Philosophy

Final Research Paper Assignment: Detailed Guidelines

For your final research paper, you are asked to write a formal paper of 1700 words (minimum word count­ any paper of fewer than 1300 words will not be accepted as a complete paper) to 2000 words (maximum word count-you may exceed this without penalty only if it essential to attaining the purpose of your paper). Your paper must cite the work of at least four philosophers studied during the course; there is no upper limit on the number of sources you may use. You have the option of writing a position paper or a comparison essay, depending on whether your plan is to argue in favor of an original position regarding the work and thought of at least four philosophers covered in the course or to comparatively evaluate the work of four or more philosophers. The topics below may be approached using either strategy; you may find that some will better lend themselves to a position paper (also known as an argumentative essay) and some will work better as a comparison essay. Choose the topic that most interests you and the strategy that works best for you.

Topic Areas

1) Kant, Mill, Aristotle, and Kierkegaard: What is the ethical life?

This assignment is broken into two parts:

Part I includes the following elements:

• Title of the paper (please do not create separate title page). Special note: DO NOT title your paper, "Final Paper." Your title is important; it should give the reader an immediate snapshot of what the paper will say and attempt to draw the reader in.

• Introductory paragraph (including your thesis). This is a very important part of the paper--it should not be too short or too long (but probably at least five sentences). Begin by introducing the general topic and providing the reader with some rationale for why this topic, and what you will say about it, is worth thinking and reading about. Good writers usually begin with a "hook" in the first line to draw the reader in. You might pose an interesting or intriguing question, bring in an apposite quote, or make a controversial or surprising claim-even one that seems to go against your thesis. You will soon bring the reader around to what your position is when you state your thesis, which is usually very near the end of the first paragraph. The introductory paragraph should also provide some background on the topic in question that leads into the purpose of the paper. Make sure that the issue that your paper calls into question is crystal clear. Your thesis statement (your position on the issue) may be simple and straightforward, with all development following in body of the paper, or you may choose to forecast in the thesis itself the claims your will bring forward in support of the thesis in the argumentation sections.

• An informal list of possible sources. Don't worry too much about precise formatting here; this will be expected in the final draft, but here, the point is just for the instructor to see if you are headed in the right direction and possibly recommend additional resources that will be useful to you.

Part II, which is your completed final draft (that is, the finished version), should include the following:

• An introduction that states the issue being debated, identifies the issue's two or more sides, and makes an explicit claim (thesis) that the position paper or argumentative essay will support.

• The body paragraphs, which will present your sustained argumentation in support of your thesis. In a comparison essay, you will be mainly concerned with first summarizing and explaining the various philosophical views or positions you are comparing and contrasting, and then showing why the comparative claim you make in your thesis is true, or at least to be preferred over others. In a position paper, you will be concerned to address at least one opposing or alternative claim to what your thesis states and to both show why your position is right and the opposing view is wrong, or at least less acceptable than the position asserted in your thesis. (See below for more details.

• A conclusion that drives home your main point and looks to the future.

• A complete and properly formatted works-cited page or list of references.

Whether you choose to write a position paper or a comparison essay, your thesis is an essential element of the paper. Focus in on the specific and significant issue you wish to address within your selected topic area (an issue is any claim that may be called into question). Your thesis should state a specific and significant point of view or position on the issue (or set of related issues) you have chosen to write about. In a position paper, the thesis will make an argumentative claim (that is, a debatable or even controversial claim); in a comparison essay, the thesis will make a comparative claim. Your paper should include analyses and discussion of terms, concepts, principles, theories, arguments, etc., that are importantly related to your topic area.

Remember that you will need at least four citations from four different Required Readings (works by the four philosophers in your selected topic area). You may include citations from other works by your selected philosophers or by other authors in addition to the four course readings, but you do not need more than the four course readings for full credit. The point of this research paper is to go deeper, not simply to sample more relevant reading selections. The goal here is to demonstrate your grasp of the particular philosophical ideas you are addressing as well as your overall attainment of course learning outcomes.

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