Term Paper Guidelines for Critical Evaluation of Readings on Moral Problems

Term Paper

You will write a critical evaluation of ONE of the following readings from Part 9 Moral Problems: 

• A Defense of Abortion by Judith Jarvis Thomson 
• Why Abortion is Immoral by Don Marquis. 

You will be graded on clarity, accuracy, and your ability to critically evaluate the material. Your essay must be typed, double-spaced, and free of spelling errors. Your essay should be around three pages in length (you will not be penalized for going over or under the page limit.) You will only need the textbook and class notes to write the paper. Students should avoid using any other outside sources. Any additional sources that contribute to your paper must be cited via footnotes or other references. You should not use direct quotes. You are being graded on your understanding of the material, so explain the view of the author in your own words. 

*Any student caught plagiarizing will receive a zero for this assignment-see the syllabus.* Students may email me to discuss strategies for completing the essay. Essays are due Friday, April 28 before 11:59 pm. No late papers will be accepted for any reason.

Part I: Begin by telling me which of the readings you will be criticizing (be sure to include the name of the author.) Tell me the conclusion that the author intends to prove. Then give a detailed summary of the reading. Be sure to include any objections the author raises to their own view and their response to those objections. Finally, discuss in some detail how one of the five basic moral principles might support the author's view.

Part II: Give at least one objection to the author's view. Remember that you are not giving objections to the conclusion of the author's argument, rather, you are giving objections to how the author attempts to prove their conclusion. Be sure to give examples to help make your position clear. Give as much detail as possible, and be sure that you are criticizing the author's actual view.

This passage provides guidelines for writing a term paper that involves a critical evaluation of one of two readings from Part 9 Moral Problems: "A Defense of Abortion" by Judith Jarvis Thomson and "Why Abortion is Immoral" by Don Marquis.