CS 4001A - Topic Paper

General Description

You are required to do research on the question below and produce a paper that describes your position with respect to that question.

Learning Objectives

To apply logical argumentation in supporting a position
To describe and summarize the fundamental arguments for and against an issue

Deliverable Format

The assignment must satisfy the following:

In general, you should compose a coherent essay supported by sound argumentation and referenced evidence that addresses the topic of the paper
You should include a presentation of both (or all major) sides of the issue
You should explicitly take and support (argue for) a position (which does not necessarily have to be one of those espoused by the research you locate)
Your essay should be in the appropriate format
You should include a list of references in proper bibliographic format
Your document should be no more than ten pages in length

Grading Criteria

100 point scale

20 - Research and sources used
40 - Argumentation
20 - Demonstration of understanding of the material from the Writing Arguments
20 - Style and writing

Logistics

Assigned 6/21; due 7/21
Note that there will be other work assigned concurrently with this paper!
On 6/28, you should turn in (via the Swiki) a one page document including the following information:

Your name
The topic you have chosen
The enthymeme you will be arguing
A list of claims you will use to support your argument

Suggestions

Logical arguments should include the following, based upon the material in Writing Arguments:

A clear statement of the claim you are trying to defend
You should assume that your audience is the American adult public
Explicit mention of any assumptions you are making
Definition of any special vocabulary you use
A clear path from assumptions to conclusions in the form of a series of justified reasons
Support for each reason in the path (facts, authorities, logical deductions, shared values, etc.)
Use logos, ethos, and pathos in your argument

Topic for paper

Congress is considering reauthorizing the Patriot Act, parts of which expire on December 31st, 2005. (This should not be confused with the "Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003", which has been called "Patriot II".) The proposed reauthorization bill is quite complex, and you should choose only a single computing-related provision of it. If the provision has not yet been explicitly stated, that is, it has been proposed but not codified, you are free to express the provision in a plausible form.