Basic Checklist for Senior Seminar Research Papers, Spring 2010 (Two paper option)

This is a basic checklist that will help you to avoid costly and careless mistakes in writing your papers.  Meeting all of the requirements on this list will not, by itself, insure that you have written excellent papers, but it will help you to write better ones. 

_____ Both papers meet the minimum length requirement of 2,250 words, not counting bibliography, title page, appendices, notes, or anything other than the main text. Papers that fall short will be seriously downgraded or failed. There is no penalty for exceeding the word count - it is encouraged, in fact - but don’t pad your papers.

_____ My bibliographies contain several recent, peer-reviewed, scholarly journal articles, as well as primary source material.

____ My bibliographies have no more than one internet source listed per paper, and that internet source is a scholarly source. (This does not apply to online versions of scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles; there is no limit on those).

____ My paper is double-spaced, with 10 to 12 point font, and approximately 1” page margins.

____ My paper, including all citations, is formatted according to a standard and recognized style, such as MLA, Turabian, APA, Chicago Manual of Style, and that style is consistent throughout.

____ I have double-checked my diction, grammar, sentence structure, and writing style, using some authoritative source such as Strunk and White, The Elements of Style.

____ I have stayed on topic throughout my paper, and I have fully addressed the topic as it was set forth at the beginning of my paper, in my thesis statement. (Make sure, of course, that you have a clear thesis statement).

_____ My topics are either ones from the list of approved topics handed out previously in the course, or ones that were submitted to and approved by Dr. Mundale. Note: the deadline for submitting an off-list paper topic for your first paper is Tuesday, February 16^th. The deadline for submitting an off-list paper topic for your second paper is Tuesday, March 16th. If you fail to write on an approved topic, you will not receive credit for your paper.

____ I have set forth clear lines of argument (or evidence) for all the conclusions (or claims) I address in my papers; where appropriate to my overall purpose, I have also considered arguments or evidence against them. For any substantive assertions that _I_ have made, I have properly supported them.

____ I have double-checked the overall organization of my papers to make sure that their sequence makes sense and that subtopics are properly grouped.

____  I have properly cited the sources of all material used, quoted or paraphrased, and have not committed plagiarism, nor have I allowed any other person to write any portion of my papers for me.

____ I have avoided common fallacies and reasoning pitfalls, such as ad hominem, straw man, appeal to emotion, circular reasoning, etc.

_____ For your first paper, you are required to submit an outline with bibliography (in progress), along with a brief draft, on or before Tuesday, March 2^nd (the final version of your first paper is due March 23^rd). For your second paper, the outline/bibliography and draft is optional, though recommended. If you turn in a draft for your second paper, turn it in on or before Tuesday, April 6^th (the final version of your second paper is due April 27^th).. Failure to turn in a an outline with bibliography (in progress) and brief draft for your first paper will result in a deduction of 2/3^rd letter grade on your final first paper grade (1/3rd deduction if partial bibliography, outline and draft is turned in). If you turn in your first paper and decide you do not want to do a second, but would rather turn the first paper into a longer paper, you must meet with me, in person, to discuss this option on or before Tuesday, April 6^th, or the two-paper option stands, and you must turn in a second paper with a subject that differs from the first, or receive a zero for the second paper grade.

______  You must submit your first and second papers in both hardcopy and on disk. The first paper is due Tuesday, March 23^rd ,March 30^th, and your second paper is due Tuesday, April 27^th (this is the final exam meeting time, 7-9:50). Note: E-mail and nonstandard CD sizes are not acceptable, and the electronic format on the disk must be one of the following: MSWord (doc or docx), WordPerfect, or text (MSWorks not acceptable).  Failure to follow these submission requirements (e.g., no disk, or no hardcopy, or unacceptable format) may result in the loss of 1/3^rd letter grade.

______ Late papers will be downgraded 1/3^rd letter grade per calendar day. For example, if your paper received a B+, but was turned in 1 day late, your paper would be downgraded to a B; 2 days late, a B-, 3 days late, a C+, and so on. I will not accept first papers turned in after Friday, March 26^th, and I will not accept second papers turned in after Friday, April 30th.

Suggested Paper Topics for Senior Seminar (I will distribute more at the 2^nd class)

1. Ontology, the question of the basic “stuff” of the universe, was an absorbing one to the Greeks. Compare and contrast the views of Plato and Aristotle on this issue.

2. Compare and contrast the positions of Plato and Aristotle on how we come to know about the basic material of the universe. That is, compare and contrast their epistemologies with respect to the fundamental substance(s) that exist.

3. Some commentators (present company excepted) have remarked that Aristotelianism is simply warmed-over Platonism. Taking as an example the question of the virtues (their origin and nature, whether they can be taught, whether they are the midpoints of extremes, etc.), show whether that claim is justified.

5. How does Plato explain cognitive error? How does it arise? How, if at all can it be avoided?, etc. From a critical standpoint, do you find his position convincing? Why or why not?

6. In Book III of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle distinguishes among three categories of action: voluntary, involuntary (unwilling), and nonvoluntary. Carefully explain the subtle distinction among these, and explain the role of each in Aristotle’s moral theory. Include at least three secondary source commentators on this issue, as there is some controversy about Aristotle’s meaning and intent.

7. In The Republic, Plato describes the life of the Philosopher King as one that requires material simplicity. They have no luxuries nor private property. Aristole, on the other hand, believes that a certain material comfort (though not, of course, extravagance), is necessary for the proper upbringing of a child and also for a fully functional life as an adult. Compare and contrast their views about the role of material goods. Then, argue for what you take to be the appropriate role of material goods (and the pursuit of material goods) in the happy (good) life. You are welcome to draw from authors other than Plato and Aristotle in advancing your own position, but please remember to credit such sources, and avoid reinventing the wheel. Remember to consider at least a few strong objections and replies to the position you advance.

8. Compare and contrast the dialectic of Plato with the contemporary view of the scientific method, both as methods of inquiry as well as with respect to their limitations and context of use. It may be worth mentioning in your paper that there are several notions of dialectic. Your account of the scientific method should take into account the criticisms of Hempel (see, for example his Philosophy of Natural Science).

9. At first glance, Plato’s sexual egalitarianism appears to make him accord more fully with contemporary feminist themes than Aristotle, who held various views that assigned women to an inferior status. Is this first glance justified, on a deeper account of both authors? Compare and contrast Plato and Aristotle with respect to their views of women in light of contemporary feminist ideals.

10. Compare and contrast the views of Plato and Aristotle on the notion of the soul.

11. If you wish to develop your own topic, or wish to develop a variant of the topics above, you may do so, but you must develop your topic fully and in detail, and submit it to me for review, no later than the class of Tuesday, February 16^th, for your first paper, and Tuesday, March 16^th, for your second paper. (If you are only doing one long paper, the deadline is Tuesday, February 16^th). In your submitted topic, make sure you include the following: 1) thesis statement, 2) outline, and 3) bibliography in progress. Papers submitted that are not on approved topics will not receive credit.