Course Paper Assignment

HU3700 – Fall 2007

Instructions and Guidelines

1)Choose one of the 5 topics below for your paper.

2)Read your topic carefully and do exactly what it says. Do no more and no less than you are directed to do.

3)Your paper will be graded mainly on how well your paper shows that you recognize and understand the relevant issues and arguments relating to your topic. You will be rewarded for your originality in thinking about and contributing toward a resolution of the issue you are addressing.

4)Your paper should be long enough to discuss your topic sufficiently—and no longer. Do not pad your paper to reach some predetermined length. If you find that you are having to write an inordinately long paper, consider narrowing your topic by focusing on a significant part or aspect of it. Ask the instructor for help in doing so.

5)You may give adraft of your paper to the instructor for his comments and suggestions for revision. Drafts are due no later than November 29, 2007.

6)Your paper must be written clearly using correct diction, punctuation, and spelling. Points will be deducted from your grade for numerous and/or serious writing errors.

7)You are responsible for eliminating grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors from your paper. The instructor will not inspect your draft for such errors.

8)If your paper contains any material directly quoted from your textbook or any outside source, be sure to use quotation marks and to endnote each quotation. Be sure you understand the university policy on academic dishonesty, including plagiarism.

9)Your paper must be typed, double-spaced with 1-inch margins – top, bottom, and sides. Use Times New Roman size 12 font or equivalent.

10)Consider going to the WritingCenter (107 Walker) for help in writing your paper. (Walk-in hours are 12 noon to 3 PM, Monday–Friday.)

11)Carefully proofread your final paper before turning it in to be graded.

12)Keep a copy of your final paper for yourself.

13)You must submit a paper copy of your final paper. Electronic (including email) submissions will not be accepted.

14)Final papers are due at classtime on Thursday, December 13, 2007. (last class)

Topics for Course Papers

  1. What separates science from pseudoscience? Does science have a special “scientific method”? Does it investigate a particular subject-matter? Or does it have some other distinguishing characteristic? Consider both sides of the question, and give a convincing argument for your answer.
  2. Does science deserve the high status it has in the world today? Should science receive priority over alternative ways (e.g., religion, philosophy) of knowing about the world? Or should science be regarded as just one method among several methods of investigating the physical universe? Consider both sides of this issue, and give convincing arguments for your answer.
  3. Should scientific theories be viewed as attempts to give true descriptions of the physical universe? Or should theories be regarded just as useful devices for predicting the results of experiments, observations, etc.? Consider both sides of this issue, and give a convincing argument for your conclusions.
  4. Is “intelligent design theory” a legitimate science, or is it pseudoscience? If the former, which of its characteristics qualify it as real science? If the latter, in what respects does it fail to qualify as science? Is it worse off than evolutionary biology in those respects? Consider both sides of these questions, and give convincing arguments for your answers.
  5. Topic of your choice: It must address some significant issue(s) in the philosophy of science, and your paper must present your own arguments and conclusions concerning that (those) issue(s). Your topic must be approved in advance by the course instructor.