PAPER FORMAT, PHIL 1300, with Piers Norris Turner

Final paper instructions: Below is the paper format for your final papers—which I hope will help you all write successful papers. You may select any argument from the authors or class discussion up to the paper deadline. It need not be an author’s central argument, but any argument that struck you as true or false but which you thought needed further defense or further criticism. The point is to take an argumentative stand—that is, commit to a certain argument either for or against something—and show that you can defend taking that stand.

I. Short thesis paragraph: No more than two or three sentences stating what claim you intend to defend. E.g.: “In this paper I will argue that the utilitarian account of animal rights can be defended against the objection that…” or “In this paper I will argue that Rachels’ argument in favor of active euthanasia fails to establish that…”. Note that the thesis should be quite limited in scope, as indicated here. You should not try to settle a whole practical problem, but just engage in a clear and focused way on a particular line of argument.

II. Positive argument (be concise, but it could be more than one paragraph): A clear and concise rendering of your positive argument for your thesis. Give a step by step argument for your conclusion, i.e. tell us clearly how you are trying to reinforce or reject a certain line of argument.

III. First Objection (could be multiple paragraphs): Present a first argument or challenge against your thesis. This argument should be stated as clearly and forcefully as possible given where our class discussion ended on the topic (in other words, do not present a straw man argument). It should be a plausible and serious problem for your preferred view. Present this objection step-by-step, so the reader understands clearly how it