The Obvious
All papers are to be typed, double-spaced, and stapled. Please, do not use folders or paper clips.
Length
Length requirements are in your syllabus.
Margins
Set all margins (top, bottom, left, right) to one inch. I wrote many papers in college, grad school, and seminary. I know very well that manipulating the margins is a way to squeeze 12 pages out of an 11 page paper. Don’t try it!
Font
I’m over 40 now, so I need something that’s easy to read. Set the font to Times New Roman, 12 point. If you make it any larger than that, I’ll think you’re just poking fun at my advanced age.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using an idea of another person without giving that person credit. Committing plagiarism can result in a failing grade for your paper. If the idea came from another person, then you must provide a ci- tation. It does not matter if the source is quoted or not, a citation is still necessary!
Citations
There is no standard citation style in philosophy. Different journals tend to have different requirements. I prefer that you use in-text, parenthetical references and a bibliography.
Before you turn it in
Spell-check and proofread your paper before you turn it in. A significant number of grammatical or spelling errors results in a paper that is difficult to read. That, in turn, results in a lower grade.
Turn it in
Your syllabus states the date and time that your paper is due. Remember that each day that the paper is late may cost you one letter grade.
Grading
It is not a requirement for a good paper grade that I agree with your thesis. Here are some general guide- lines that I’ll use while grading:
A – Clearly shows superior understanding of the concepts, ideas, theories, and arguments involved. The author presents very good, clear, thoughtful, and original arguments for the thesis.
B – Shows a relatively good understanding of the ideas dealt with in the paper. The author presents origi- nal arguments that exhibit thoughtful reasoning.
C – Demonstrates a limited knowledge of the topic. Either the author uses relatively weak original argu- ments for the thesis, or simply compiles arguments used by others.
D – The author demonstrates significant misunderstanding of the topic, and uses poor reasoning to sup- port the thesis.
F – A failing paper may have no thesis at all, or no support for the thesis.