AGAINST LEGALIZATION OF PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE

Research Paper Guidelines

Format:

1. You must have a title page separate from the body of the paper. The title should

indicate the direction of the paper, for example: Against Abortion, or In Support of

Gun Control. All information on the title page should be centered, and include (duh)

the title of the paper, your name, the date, and the course name, e.g., Freshman

Comp I or ENC 1101.

2. Sections must be labeled, of which there are four: I. Background and thesis

Introduce both sides of the argument, including as much history as you think

necessary, and end with your underlined thesis. II. Opposition

The first thing I see is a thesis for the opposition, followed by paragraphs

explaining each point of their thesis. III. Refutation

Here you attempt to defeat the arguments of the opposition. Introduce the

point you are going to attack by underlining the topic sentence that begins

that segment. This is the main body of the paper. IV. Conclusion

3. Certain sentences must be underlined: in section I, the thesis. In section III, the topic

sentences.

4. The last page is titled Works Cited, not Bibliography or References.

5. Length: 4-6 typed pages (for Comp I), 6-8 pages for Comp II,

which number does not include the title page or the works cited page, and in a font

size as specified on your syllabus (Times New Roman 12 is perfect). Margins should

be one inch all around, and the pages numbered in the top right corner or centered

at the top. The paper must be typed and double-spaced.

More on Format and Organization:

In the first section, introduce the paper in as interesting a way as you can. Give as much background as you think necessary, so that by the end of the section we have a decent idea of where both sides stand on the issue. The section should culminate in your thesis, which will be underlined. A sample thesis sentence: Roe v. Wade should be overturned because abortion is the unjustified taking of an innocent human life, and is therefore murder. Or another example: Gun control laws should be enacted because the use of “well-regulated militia” in the 2nd Amendment to the constitution does not refer to private citizens.

The second section is the Opposition. The first thing I should see is a thesis paragraph for their side. Example: Proponents of abortion say that it is not murder because it cannot be proven that an undeveloped embryo is a human being in the full sense of that word. To consider a fetus as a person under the law is to impose the religious beliefs of some on others who do not share them, and in the end to make abortion less safe for women, not less frequent.

The italics are for emphasis only. Unlike the example above, there might be only two points rather than three in the opposition’s thesis, but that thesis must have at least one main point that overlaps, or is the flipside of, the main reason given in your thesis. You do not need to underline the opposition thesis, because it is the first thing I will see in that section. In following paragraphs, explain the opposition’s view on this point and any others you have put into their thesis. Remember to keep your own views out of this section.

The third section is the Refutation, in which you attempt to defeat the arguments raised by the opposition. I should immediately see an underlined topic sentence. Make sure that that sentence is worded in such a way as to render absolutely clear to the reader which point in the opposition’s thesis you are attacking. After you are done trying to defeat their first argument, I should see another underlined sentence at the very point at which you begin to take up their second argument – and so on should there be more than two. Do not address anything in this section that was not raised in the opposition’s thesis. This is the main body of the paper and should be the longest section.

Section four is the conclusion. Sources: 1. You may have more, but need a minimum of five. All sources must be cited at least

once within the body of the paper. I should see citations in every section of the paper

except possibly for the conclusion.

2. Do not number the entries on the works cited page; arrange them alphabetically. 3. The first line of an entry begins at the left margin. Use the right margin as you

normally would. If an entry requires more than one line, any subsequent lines should

be indented to the right 5 spaces.

4. Remember that within a parenthetical citation I am generally looking for an author's

last name and a page number, for example, (Berns 43). I will then go to the back

page looking for "Berns" in alphabetical order. 5. A typical entry on the Works Cited page for a print magazine article looks like this: Kontorovich, E.V. "Asexual Revolution." National Review. 9 Mar 1998, pp. 30-32. If that same article were found only at the magazine's website, it would look like this:

Kontorovich, E.V. "Asexual Revolution." National Review Online. 11 Oct 2005.

http://www.url....com. Accessed 18 Feb 2010.

The second date is your date of access. For most web sources, page numbers are not required. If your web source is a pdf document or some other format resembling a print source, you will give page numbers after the magazine’s date, like this: 11 Oct 2005: 1-3. If the article numbers paragraphs, use them. I require a URL for any web source other than a college or university’s library database. The URL should take the reader to the article itself, not to the front page of the website. If the original print article were found at a different website altogether, such as an online scholarly database, it would look like this:

Kontorovich, E.V. "Asexual Revolution." National Review. 9 Mar 1998: (pages if

available). Findarticles.com. www.url...com. Accessed 18 Feb 2010.

All database articles, whether accessed online or through the library, should follow this pattern (number 11 page 141 in Seagull’s Works Cited Directory), though no URL is required for the library source. Remember that the MLA citations for many of the library articles, such as those in Opposing Viewpoints in Context, will need some adjusting to meet format requirements. Some database articles may already be in the proper form, but you need to know what that form is. When you copy and paste from these citations, make sure all italics have transferred to your Word program accurately. If they don’t, you’ll need to do it manually. Also be alert for proper indentation.

A typical entry for an Opposing Viewpoints essay found in a book would look like this (number 19 page 144 in Seagull):

Van Den Haag, Ernest. "The Death Penalty is Moral." The Death Penalty:

Opposing Viewpoints , edited by Bruno and Leone. Greenhaven Press,

1986, pp. 90-98.

Many of the Opposing Viewpoints books are available in the library.

Conferences:

We will have individual conferences one week prior to the due date. Bring any questions you have at that time. If there is difficulty citing a source, bring the source with you. I can’t help if I can’t see it. If your paper is complete, bring something to work on to keep you busy. You are not allowed to leave class early just because your conference came early. It’s not fair to the other students. Remember as well that you can bring me a rough draft at any time prior to this date, and as many times as you want.

Remember that the completed, typed rough draft is due at this time, from title page to works cited, with in-text parenthetical citations, and a minimum of four full pages of text (not counting the title and works cited pages) with proper spacing and font. If any of this is lacking, you will not be allowed to re-write the paper once I have graded it. Since you may turn in as many rough drafts as you like prior to this conference date, no late papers will be accepted. Failure to meet the final due date also voids the opportunity to re-write.