PHIL 338A: Checklist for Final Projects (Research Papers)

Below is a checklist for use for those doing research papers. (Service learning reports don’t have to fit any particular format, though they are required to refer to two of the readings in this course.) Note that it is not necessary and not even desirable for you to write your papers in the order of the items on this checklist. However you order them, all the following items should be included in your paper. This checklist is not meant to cover everything to include in your paper. It describes the minimum that you should include. I expect you to be creative and go beyond this minimum.

1. Introductory paragraph or two in which you give an overview of the paper and makes it clear how s/he is proposing to change or augment the U.N. Universal Declaration.

2. You give examples to explain how to interpret the right you are discussing.

3. You refer to at least two authors in the course readings and give page references to support all attributions to those authors.

4. You include cites to at least four relevant Web sites

5. You evaluate the reliability of all Web sites that you cite.

6. You consider philosophical (not religious) reasons for and against your position.

7. At least some of the arguments against your position are forceful, not weak. You acknowledge their force.

8. You respond to the arguments against your position. It is not necessary to refute the opposing arguments, just to respond to them intelligently.

9. You have a concluding paragraph that summarizes the paper and includes a final recommendation to the U.N.