Conclusions about ethical issues for students to accept or reject in their research paper - TESTING with BBedit

Choose a proposition NOW! People who miss the approval deadline at noon on Thursday 6 June 2013 will receive zero credit!

The research paper assignment for this course requires that you produce and present (to the class) your own logical argument based on your own research FOR or AGAINST one of the following propositions which I select for you. How will I do this? You choose 5 propositions from those listed below that interest you and then email your choices to me for my approval. Final approval will be given by me ONLY via email and recorded in SacCT. Choose now. I will determine who does what and when you will present your position. You may not alter the proposition or change sides after approval, talk to me for guidance.

 

The official list of debatable propositions

1. No human action is objectively right or wrong, any such action is purely subjective.

2. No truly moral action can be performed by any non-religious or atheistic person.

3. Prohibit free distribution of condoms to teenagers in high school.

4. Encourage people to be vegetarians.

5. Prohibit physician-assisted suicide.

 

Each student MUST get my approval of their selection by the approval deadline. Email to me with a list of your top 5 choices in order of preference. I will assign these as they are taken. People who do not select a proposition by deadline receive a zero for the assignment, no exceptions, absolutely. Presentations will begin on Tuesday 11 June 2013 during class and will occur on every Tuesday evening thereafter.

Once you get your assigned position, research it thoroughly, because your grade on the paper you write about it will depend on the depth and credibility of your position. Again, you will either produce a logical, ethical argument for the proposition selected or against it. I do not want rants or unsubstantiated opinions - present relevant facts and data supporting your position. Superficial research or reports on the opionions of others are unacceptable. Do not quote anybody - I want your own argument, based on your own reasoned, substantiated point-of-view.

For instance, a list of preferences proposed by email (using the numbers to refer) should look like this:

"Prof. Merlino, I want to do these sides in this order:

  1. 5 - the "no" side
  2. 3 - the "yes" side
  3. 4 - the "no" side
  4. 2 - the "yes" side
  5. 1 - the "yes" side

  6. Thanks, Bart Simpson"

If you don't follow this format exactly, I will return it until you do, up until the deadline. If no one else has already chosen 5-yes, then you get it, if that has been assigned, then you get 3-yes unless already taken, etc. You can see what issue you will present and when it will be presented by looking in SacCT after I approve of them all.

For this assignment, presume the proposition is a serious claim central to a significant moral controversy. The proposition is the statement being debated which needs a supporting argument. It is stated affirmatively and conclusively, much in the manner of a scientific hypothesis. A debatable proposition is considered to be one of three types: fact, value, or policy. An effective debater can spot the type of proposition he or she must work with and determine what its specific demands are. Policy debate requires that one consider arguments for and against its acceptance; choose a side and then produce an argument.

For more about the assignment and its due date, see the Research Paper-Presentation description in SacCT via the Course Content page for the course. Read this carefully for specific details about the paper which you will produce and present in class.

FYI: Some debate rules and suggestions for presentation-guidance ...