Disability and Human Dignity
Research Paper Assignment
Purpose:
The
goal of this assignment is to allow you to learn more about a topic which
interests you and relates to disability.
The paper will also allow you to develop your research skills and your
ability to make an argument for a thesis.
Basic
Criteria: Your paper should be between 5-6 pages
double spaced in a standard 12 pt font.
It should be focused on a topic which relates to disability, and
it should include an argument for a thesis about the topic. Your paper should include at least three
outside sources about your topic.
(Class readings do not count as outside sources, but they may be used in
your paper.) You should consider
potential objections to your thesis and respond to them.
Topic
Guidelines: Given that
disability studies is a broad field, there is a wide range of topics that you
could choose for this paper. Here are
some general descriptions of topics and approaches you may choose:
1. Explain one of the
philosophical debates about the nature of disability (e.g. whether
disability is a mere difference) or one of the debates about the best way to
model disability (e.g. social model vs. medical model). Provide an argument either for or against one
of the positions advanced in the debate you choose.
2.
Explain
an ethical issue that impacts people with disabilities today (or may impact
them in the near future) and argue for or against a position on the issue you
choose (e.g. argue for against the permissibility of selective abortion,
physician assisted suicide, the Ashley treatment, genetic engineering to avoid
disabilities, rationing of medical care).
If you choose a topic in this area, you should consider applying one of
the philosophical ethical theories we learned in the course to support your
argument.
3. Explain
an ethical issue that impacted people with disabilities in past (e.g.
forced sterilization, institutionalization).
Use one of the ethical theories from the course to analyze the morality
of the past treatments of those with disabilities, i.e. say whether the
treatment was moral or immoral and why).
4.
Explain
a debate about the nature of human dignity and the criteria for possessing
human dignity (e.g. whether the ability to actively think and
communicate is necessary for dignity).
Argue for or against one of the views advanced in the debate.
5.
Defend
a view about what duties society (or specific societal institutions such as
businesses, schools, religious groups) has to those with disabilities. Use one of the ethical theories covered in
the course to support the view you defend.
6.
You
may also choose to research and write about one of these topics:
o
What
is the nature of human happiness (or a good life) and how does having a
disability impact a person’s ability to achieve happiness (or a good life)? (For this topic, it would be good to research
and explain a philosophical theory about human happiness.)
o
Why
does God allow disabilities? Is there a
greater good that comes from disabilities?
o
Can
people with profound disabilities know God and have a relationship with God?
Stylistic Guidelines
1. Your paper should
have a title.
2. Papers should be
double-spaced with normal margins and written in a standard 12 pt. font.
The length should be 5-6 pages.
3. You should provide
a citation (i.e. a footnote, endnote or parenthetical citation) whenever you are using an idea from a source and
of course, whenever you are quoting from a source.
4. There should be a
bibliography with full references for any source you used in your paper or research.
References and/or bibliography should be done consistently according to
a standard manual of
style. You may choose the citation style
that you use (e.g. APA, Chicago), but please use the chosen style
consistently and correctly.
Features of good papers:
Content:
1.
Clearly define an issue that is
narrow enough to be thoroughly treated in 5 pgs
Write an introduction that
succinctly explains the thesis of your paper and how you will argue for
it.
Employ valid arguments to
advance your thesis.
Defend premises of your
argument. Identify any assumptions
that your argument presupposes.
Define key terms to avoid
confusion.
Cite sources frequently.
Include well-chosen relevant
quotations from primary sources.
Quotes should be properly introduced and their significance should
be explained.
Consider objections to your
argument and reply to them.
Include a conclusion paragraph.
Style:
1.
Papers should be free from
grammatical and spelling errors.
2.
Papers should have clear and logical
organizational structure,
3.
There should be smooth transitions
between the various sections and paragraphs of the paper
