paper

Directions:

The final course requirement for is a final paper on applied criminal justice ethics, of approximately 5-7 pp. in length. This paper should be a statement and defense of what you think about some controversial moral and social issue from the list of topics or an approved topic. . 

You must use evidence including moral theory, academic research, or related personal experience to establish evidence within your paper. 

Important: If you want to choose a topic, not on the list, you must clear it with me first. 

The final paper will be graded primarily along the following criteria:

• Having a clear and identifiable thesis statement
• Provision of support for that thesis statement      through arguments and evidence. Most of the grade will be based on this element, so be sure to      elaborate your arguments and evidence fully.
• Standard academic paper      guidelines. I expect the      paper to be proofread for spelling      and grammar. I expect the paper      to be structured and organized—treat it no differently than you would      treat a paper for a composition      course. If you need help with this,      please use the academic achievement center. It is a great resource, and the people      there are trained to help you. 

Some general guidelines to follow:

• Pick a topic where you feel there is room for      reasonable disagreement. Do not pick      a topic where you would consider      those who disagree with you to be irrational or demonic.
• Defend what you think. Do not feel the need to pigeon-hole      yourself into a preset option on your topic. If what you think is ‘Capital punishment should be allowed only to punish      crimes against humanity,’ THIS is      what you should defend.
• Bear in mind that a thesis statement does not have to      be a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to your topic problem. For example, ‘The abortion debate is      irresolvable’ is a legitimate thesis      statement.
• Topics, where you have relevant personal experience, are recommended. Your experience      will often give you a perspective on the issue that others lack.
• If you use outside sources, including research      studies or statistical data, be sure to cite them using APA style
• While it is not required of you to address potential      objections, recognizing weaknesses and potential      objections will always make the paper better as it indicates the level of      serious thought put into the paper.
• Do not be afraid of admitting ignorance, especially      in responding to the ideas of others.
• Avoid replacing arguments with examples. Use examples to illustrate a general      claim, not as a replacement for them. Examples by themselves tend      toward selection bias and hasty generalizations.
• Avoid, where possible, “we” language. Talking about what “we” believe tends      toward hasty generalizations and loaded language. Our tendency to overestimate the degree      to which others agree with us is a well-established cognitive fallacy. 
• I am interested in content, not clever rhetorical flourish. Thus, avoid filler material, especially      at the beginning of the paper.  No      paper should start with anything like ‘Abortion is one of the most      controversial issues facing us today’ or ‘Since the beginning of time, man      has wondered whether…’ Write for a      reasonably well-educated audience.

Pre-approved Topic 

Capital Punishment

· Should capital punishment be allowed for the mentally ill or handicapped?

· Should capital punishment be allowed for minors?

· How, if at all, should capital punishment be used in international law?