Paper 1 topics and theses

The paper has several parts:
* It must have a thesis. The thesis must have a very specific format, which I will explain in a bit.
* It must argue that your thesis is true.
* It must explain and reply to objections to your thesis or arguments that came up in class or in the readings.
* It must explain a novel objection to your thesis. This is an objection we have not covered in class.
* Finally, it must explain why the novel objection does not work, and so why your thesis really is true.

The grading standards are posted; look at those to get more details about the different parts of the paper.

You can write on either a pre-approved thesis or a non-pre-approved thesis. If you write on a non-pre-approved thesis, you have to get my approval in writing on your exact thesis before you turn the paper in. This is to make sure that you are writing on something that can make a good paper. If you write on a pre-approved thesis, you don't need my approval (as long as you follow the instructions below). Either way, you will be submitting one thesis proposal to me as a homework. This will be so I can give you some feedback and advice (and you can definitely change the idea you initially submit to me).

 

Pre-approved theses:

To write on a pre-approved thesis, first pick one of the topics covered in class:

* entrapment by police officers
* illegal activity by undercover police
* interrogation of suspects by police officers
* punishment of convicted criminals in general
* punishment of criminals with children
* zealous criminal defense by public defenders who have their clients appointed to them

Then decide whether you want to write on when the act in question is or is not morally wrong, or when it is morally wrong for the law to allow it. Pick one of these. Your thesis will either be:

* [Your topic] is morally wrong when [...]. Otherwise it is is morally permissible.

Or

* It is morally wrong for [your topic] to be legally allowed when [ ... ]. Otherwise it is morally permissible to allow it.

In thinking about when your topic is wrong, or when it is wrong to allow, consider who should or should not be targeted, what tactics might be used or not used, etc. E.g. you might say that criminal defense is wrong when the person defended did something sufficiently bad, or when certain sorts of tactics are used. All that should go in your thesis.

 

Non-pre-approved theses

These will be formatted just like the pre-approved theses, but you can write on different topics. Pick a topic that brings up issues related to what we've been covered in class. Here are some suggestions, but I'm open to other ideas:

* Tactics used by the prosecution
* Plea bargains
* Wiretapping
* The use of informants

Pick your topic, then either write on when it is morally wrong to do, or when it is morally wrong to allow. Format it just like the pre-approved theses.

Again, to be clear: if you write on a non-pre-approved thesis, the exact thesis in your actual paper must be approved by me in writing.


A note on trivial theses:
This applies to both pre-approved and novel theses. A trivial thesis is one that no one can argue against, because it is true basically by definition. For example: "Interrogation is morally wrong when it violates an absolute moral duty or it violates a prima facie moral duty, and the duty is not overridden." That's not worth writing about; the thesis is not saying anything of substance. You are not allowed to write on trivial, or partly trivial, theses.


Deadlines
Thesis proposal: 2/23, 8pm.
Send draft to partner: 3/8, 8pm.
Send comments to your partner: 3/10, 8pm
Paper: 3/15, 8pm