Assignment:
Directions:
The final course requirement for is a final paper on applied criminal justice ethics, of approximately 5 to 7 pp. in length. This paper should be a statement and defense of what you think about some controversial moral and social issue from the list of topics or an approved topic.
You must use evidence including moral theory, academic research, or related personal experience to establish evidence within your paper.
Important: If you want to choose a topic, not on the list, you must clear it with me first.
The final paper will be graded primarily along the following criteria:
- Having a clear and identifiable thesis statement
- Provision of support for that thesis statement through arguments and evidence. Most of the grade will be based on this element, so be sure to elaborate your arguments and evidence fully.
- Standard academic paper guidelines. I expect the paper to be proofread for spelling and grammar. I expect the paper to be structured and organized-treat it no differently than you would treat a paper for a composition course. If you need help with this, please use the academic achievement center. It is a great resource, and the people there are trained to help you.
Some general guidelines to follow:
- Pick a topic where you feel there is room for reasonable disagreement. Do not pick a topic where you would consider those who disagree with you to be irrational or demonic.
- Defend what you think. Do not feel the need to pigeon-hole yourself into a preset option on your topic. If what you think is ‘Capital punishment should be allowed only to punish crimes against humanity,' THIS is what you should defend.
- Bear in mind that a thesis statement does not have to be a ‘yes' or ‘no' answer to your topic problem. For example, ‘The abortion debate is irresolvable' is a legitimate thesis statement.
- Topics, where you have relevant personal experience, are recommended. Your experience will often give you a perspective on the issue that others lack.
- If you use outside sources, including research studies or statistical data, be sure to cite them using APA style
- While it is not required of you to address potential objections, recognizing weaknesses and potential objections will always make the paper better as it indicates the level of serious thought put into the paper.
- Do not be afraid of admitting ignorance, especially in responding to the ideas of others.
- Avoid replacing arguments with examples. Use examples to illustrate a general claim, not as a replacement for them. Examples by themselves tend toward selection bias and hasty generalizations.
- Avoid, where possible, "we" language. Talking about what "we" believe tends toward hasty generalizations and loaded language. Our tendency to overestimate the degree to which others agree with us is a well-established cognitive fallacy.
- I am interested in content, not clever rhetorical flourish. Thus, avoid filler material, especially at the beginning of the paper. No paper should start with anything like ‘Abortion is one of the most controversial issues facing us today' or ‘Since the beginning of time, man has wondered whether...' Write for a reasonably well-educated audience.
Pre-approved Topic
Capital Punishment
· Should capital punishment be allowed for the mentally ill or handicapped?
· Should capital punishment be allowed for minors?
· How, if at all, should capital punishment be used in international law?