STUDY GROUPS
The class will be
divided into study groups of three or four students each. Groups will be required to make a
class presentation and to submit a position paper on the presentation. Ground rules are as follows:
1.Groups will be formed
during the first week. I will
assign individuals to groups. However,
if you have a person you want to be grouped with, let me know by e-mail no
later than Friday, September 10 and I will do my best to place both of you
in the same group.
2.During the second
week, groups get their topics (the topic list is below). I will post a sign up sheet on
Monday Sept. 13; groups express preference by Wednesday, Sept. 15; after
that I assign.
3.Each group will make a
20-minute presentation on their topic, including 5-10 minutes for
questions. A written summary
of the presentation will be sent to the class by e-mail no later than 24
hours before the scheduled presentation. These summaries should be no more than 2-4 pages. The class presentation thus
assumes that everyone has read the summary and should get quickly to the
arguments in favor of the position of the group.
4.A finished position
paper is due no later than two weeks after the presentation. The paper introduces the issue,
gives the group's position, and answers the most obvious views on the other
side. The position paper
includes citations of sources--articles, books, and cases. Standard legal citation form must
be used.
5.The group will be
graded on the summary, on the presentation, and on the position paper.
INDIVIDUAL ESSAYS:
An essay, on the
philosophical issues in a legal case (approved in advance), will be due at
the end of the semester (Wednesday, December 8). These are research papers 6-10 pages in length. They may not be on the same general
topic as your group paper, but they can be on one of the topics of another
group. Standard legal citation form must be used. A copy of the court decision in the case (e.g., from Lexis
Nexis)
should be submitted with the essay.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Useful
Web Resources:
Philosopher's
Index (available from Miller Library WebPages) - a reasonably complete
listing of all publications in philosophy.
Lexis/Nexis (available
from Miller Library WebPages) - the standard source for legal cases, law
review articles, statutes, and other information about the law. This is a
gold mine.
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