Research Paper Topics and Requirements for PHI 4931: Philosophy in the News

 

Format, Final Paper Due Date: Some Specifics

  1. The paper must be between 8 and 15 pages in length.*
  2. Use footnotes or endnotes – whichever you prefer.
  3. Use MLA format.  If you don’t know what that is, go to the UCF Library website to “Ask a Librarian” and click on the link for citation formats or use the print version of the MLA Manual.  The UCF Writing Center also has information on formatting and requirements.
  4. Use 1” margins on sides, top and bottom.  *Remember that it is primarily the quality of what you write that counts. Short papers can be very good and long papers can be very bad.  Use 10 or 12 point font.
  5. Do not plagiarize.  Plagiarism can happen accidentally, but you need to avoid such accidents.  Go back to the main page of this website (http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/) and click on the OSC Ethics seminar syllabus.  Scroll down to the section on “Avoiding Plagiarism – Auxiliary Readings” for helpful information on doing research.
  6. If you are a humanities or philosophy major, keep in mind that there is a portfolio requirement for graduation.  It may be the case that you can use your paper from this course as one of your portfolio papers.
  7. Papers are due on April 15th.  If you are late submitting your paper, it will be reduced by 20% for every working day that it is late.
  8. Papers are critical/analytical, not “book report” style.  That is, you need to choose one of the topics, work out your position regarding the problem or concept, and argue for it using appropriate references and developing your own argument.

 

Some Possible General Topics

  1. Paternalistic Lies
  2. Academic Dishonesty/Cheating
  3. Personal Integrity
  4. Lying to Liars and Other Questionable Characters
  5. Lying in Politics
  6. Lying to Patients
  7. Friendship and Lying
  8. Lies or Cheating in Business and Advertising/Deceptive Practices
  9. Adultery (cheating)

 

The list of topics above is certainly not exhaustive.  But whatever topic you choose, do the following:

 

  1. Base your paper on a particular article, book, essay, or chapter of a book AND some news item (and be sure to make clear the print source you have used) that are relevant to lying, cheating, or deception.
  2. Use TWO primary sources (one academic article, book, essay, or chapter and one primary news-related source on the topic you have chosen).
  3. Use at least one secondary source (an academic work, not a popular news source).
  4. You may use other sources as well.  But no matter what you do, DO NOT CHEAT OR PLAGIARIZE.  If you use a source, make sure that you make it plain that you have done so, and where, and state the page number and other appropriate citation information. 

 

Finally – more due dates, instructions:

No matter what topic you choose (one of those listed above, or one of your own creation), you need to submit the following on the dates specified.  These are elements of the in-class assignments listed in the syllabus.  They are, combined, worth 10% of your grade for the course.  (All four of the in-class assignments must be typed and double-spaced.)  If you choose a topic not listed above, we need to talk about it and determine whether it is acceptable for the course.  We must do this by March 4 at the very latest.  It can be done during office hours or by e-mail.

 

All of these must be TYPED.

 

  1. A one-paragraph description of your proposed research topic.  Due on March 11th.  
  2. A one-page summary of the contents of your primary academic source.  Due on March 27th.
  3. A clear statement of your thesis AND a summary of the contents of your primary news source for your research topic.  Two-page minimum, 4 page maximum.  Due on April 3rd.  The primary news source must be no more than 2 years old.
  4. An annotated bibliography.  The annotation for each work should be no more than ¼ page in length.  Maximum length of annotated bibliography is 5 pages.  Due on April 8th.

 

 

An Important Notice:  SUBMIT YOUR TERM PAPER BOTH IN HARD COPY AND EITHER ON A DISC (3.5”) OR BY E-MAIL IN .RTF, .DOC, OR .TXT FORMAT).  ALL PAPERS FOR THIS COURSE ARE SUBJECT TO SUBMISSION TO TURNITIN.COM.

 

Specifics on Research Papers

  1. How do you write a paper like this?
    1. Create a thesis statement.  State clearly what your position is.
    2. Work through the primary sources on the topic you have chosen.
    3. Check and work through at least 1 secondary source on or related to the topic.
    4. Determine how you will argue for your position using those sources and weaving them into the context of your position.
    5. Make sure that your paper consists at least of the following five elements:

                                                               i.      An introduction - state the problem/thesis and outline the manner in which you will approach the problem, how you will go about attempting to solve it, etc. It might be a good idea to have someone else who is taking this course read your thesis statement and tell you what his or her interpretation is of your position. If your (intelligent) friend doesn’t know what you are writing about, your thesis probably doesn’t make any sense.  Fix it.

                                                             ii.      The body of the paper – work through the thesis statement and present in detail the arguments and sub-arguments that support or defend your position.  It is also a good idea to include a section in which you will anticipate objections to your thesis and argument(s), and in which you answer them. Always apply the “principle of charity” to viewpoints to which you are opposed.  It is very easy to defeat a bad argument.

                                                            iii.      The conclusion - explain how the issue has been resolved, solved, or the elements of the findings you have made and in which you state the implications of the position.

                                                           iv.      Foot- or end-notes. You can use in-text references wherever and whenever possible.  See the MLA Manual for information on how to format your paper appropriately.

                                                             v.      A bibliography.

  1. It is very convenient to use the Philosopher’s Index for academic sources.  It is available through the UCF Library in the on-line databases link.
  2. Papers are graded with the following considerations taken into account:
    1. Content=35%.  ‘Content’ refers to your use of sources, your understanding of the position taken as well as your understanding and expression of the problem being explored.
    2. Critical Analysis=35%. ‘Critical analysis’ refers to the quality of your argument, the care with which you have stated your position, and the quality of the sources you have used.
    3. Grammar, spelling and punctuation=30%.  These things count.  You need not produce a work of absolute perfection, but you need to have enough respect for yourself (your paper represents you) to make sure that you write clearly, concisely, with conviction, and with care.  Remember that the UCF Writing Center can provide assistance with some aspects of writing.  Keep in mind, however, that your paper is your responsibility.  You are solely responsible for its content.  (Don’t count on a spell-checker or grammar software to catch mistakes for you.  They are notoriously unreliable.)