quotations are short and accurate, and the essay is clearly written | 15% |
You need 70% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish World Philosophies: From Ancient Times to Today before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in World Philosophies: From Ancient Times to Today is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 70% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
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Ready to earn this certificate?
World Philosophies: From Ancient Times to Today is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
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