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Ethical Systems, Research Paper, Spring 2015, Douglas Green, Page 1 of 1  

Ethical  Systems/Final  Research  Paper  

2,000  words  minimum,  double-­‐spaced  

Final  Draft  Due:  Tuesday,  April  28,  12:00  pm  (afternoon)   Please  email  your  final  research  paper  to  me  via  MS  Word  attachment  AND  by  cutting/pasting   the  entire  document  into  the  body  of  your  email.    IF  YOU  DO  NOT  RECEIVE  A  CONFIRMATION   EMAIL  BACK,  I  DID  NOT  RECEIVE  YOUR  ESSAY  AND  YOU  WILL  LOSE  ALL  CREDIT  FOR  THIS   REQUIREMENT.    NO  LATE  WORK  WILL  BE  ACCEPTED…  PERIOD!       Unlike  any  of  the  short  writing  assignments  that  you  have  completed  during  the  course  of   the  semester,  the  subject  for  the  Final  Research  Paper  is  completely  your  choice.    My  strong   advice  to  you  is  to  pick  a  topic  in  which  there  is  no  clear-­‐cut  answer  to  any  debate  you  might   pose.    The  issues  can  range  from  such  topics  such  as  an  exploration  of  intellectual  property   ownership  issues  to  more  personal  subjects  such  as  the  ethical  nature  of  your  individual  five-­‐ year  career  plan.    The  reality  of  the  Final  Research  Paper  is  that  you  have  a  considerably  longer   length  requirement  than  your  previous  writing  assignments.    The  ideal  topic  would  allow  you  to   use  the  systems  of  thought  that  we  studied  as  tools  to  truly  investigate  an  issue  without   necessarily  coming  to  a  simple  conclusion.     Criteria  for  evaluation  of  the  research  paper:    

1. You  will  need  to  use  a  minimum  of  three  separate  sources  from  the  assigned   readings  (though  as  always,  you  are  invited  to  use  more  if  you  like).    You  should   demonstrate  in  your  writing  that  you  understand  the  nuances  of  the  various  theorists’   positions  as  they  explicate  their  philosophic  stances.    Be  sure  to  use  M.L.A.  methods  of   citation  when  quoting  or  paraphrasing  their  writing.    

2. You  will  need  to  use  outside  research  to  flesh  out  your  debate.    You  should  be  able   to  demonstrate  your  ability  to  choose  appropriate  research  materials  that  relate  to   your  topic.    Obviously  you  should  avoid  citing  such  sources  as  Wikipedia,  Stanford   Encyclopedia  of  Philosophy,  and  general  encyclopedias  and  dictionaries  (though  all   these  sources  can  be  useful  places  to  begin  your  research).    Your  citation  materials   should  show  they  were  carefully  selected  for  their  academic  nature,  relevance  to  the   subject  matter,  and  level  of  depth.  

  3. You  will  need  to  demonstrate  effective  writing  skills.    I  will  assess  your  essay  on  

your  ability  to  craft  a  successful  argument  that  is  cited  correctly  using  M.L.A.  format   and  free  of  spelling,  grammar,  and  syntax  errors.    Your  writing  should  follow  an   organized,  well  thought-­‐out  essay  structure  that  includes  a  clearly  stated  thesis  that  is   appropriately  qualified.    You  should  be  able  to  state  your  argument  in  the  beginning  of   your  writing,  subsequently  lead  your  reader  through  logically  presented  supporting   information,  and  end  with  an  interesting  conclusion  that  is  distinct  from  the  thesis.  

  I  realize  that  the  freedom  afforded  you  in  choosing  your  final  topic  can  be  intimidating.    Please  let   me   know   if   you   need   help   in   narrowing   the   focus   of   your   writing   or   if   you   have   any   other   concerns.    Good  luck!