For your final writing assignment, you will be revising the work you have already done throughout the semester and integrating it into a final paper. These papers should stand as an extended argument for a particular point of view. (It is perfectly fine if you decided to change your topic or changed your opinion about the topic you’ve chosen.)
There are three main tasks that you should focus on:
Integrate the earlier writing assignments into a coherent whole. Remove or revise introductions and/or conclusions from the short writing assignments. Your sections should be re-worked such that they smoothly transition from one to another. Look through the writing and delete unnecessary repetition. Longer papers are not necessarily better papers: you want to deliver as much insight as possible as concisely as possible.
Revise your writing in light of the comments I’ve made throughout the semester. Read my comments and suggestions carefully, and also look on your own for spots that you can improve on. As you are revising, make sure to consult the writing guide I’ve distributed.
Develop concluding remarks. Did the readings change your views on a particular issue in some way? If so, explain why and re-state your new views (revising earlier writing appropriately). If you find yourself holding the same position, consider developing a new argument for that view. Imagine you are writing to an intelligent and thoughtful person who disagrees with you, and try to convince them of your position. Is there a similar technology that raises similar concerns? Consider discussing how the work you’ve done in this paper might apply to another related topic. What policies should we adopt to guide the use of this technology?
Final papers should be ~5-8 pages (1-inch margins, double spaced, 12pt standard font)
The form of biotechnology that you must discuss is Liquid Biopsy.
Outline for final paper entitled: [TITLE OF PAPER]
(With the exception of the title request (see directly above), bullet point arrows indicate the questions that comprise this outline and need to be answered. They are followed by brackets (like these […]) that indicate the word/sentence limits. This outline is meant to be a skeleton of your paper.)
INTRODUCTION (Your paper should start with a clear and concise introduction that tells your audience what the paper will argue, and how.)
Technology you are focusing on: [ 1-2 words, unless the name of the technology/procedure is longer]
The question that drives the paper: [1 sentence]
THESIS: What is the position that the paper will take on the question that drives the paper – i.e. what is the thesis that you will defend in this paper? [1-2 sentences]
ROADMAP: How is the paper going to argue this position – i.e. how are you going to defend your thesis? [No more than 3 sentences]
o An easy way to state your thesis and roadmap is to fill in the following sentence: “In this paper, I will _________ [thesis goes here]. In order to do this, I will first _________. Then I will ___________. (Note: This is just a sample. You do not need to use the exact wording that appears here.)
BODY OF THE PAPER (Here is where you present one or more arguments in favor of your position. In order for these to be fully developed argument(s), you should anticipate possible objections to your argument(s) and respond to those objections. Remember, your goal is to defend your thesis and convince your reader of it, so don’t just bring up counter-arguments to your thesis without at least attempting to refute those counter-arguments.)
Background information (It is important to set the stage for your reader, and equip them with the tools they are going to need to interpret and understand the rest of the paper. So, you should dedicate a section of your paper early on to defining your subject matter and any important technical terms, and setting the parameters of the inquiry – e.g. Why is the question of whether or not we use a particular technology for enhancements purposes important? Who do we think should/should not be allowed to use this technology? You may choose to cover this in your introduction. If you do, do not repeat it in the body of the paper.)
What does one need to know about the technology being discussed in order to understand why someone would be interested in the question that drives this paper? [No more than 3 sentences]
How does the technology work, and what are its current/proposed uses? [Try to keep this under 5 sentences for the purpose of this outline]
If there are any important terms that need to be defined, list them here and define them very briefly using your own words. [length will vary, but aim for a 1 sentence summary of each term]
Argument #1 in defense of your thesis.
Reason for thinking your thesis is correct: [1 sentence]
Does this reason rely on a moral principle or theory? If yes, what is it? Briefly explain it. [No more than 3 sentences]
Support from an author we have read for the reason that you think your thesis is correct: [No more than 3 sentences]
Anticipated objection to your reason: [1 sentence]
Response to that objection: [1 sentence]
Argument #2 in defense of your thesis.
Reason for thinking your thesis is correct: [1 sentence]
Does this reason rely on a moral principle or theory? If yes, what is it? Briefly explain it. [No more than 3 sentences]
Support from an author we have read for the reason that you think your thesis is correct: [No more than 3 sentences]
Anticipated objection to your reason: [1 sentence]
Response to that objection: [1 sentence]
[If you only have one argument, that is fine. If you have more than 2 arguments, repeat these 5 steps as needed.]
CONCLUSION (Your conclusion should be a brief summary of your position and the way you have argued for it. That said, you should not just repeat your introduction word-for-word. Use this space to remind your reader of what you did and why it matters. Discuss any implications of and/or limits to your argument(s). You can also take this time to point out further questions that your argument raises.)
What did you say you would do in your introduction? [1 sentence]
Did you do it? [Yes/No; make sure to confirm this – just because you’re at the end of the paper does not mean you have successfully done what you set out to do]
How did you do it? [1-2 sentences]
What is the significance of what you did (i.e. of your thesis)? [1 sentence]
Any implications of and/or limitations to your argument(s)? [No more than 3 sentences]
One further question related to the main question of this paper that your paper gives rise to: [1 sentence]