Paper Format Requirements:

 

Ethics Interview: 4-5 pages

Argument/Position Paper: 5-6 pages

Bonus Film Paper: 5-6 pages

 

1) 12 point font only, New Times Roman, double-spaced paragraphs, please paginate (number your pages)
2) you should have a “Works Cited” page and it should correspond to the in-text citations (in the body of the paper)

3) define your terms when you first mention them
4) avoid fallacies - invalid arguments

5) merely making an assertion or mentioning that you are presenting an argument does not mean you are actually offering an argument or supporting it well
6) increasing the spacing between sentences, between paragraphs or increasing the margins are all blatantly obvious tactics - oftentimes such could be characterized as "padding" an empty paper
7) indent each paragraph five spaces; a simple title page with small print will suffice (or no title page and the title at the top of the first page)
8) if you must use a long quote, it should be offset at the margins on both side and single-spaced text
10) merely mentioning the author and title of a work does not mean you are referencing the work properly
11) italicize foreign words
12) underline book titles
13) a paper is always better when one demonstrates some careful research and when one uses more than just one reference work
14) make certain your “Works Cited” page is accurate and follows the standard format
15) Do not block space your text and margins
16) Two (2) spaces between sentences; correct spelling and grammar, please use spell check on title and reference pages too!

17)  MLA style referencing is required;

See: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite5.html

18) Use no more than three short quotes from other sources

 

Further Specifications:

1)      The grade you receive on the paper will be greatly based on the content of the text.  The assignment objective is to teach the student to critically evaluate the matter at hand.  Essentially, this means that I will be looking for a clearly articulated argument or a supported response to the issue.

 

2)      A significant amount of the text should be devoted to the presentation of YOUR argument – somewhere in the ballpark of 60%-80% of the text.

 

3)      Premises must support any assertions.  You should be attentive to the different types of reasoning (deductive, inductive, analogies, etc.)

 

4)      The paper should set forth an argument in a reasoned and clear manner.  In regards to format, please comply with the following:  

 

a) The introduction should contain a statement of thesis or a brief abstract on the purpose/issue of the essay.

 

b) The paper should begin by defining the terms of the problem or issue.

 

c) In some instances, for clarity, it may be helpful to re-word the question or issue(s).

 

d) Pay close attention to providing a valid argument: the conclusion of the argument must directly flow from or be supported by the premises.

 

e) An argument is always stronger if you provide a balance of opposite views (although your position should lean to one side or the other). 

 

  5) Avoid major fallacies in your argument:

§         appeal to inappropriate authority/misuse of authority

§         appeal to emotion/pity

§         appeal to force/threat

§         appeal to the crowd/popular opinion

§         false/weak/questionable analogy

§         slippery slope

§         two wrongs do not make a right

§         accidental/incidental/superficial reasoning

§         stereotyping/hasty generalization or conclusion

§         abusive speech to person/profession/social class

§         reducing issue to the absurd in order to easily dismiss your opponent’s

                  argument

§         using emotionally charged or loaded terms in order to persuade your

                  audience

§         using metaphor/figurative/romanticized language

                  (O.K. for English courses but not Philosophy)

§         using instances of abuse as support that policy is unjustified

§         using widespread disagreement about an issue as support for the view that no truth therefore exists

 

If you quote any facts, studies, research, text or another person’s ideas either verbatim or paraphrased, you must cite that source. 

IF YOU USE SOURCES, THOSE CITATIONS MUST APPEAR BOTH IN THE BODY OF THE PAPER AND ALSO REFER TO A CITATION PAGE AT THE END OF THE PAPER.

Any degree of plagiarism = ‘0’ or E/F for the paper; Second instance of plagiarism = ‘0’ or E/F for the course.