CS 4001A
Term Paper
Due: 03/31
General Description
You are required to do research on any one of the two questions 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: 12 pt, double
spaced, 1" margins
- Your document should be ten to twelve pages in length
- You should include a list of references in proper bibliographic
format
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 March 1; due March 31 (in class)
- Note that there will be
other work assigned concurrently with
this paper!
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
Pick one of the following:
Topic 1: See "Nation's Phones Tapped" on the class webpage.
Topic 2: See "Google's Case" on the class webpage.