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PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Developing a topic
The point of this paper is to give you a chance to think through some of the issues of this class in greater depth. It’s up to you what topic you want to write about. Below you will find a set of question you will use to start developing your own topic.
(1) Which general area are you interested in most? (e.g disabilities, the desire fulfillment view, religion, etc.)
(2) Within that topic, which authors or issues interest you?
(3) What is the question you want to address in your paper? Please state the question in 20 words or less. (If you can’t, then you don’t have a clear question in mind! Think about it some more.)
(4) Although you will do a lot more thinking about your question, at this time what do you think the answer is?
(5) You should discuss your question in relation to so some of our readings. Which readings will you discuss, and why? (In most cases, I’ll want you to pick two.)
I will also be sending you these questions by email, so all you will have to do is reply with your answers. I have to receive your reply by 4/13. I will then send you comments and suggestions. You may need to work further on the topic, until I tell you it’s officially “approved.”
Your topic should relate closely to course issues. Don’t take on too much. Depth is more desirable than breadth. The readings for this class give you plenty to think about, so in most cases I will want you to restrict yourself to them. You should deal with no other sources unless I explicitly approve your doing so.
Writing the paper
Your own ideas and arguments should be the core of the paper. Make sure your position, with supporting arguments, constitutes at least half of the paper. The other half will involve setting forth an author or some authors’ ideas. It’s extremely important to do this clearly, accurately, and systematically. First, explain ideas, then assess. It usually doesn’t work well to mix together the two tasks.
The paper is due on 4/29. It should be roughly 2000 words long—7-8 pages. Please use Times New Roman 12 point. Type word count on first page.
Your writing style should be formal and precise, but first person pronouns are fine. (“I think…” ) Edit and proof carefully. Your writing skills will inevitably make a difference to your grade. It’s impossible for me to separate what you say from how you say it.
Don’t pad the paper with lots of quotations. All quotations must be properly referenced. Provide enough information, in parentheses, so I can find the passage in our texts; e.g. (Nietzsche, section 283), (Aristotle, p. 34). No bibliography is needed.
Plagiarism issues
Read the policy from the syllabus very carefully.
Violation of SMU's honor code will not be tolerated. Every piece of work you turn in must be entirely your own. Writing a paper means both expressing your own thoughts, and expressing them in your own words. You may not copy passages from our texts, from any other texts, or from the internet, even if the passages are brief. No one else may write a paper for you, whether in whole or in part. In a typical case (for example, a student turns in a paper mostly cut-and- pasted from several web sites), the penalty for violating the honor code will be an "F" in the course. On top of this grade penalty, the case may be presented to the honor council, which may decide to take further disciplinary action, such as suspension or dismissal from the university.
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