Courses:

This section features the writing assignments, guidelines for papers, guidelines for revisions, and useful paper writing information.

1. All papers should be neatly typed, double-spaced, in an easily readable font. Be sure to include your name and your TA's name on your paper. For safety, keep copies of your papers. Please number your pages. Papers should be turned in at the time and date indicated on the syllabus and on the paper topics.
   
   
2. All papers should be within the length guidelines specified. If you have more to say than you can fit within the page limits, pare down your discussion: make sure you have stayed on topic, focus your discussion on the most important points for your argument. However, note that because this is a HASS-D course, you must submit a total of 20 pages during the term.
   
   
3. Essay topics must be taken from the list distributed in class, and your paper should be on one topic only. Stick closely to the topic; be sure you address the question asked. All papers should be clearly organized around a thesis, and should provide arguments for it. On some occasions your TA may approve an alternative paper topic. If you are interested in writing on a topic of your own design, speak to your TA well in advance of the paper deadline.
   
   
4. If you wish to attribute a position to a philosopher we have discussed, be sure to check that the text supports your attribution. On controversial points you should cite textual evidence, e.g., by quotation, or by giving the line numbers of relevant texts in parentheses. It is imperative that you indicate when you are quoting or paraphrasing an author, and when you do you must cite references to the original text. Failure to do so counts as plagiarism and will be handled accordingly. However, points made in lecture or in class handouts are "common property" for students in this class and may be relied upon in your papers without citation. (More on plagiarism, see syllabus.)
   
   
5. Although quotes are helpful, please keep quotation to a minimum. The paper should be, by in large, in your own words.
   
   
6. You do not need to consult additional secondary sources. If you do, this must be acknowledged in the paper. If you quote or paraphrase a secondary source, this must be attributed to the author; if you relied on texts in your preparation which were not assigned in class, include reference to them in a bibliography at the end of the paper (even if you don't quote from them). (More on plagiarism, see syllabus.)
   
   
7. Papers are due at the date and time specified. After that time papers will be considered late and will be penalized one third of a grade per day, i.e., from a B+ to a B. If you foresee special difficulties with the deadline, speak to your TA well in advance.

At least one paper for this course, other than the final paper, must be revised and resubmitted. Under special circumstances, a student may get permission to revise the second paper, otherwise he or she is expected to revise the first paper. The new paper will be graded in light of the previous paper, instructor's comments, and suggestions made for improvement, and will be held to a higher standard than the original version. So, for example, simply incorporating the instructor's comments into the original text will not be adequate basis for raising the grade, even if the resulting paper is better than the original. In order for a grade on a paper to be raised, the revised paper must (at least) meet the following conditions:

1. The paper must be substantially revised. It is not enough to change the wording in or delete a few sentences, or to do a major rewrite of a single paragraph. The revision must show that there have been significant revisions throughout the paper.
   
   
2. The paper must show non-trivial improvements in clarity, organization, or argumentative content. Note that not all changes are improvements!
   
   
3. The revisions must show new thought on the part of the student. (As mentioned above, simply incorporating the instructor's comments in the text is not enough.)

The final grade for the assignment will be calculated by averaging the original grade on the paper and the grade on the revision. Students cannot expect substantive written comments on the revisions. Some effort will be made to explain why the grade was raised (or why not); for further substantive input on the revision, students will have to meet with their TA.

MIT Handbook on Academic Integrity

MIT Library Guide: Citing Sources

MIT Writing Center: Citation: Provides links to online style guides.

Paper Writing Tutorial: Useful tutorial that works through several drafts of an introductory philosophy paper.

Cohen, Joshua. "Some Rules of Thumb for Writing Papers." (PDF) (Courtesy of Joshua Cohen. Used here with permission.)