Engineering Ethics Final Paper Requirements

1. YOU MUST TURN IN BOTH YOUR PAPER AND AN OUTLINE OF YOUR PAPER ON A SEPARATE PAGE. The outline should have at least one line for each paragraph. 

2. Your paper should be word-processed, double-spaced, one-inch to one and one-half inch margins.  12 point or larger font.

3.. It should be spell-checked.

4. Your name and the page number should be on each page.

5. Each paragraph should be numbered. 

6. Your paper should be approximately 10 to 12 pages long.

7. Be sure to cite all sources used. You must include an Annotated Bibliography which contains all works cited and/or consulted.

8. Your paper should show evidence of significant research as well as your original take on the material.  You should have at least five sources. 

One of the most important skills in any field is to learn how to do research and evaluate the sources you find.  You must use at least five "good" sources.  Only one may be from the Internet unless you receive my approval for more. Likely sources include the following:

chapter in a good ethics casebook, anthology or monograph

article in a peer-reviewed journal

essay by key theoretician or chapter in a monograph by a key theoretician

primary source - writing by a philosopher

descriptive sources about an ethical issue, case law, scientific studies, etc.

code of professional ethics, articles about the application of a code of professional ethics

technical reports that shed light on ethical issue or case study

book reviews at least five pages long

(Note:  Any research involving human subjects needs to be approved by the UI Human Subjects Committee; see me for help with this.)  Click for a list of relevant UI Library Databases.

POINTS CONSIDERED IN EVALUATING  PAPER:

1. Thesis. A clearly stated and developed thesis, interpretive position, explanatory pattern, or focused survey. Topic is narrowed so that it can be adequately addressed. Thesis(es) is clear, plausible, insightful

2. Statement of the structure of the essay/road map for reader given. Reader should be able to easily outline essay. Headings and/or transitional sentences used to guide reader.

3. Key terms and concepts explained/defined. Paper hones in on what is distinctive (necessary and sufficient conditions: if and only if).

4. Appropriate literature survey or background given.  Depth of research and thought.  For example, what are the key positions on the issue, problem, debate, or question you are addressing?  If you are focusing on a particular theorist, how have others evaluated or responded to her?

5. Citations, examples, thought experiments, and/or analogies used to illustrate, clarify, or support your thesis.

6. Treating both the strengths and weaknesses of your argument. This may include a survey of alternative approaches, interpretations, or solutions. No important evidence or counter-evidence overlooked. Obvious objections answered.

7. Arguments or positions of others are accurately presented and analyzed. Evidence adequate, valid and convincing. Creative analyses or approaches a plus.

8. Clear statement of your presuppositions and method as well as their justification if they are unfamiliar or in dispute, as needed.

9. Relation to concepts, positions, problems or thinkers covered in this class and/or in the relevant scholarly literature made clear.

10. Organization. Paragraphs are clearly related to one another and play a role in the overall development of the essay. Structure is logical. No unnecessary wandering. Introductory and concluding paragraphs are strong. Smooth transitions between paragraphs. Topic sentence(s) of each paragraph clear and easily identified. Each sentence contributes and relates to the topic or point of the paragraph in which it is found.. Introductory and concluding paragraphs are strong, often allowing the paper to come full circle.

11. Correct Spelling. Please use spell-check. Be on the look out for words spell check won’t catch such as affect/effect, except/accept, it's/its, their/there, principle/principal, dilemma, loose/lose, to/too/two, whether/weather, then and than. (Grammar checkers find some of these.)

12. Correct Grammar.

13. Correct Citation and Annotation.  Cite and annotate Carefully.  Plagiarism is totally unacceptable!        

• a.  Introduce quotations smoothly. (See our class text, G. Harvey,  for advice.  As Aristotle argues, "....." )
• b.  Quotations are identified by quotation marks.
• c. Indent quotations longer than five lines. (No quotation marks needed due to indentation.)
• d. Properly attribute quotations or resource materials in a standard citation form such as MLA, APA, University of Chicago A or B. (CMS). Be sure to choose a style that includes page numbers, however. Do not simply change a few words in a sentence. [that is plagiarism]. In that case it would be better to quote.  Must have a "Works Consulted" page or complete footnotes or end-notes that are the equivalent.  Instructions for
  citation formatting can be found in our class text G. Harvey, Writing with Sources.  The Landmark Citation Machine at http://citationmachine.net/
  can also help you to format properly.
• e. Do not make up citations.
• f. Cite ALL sources used including personal communications, internet material, other student papers, etc.
• g. Use page numbers in your citations.
• h.  Annotations include both description and evaluation.  See Annotated Bibliography for directions.

WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. If you plagiarize, you will receive at minimum a zero. There are excellent guidelines on when to cite in Harvey, Writing with Sources which can be found on-line at http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~expos/sources/ 

Academic Honesty - As with all assignments, plagiarism is totally unacceptable.  You will receive at minimum a zero on the assignment. For the Dean of Students' Academic Integrity site which includes UI Policies, and Student Academic Dishonesty Resources see http://www.students.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=45708

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul Brian from WSU has a great website that helps you find answers to grammatical puzzles: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/index.html

"Philosophy .Tools" on my website has many links useful for writing philosophy papers and essays.

English Style, Grammar, Documentation, and Dictionary Links on my website at http://www.class.uidaho.edu/jcanders/english_style.htm