Assignments: Power and Politics

PHIL 363
Dr. McWhorter
Spring, 2010

In-class exam - 25%
Take-home exam - 30%
Term paper topic - 1%
Term paper bibliography - 5%
Term paper thesis statement and outline - 4%
Term paper - 35%

In-class exam: On March 3 there will be an in-class exam on the material covered thus far in the course. The exam will consist of 15 short answer questions and one essay question. Short answer questions will cover definitions, concepts, historical facts, and arguments supporting theoretical positions advanced by authors read. Questions will be taken from class lecture, discussion, and the reading.

Take-home exam: On March 24, the professor will distribute a list of questions covering key ideas, concepts, and interpretations of theoretical positions covered since spring break. Students will choose one of the questions and will write a 5-7 page answer to it. Answers should be typewritten and double-spaced. All sources (including personal conversations and internet sites) must be documented appropriately. Papers are due by 3:45 pm Wednesday, March 31. Late papers are subject to the penalties outlined in the late policy. No extensions will be given without penalty unless a student is ill for an extended period prior to the due date and has documentation of a serious medical condition. Arrangements for such an extension must be made prior to the due date.

Term paper: Students will write a research/argument paper on the topic of their choice to be submitted on or before Wednesday, April 28, at 5:00. (Students taking the course for Women's Studies credit must write a term paper on a topic appropriate for Women's Studies.) Term papers should be of adequate length to cover the topic; however, it is generally expected that they will be between 12 and 20 pages long. (A paper that is significantly shorter probably has not gone into enough depth to get a good grade. A paper that is significantly longer may be poorly edited and unwieldy and, if so, is not likely to get a good grade.) Topics must be chosen by March 29 and submitted (for 1% of the final grade) in type-written form. A working bibliography with at least ten journal articles and at least ten books is due by noon on April 9th (for 5% of the final grade). A refined thesis statement and outline of the paper is due on April 14 and will be worth 4% of the final grade. The paper itself should be typed and double-spaced, and all sources used should be thoroughly documented in both in-text notes and a final bibliography. (Students may find help in preparing bibliographies at this webpage developed by research librarian Lucretia McCulley.) Late papers are subject to the penalties outlined in the late policy. No exceptions will be made. Students who cannot turn in term papers on time should make arrangements to receive a grade of Incomplete in the course.

A term paper in philosophy is not simply a report. Students should take a position on a philosophical question and should present evidence and argumentation to prove that the position taken is the best position that a reasonable person could take on that question. Alternative positions and criticisms must be acknowledged and rebutted. A thorough knowledge of the major work published on that question should be evident in the paper.

If you have questions about any of these assignments, please email Dr. McWhorter.

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