The Short Research Project 1. The Short Research Project is 3 to 5 pages, at least 2 sources, Either MLA or APA format is fine; 2. Papers take one of two forms: either
(1) expository, meaning that you are introducing a topic, ie, “Different philosophies of gun control in France.” or “Rastafarian ethics.” Someone writing about this wouldn’t have to take a clear stand on an issue; the paper could simply be structured according to introducing 3 or 4 principles of Rastafarian ethics and giving examples. The more common form is (2) argumentative, in which you take a stand on a controversial issue (I.e., “why I am for the death penalty.”A good structure for the expository essay is to choose a certain number of key aspects to the issue or discourse you are discussing, and then explore each one in turn in one or two paragraphs each.
A good structure for the argumentative paper would be to list primary arguments for your position, explaining notable counter-arguments as you proceed. 3. A few possible topics, YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE BELOW: From current “hot” issues: The following have received a great deal of coverage and commentary recently: Drone warfare; is it effective, is it ethical? Does it create more terrorists than it kills and/or what legal issues does it raise for the U.S.? Sexual Assault. Traditionally has been defined as sex without consent. A growing number of date rapes in which the victim was unconscious or semi-conscious so it has been suggested that the definition, particularly surrounding teen education, be expanded. What do you think we should teach teenagers about rape, and why? What are current suggestions for revising/adding to our definition of sexual assault, and are these helpful? From Religion/Metaphysics: (1) Research Pacifism within Buddhism or Christianity, branches that are a pacifist to those that are not (ie, Tibetan Buddhists vs. Zen Buddhists, the Mennonites vs. the American Evangelical Church. All of these religions believe that their interpretation of their scripture is the most rational and logically consistent. If you can, take a stand: which tradition do you think had more philosophical integrity? (2) Research populist atheist writers further (such as Richard Dawkins and Samuel Harris) and identify their most important arguments regarding ethics, and either expand on these arguments yourself, noting how they apply to specific religions, or disagree with them. 4. the paper has to use at least 2 Philosophy theory ie, utilitarian, existentialist, Kantian, etc.