Using Utilitarianism to address abortion

Step 2: Write your paper with the following parts, in order:
 Begin with a clear, detailed thesis statement which announces what issue you will address, what
moral theory you will apply, your primary claim, and your supporting reasons.
 Then give a detailed explanation of the issue you will address, by narrowly focusing in on ONE
piece of the issue—i.e. one important concern, question, concept, or argument (do NOT try to
“solve” the issue by taking on too much)—see examples on the next page.
o Your explanation MUST include (and CITE in-text) points and/or arguments from BOTH of
the relevant applied moral issue articles (or scenes and points from Evicted)
o Your explanation MUST focus on a moral piece of the issue.
o Your explanation should stick to class resources, not outside research.
o Your explanation should be objective, do NOT start evaluating or arguing here.
 Then give a brief, focused explanation of the principles you will apply from the moral theory you
have chosen.
o Define crucial terms and principles—the ones you will apply.
o Your explanation should be objective, do NOT start evaluating or arguing here.
 Then make your argument, including your primary claim, supporting reasons, and backing.
o Your argument must directly engage with the issue you explained earlier.
o Your argument must explicitly apply the principle of the chosen moral theory in support
of your primary claim.
o Your supporting reasons must be backed up by clear, detailed, accurate applications of
the moral theory’s principles.
o You may include outside research, with in-text citations, to help your backing.
Step 3: Submit your argument in the appropriate assignment folder on the course shell.
 Regardless of which issue is chosen, your paper should be between 4-6 pages in length.
o The first half (2-3 pages) of your paper should be devoted to a concise introduction (with
a clear thesis) and a detailed explanation of the issue you will address.
o The second half (2-3 pages) of your paper should be devoted to clearly explaining the
principles of the moral theory and making your argument with the help of the moral
theory.
 This paper should be typed, double-spaced, with standard margins and an 11- or 12-point font.
 This paper should be checked for spelling and grammar mistakes.
 Citations MUST be used for ideas that are not your own (this includes ideas from class readings
and class sessions, and applies to paraphrases and direct quotations). Citations should be in-text,
as either parenthetical citations or footnote citations.
o You may use whichever citation style you’re most comfortable with (MLA, APA, Chicago)
 This paper should be written with an appropriate academic tone (feel free to use 1st person voice)
For this paper, your argument must focus on a single, narrow, well-defined part of the moral issue, NOT
on the entire issue, on outside issues, or on non-moral parts of the issue. In addition, you MUST NOT take
unanswerable questions for granted (see below), or have an argument based primarily on “your
opinion”—as I’m not asking you for your opinion, I’m asking you to apply a moral theory properly.