First Paper Submission
(This is also contained within the file on the Moodle site.)

Intro to Ethics PHI240

Paper One, Due June 22, 2016 @ 12:00 midnight

Requirements: 1000 words, not including a works cited/bibliography and titling information. Please include a word count on your paper.

TOPIC: Choosing a System of Ethics

Our readings have contained discussions of four systems of ethics: deontology, consequentialism, virtue ethics, and care ethics. Which one (or combination) do you find most convincing, and why? In your answer, please be sure to actively argue why you think one is better.

Points to consider for these papers:

Textual evidence (in the form of direct quotations) must be used to support your position. I will not accept papers that fail to use textual evidence.

• If you’re having problems structuring your paper look at the specific wording and order of the essay prompt. I write all the prompts in such a way where the structure is built into the questions and, if you follow the prompt, your outline should already be given to you.

• Your introduction should be the shortest section of your paper, and should, for the purposes of this class, contain a clearly-worded thesis statement that says something along the lines of: “I argue…” “I assert…” etc. Please clearly state what you will be arguing in the introduction and not give your main point in the conclusion.

• Your conclusion should not include any new information. Conclusions should serve as a way of wrapping your paper up, and ending the conversation you’re having with the reader. If you feel like you absolutely must include further information, it would be a better idea to either add it into the main part of your paper, or consider taking something out to make room for it.

A few (miscellaneous) things to think about:

I welcome any and all positions, provided they are supported with relevant details, premises, arguments, etc. However, that merely having an opinion does not make said opinion justifiable—or even good. As such, your paper would need to advance reasons you hold this position, and show why you are making the argument

Please do not try to write a paper to impress me, or one that you think I will like to hear/agree with. I care more that you have each struggled with these issues than just heard these things that I’ve said and regurgitated them.

If at all possible, please try to avoid giving personal examples when writing argumentative papers. I do not mean to suggest your relationship with whomever or your experiences are trivial, but only that these things will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to help convey your position and make your argument.

In academic writing it is generally advisable to write from a position of near-certainty regarding one’s own position. This is not to say you should write “I’m right, dammit!” but that you should avoid language that implies hesitancy on your part. In other words write, “I assert…” “It is my position…”; NOT “I hope in/feel/believe.” The latter implies you aren’t sure what you’re arguing, or that your position is too wishy-washy.

Please refrain from using valorized language or to assume, carte blanche, the person about whom you’re writing is male. The general trend is to use the feminine form for examples. You may, if you think it appropriate, use the singular “they” but be aware that some professors consider this to be stylistically awkward. Gender-neutral pronouns, such as “ze” and “zir” are also appropriate, but using them can be a little difficult at first because we’re not really taught about gender neutrality in English.

Finally, because this is a formal assignment, please use formal language throughout the course of your paper. Avoid the use of contractions and Internet lingo.