Course Paper Assignment

HU2700 – Fall 2008

Instructions and Guidelines

1)Choose one of the 3 topics below for your paper.

2)Read your topic carefully and do exactly what it says. Do no more and no less than you are directed to do.

3)Your paper will be graded mainly on how well your dialogue shows that you recognize and understand the relevant issues and arguments relating to your topic. You will also be rewarded for your originality and creativity in advancing toward a resolution of the issue you are addressing.

4)Your paper should be long enough to discuss your topic sufficiently—and no longer. Do not pad your paper to reach some predetermined length. If you find that you are having to write an inordinately long paper, consider narrowing your topic by focusing on a significant part or aspect of it. Ask the instructor for help in doing so.

5)Your paper must be written clearly using correct diction, punctuation, and spelling. However, since you are writing a dialogue, you may take liberties appropriate to writing in a conversational style. Points will be deducted from your grade for numerous and/or serious writing errors.

6)You are responsible for eliminating grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors from your paper. The instructor will not proofread your paper for you. However, he will help you with the content of your paper if you so request.

7)If your paper contains any material directly quoted from your textbook or any outside source, be sure to use quotation marks and to endnote each quotation.

8)Your paper must be typed, double-spaced with 1-inch margins – top, bottom, and sides.Use Times New Roman size 12 font or equivalent.

9)Consider going to the WritingCenter (107 Walker) for help in writing your paper. (Walk-in hours are 12 noon to 3 PM, Monday–Friday.)

10)Carefully proofread your paper before turning it in to be graded.

11)Keep a copy of your paper for yourself.

12)You must submit apaper copy of your paper. Electronic (including email) submissions will not be accepted.

13)Completed papers are due at classtime Tuesday, October21, 2008.

Topics for HU2700 Course Papers

  1. Write a fictional dialogue between Tom, who believes in the existence of a supreme being, and Doris, who does not. Assume that Tom and Doris are intelligent, rational people who are familiar with the arguments and considerations we have discussed in this course.Try to imagine how a real face-to-face debate between them might go. It is up to you to decide whether the debate has a “winner.”
  2. Write a fictional dialogue between Stan, who is a metaphysical materialist, and Emily, who is a metaphysical dualist. Assume that Stan and Emily are intelligent, rational people who are familiar with the arguments and considerations we have discussed in this course. Try to imagine how a realface-to-face debate between them might go. It is up to you to decide whether the debate has a “winner.”
  3. Write a fictional dialogueon some philosophical question we have discussed in this course. You must get approval of your topic in advance from the course instructor.Assume that the two characters (you choose their names) in your dialogue are intelligent, rational people who are familiar with the arguments and considerations we have discussed in this course. Try to imagine how a real face-to-face debate between them might go. It is up to you whether the debate has a “winner.”