A Guide for Writing Research Papers based on MLA Documentation
Papers shall be submitted on white, unruled, opaque paper of standard (8½" x 11") dimensions.
Only clear and clean printing or typewriting with clean type and reasonably fresh ribbon is acceptable. Use only one side of each sheet. Leave margins of at least one inch on all sides.
Papers shall be fully documented and shall conform to all the standards of publishable scholarly research. They shall meet the requirements of good style (as outlined, for example, in The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Chicago Manual of Style, or other standard guide). The following guides are on-line:
A Guide for Writing Research Papers based on MLA Documentation
Purdue University’s Using Modern Language Association Format
William Strunk, Jr., The Elements of Style (1st Edition–not up-to-date, but with much useful advice)
Proofreading your papers is your responsibility. Papers with incorrect syntax or misspellings are not acceptable. They will either be downgraded or returned ungraded to be rewritten. Assuming proper form, grades will be determined principally by the originality, pertinence, and cogency of the argument, that is, by its worth as historical or philosophical reasoning. An important factor in making a cogent argument is adequate treatment of competing views in the secondary literature. Only exceptionally good papers will receive an “A”.
II. Structure:
Each paragraph should treat a single idea. Like most publishable papers in philosophy, papers should normally contain the following sections:
1.0 Presentation and clarification of a problem
2.0 Criticism of unsatisfactory approaches to the problem (These may be derived from logical analysis of possible responses, borrowed from popular or common-sense notions, simply postulated as conceivable but ultimately unworkable suggestions, or discovered in published works.)
3.0 Presentation and defense of your solution
Last Updated 25 July 1999