20th Century Continental Philosophy

PHIL 344:01
Dr. McWhorter
Spring, 2009

Calendar and Description of Assignments

Two mid-term exams, February 16 and April 1, 25% each

Term Paper, due during final exam period, a total of 50%, broken down into the following components:
1. Topic statement, due March 30, 1%

2. Working Bibliography, refined thesis statement, and outline, due April 10, by noon, 9%
5. Final Paper, due during exam period, 40%
Exams
Details about the February 16 and April 1 exams will be given here later in the semester.
 
Term Paper
The term paper is a research paper. It is an opportunity for students to work in depth on a topic of their choice in 20th century continental philosophy. The final paper is due April 27. It should be about 15-20 pages, typed, double-spaced, and appropriately documented. The paper must have a bibliography of relevant material on which the student draws to support his or her thesis.

Writing a term paper is a lengthy process. Students will be expected to demonstrate progress on the project by meeting the deadlines for graded preliminary assignments as follows:

March 30, Topic, 1% of Final Grade: On this date students will turn in a type-written paragraph describing the area in which they are interested in doing their research.

April 10, Working Bibliography, 4% of Final Grade: Students will turn in a type-written bibliographical list of all the works to be examined in relation to the term paper topic. This list must include no fewer than five journal articles, no fewer than five books, and no fewer than 20 total items. Online sources other than complete journal articles are not to be included--in other words, web sites do not count as sources.

April 10, Refined Thesis and Outline, 5% of Final Grade: Students will turn in a working outline of the term paper. This outline should be at least two typed pages long. It should consist of (1) a polished opening paragraph incorporating the thesis statement, (2) at least three main sections containing a sketch of the discussion or argument to be presented in the term paper (including a section on the relevant extant literature on the topic at issue), and (3) a concluding paragraph.

April 27, Term Paper, 40% of the Final Grade: This paper should incorporate the thesis statement (perhaps as revised through further study), a consideration of the relevant literature on the topic in question, clear and well-developed arguments for the positions the student takes on the issue (including relevant textual and possibly historical or empirical evidence), a clear and eloquent conclusion, documentation of all quotations and paraphrases, and a bibliography. It is due by noon.

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