Each student is responsible for producing a written report organized around a thesis that resolves the main ethical dilemma in the case.
The paper should be at least at least 1000 words (about 4 pages) not including the Works Cited page, and written in standard English grammar and style. Please remember to include your group number in the header but omit your name (I prefer to grade anonymous papers). All reports should be uploaded to turnitin.com (see instructions on Blackboard for this).
Thesis:
- indicates how the student thinks the main ethical dilemma(s) in the case should be resolved (unless you are the editor, see below).
- should meet the criteria we discussed in class (it should be a truth claim that is appropriately specific and concise; it should also be normative, since your paper is an ethics paper about how to resolve an ethical dilemma).
Body:
- written as a standard academic paper. In addition to a clear thesis that meets the above criteria, the paper should include an introduction, a body that defends the thesis, and a conclusion.
- consists of evidence and argumentation clearly supporting the thesis. The best papers will demonstrate understanding about why someone might object to their thesis, and will respond convincingly to these objections.
References and research:
- Do incorporate and cite at least 3 philosophical articles relevant to your case, including 1 from class readings and 2 from outside research (these may be the same 3 sources discussed in the annotated bibliography, but in some cases students may want to incorporate different or more sources than those in their annotated bibliography).
- Do keep in-text citations simple: citations should include only the last name of the author(s) and the year of publication. For example: (MacDougall 2019).
- Do put citations in the appropriate place: usually at the end of the first sentence incorporating ideas from the work that is being cited. Write so as to clearly indicate which ideas are yours, and which are from other sources.
- Do include all (and only) articles actually cited in the body of the paper in a “Works Cited” page at the end of the report.
- Do format references in the “Works Cited” page according to the Chicago Author-Date Style or another standard bibliography format, just as they were for the annotated bibliography.
- Do put sources in alphabetical order.
- Do not include notes from the annotated bibliography in the Works Cited page.
