Bibliography

    There are several topics in the syllabus on which there is current debate and significant scholarship.  Compiling a bibliography on one of the topics may help you with ideas for the essay or for the research paper, or it may be completely separate from that (i.e., you may choose to compile a bibliography on a topic different from your essay or research paper or on-line, in-class presentation).  Whatever you choose, the guidelines for compiling the bibliography are as follows:
    a.  Choose the topic from the major areas listed in the syllabus schedule.
    b.  Check the past 3 years of the following sources of information*:
            i.  Academic journals
            ii. Newspaper articles
            iii.  Books
            iv.  Articles in popular periodicals (Time, Newsweek, Scientific American, etc.)
            v.  Radio broadcasts (such as NPR)
    c.  Provide citations on at least 3 and no more than 6 from each of the five sources listed in (b).
    d.  Use MLA format.  If you don't know what that is, or you don't know how to use it, go to the Department of Philosophy website and click on the link to the UCF Writing Center or go to the library and check the MLA Manual.
    e.  Your bibliography must be typed, checked appropriately for typographical and other errors, and contain a heading with the topic on which the bibliography is based.
    f.  Appended to the bibliography, you need to provide a brief summary of the contents of one academic journal article in your list, one newspaper article, and one article in a popular periodical.  This, too, must be typed.  It should be no more than three pages in length and double-spaced.
    g.  The due date for the bibliography is the day of the mid-term examination (scheduled for October 8).
    h.  Keep a copy of your bibliography because the original that you submit will not be returned.
    i.  Late bibliographies will not be accepted.

Essay
    At some point through the semester, there will be a topic that is particularly interesting to you (of course, all of them are terribly fascinating).  On whatever topic that happens to be, you need to write an original essay (not a research paper) explaining and arguing for your position on a specific topic.  That is, you need to focus your attention on a particular topic and articulate the reasons you hold the position you hold regarding that topic.  Go to Dushkin/McGraw-Hill's website at http://www.dushkin.com/online and use one of the resources there (such as "Ethics Online") as background information and the starting point of your essay.  That is, use one of those resources to gather information or an argument you can use and write your essay as a reply to that information or argument.  Your grade on this essay will not be based on what your position is, but instead on the argumentative quality and insightfulness of the essay you write.  The essay must be at least 3 pages in length, but no more than 5.  It is to be typed, double-spaced, appropriately spell- and grammar-checked, and is due on the day before Thanksgiving.  If you are one of those people who intends not to be in class on that day, turn the essay in early.  An early break is not a good reason to miss a deadline.

Research Paper
    The final assignment in this course is a research paper on a topic of your choice that is consistent with course content.  Remember that you need to argue for a position - take a stand on the issue on which you choose to write.  The Dushkin web-site has some useful information on writing papers, as does the UCF Writing Center.  Your term paper must be at least 8 pages in length, but absolutely no more than 10 (excluding endnotes).  Use MLA format.  The final paper is due on the last class meeting day of the semester (December 3).  Late papers will not be accepted.  Don't wait until the last minute to start writing your paper.
    If you prefer, your research and argument may be prepared on-line and presented in class.  For this alternative to writing a research paper, you must have the ability to create a website or web pages, upload them, and be able to present information and argue for your position on your topic in class.  A Power Point presentation on-line or some web design of your own is to be used.  If you choose this option, you must let me know at the latest by mid-October so that appropriate times can be set aside in class for all presentations.

NOTE:  Grammar, spelling and punctuation COUNT.  Proofread your work.  Grades on the essay and research paper are based on the following:
    35% - content - use of resources, grasp of concepts and arguments, explanatory quality
    35% - critical analysis - quality of argumentation, clarity of presentation
    30% - grammar, spelling and punctuation

    Your grade on an in-class, on-line presentation will be based on the same considerations listed above.

    Your bibliography grade is based on adherence to MLA format, quality of sources, and clarity, quality and completeness of article summaries (see note above on content and grammar, spelling and punctuation - in the case of article summaries, content counts as 70%, gsp as 30%).

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* PLEASE DO NOT PAY OUTSIDE VENDORS FOR INFORMATION YOU CAN RECEIVE AT THE LIBRARY.  FOR EXAMPLE, ARTICLES YOU CAN BUY THROUGH NORTHERN LIGHTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY.  THE UCF LIBRARY PAYS FOR ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF ARTICLES, PERIODICALS, AND RESOURCES YOU MAY WANT TO USE FOR THIS COURSE - AND MANY OF THEM ARE ON-LINE.
    BEWARE OF "DOT.COM" SITES.  THEY ARE .COM BECAUSE THEY ARE COMMERCIAL SITES.  THEY ARE THERE TO SELL SOMETHING AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE THAT WHAT THEY SELL IS EITHER APPROPRIATE OR USEFUL FOR ACADEMIC PURSUITS.