1. Prepare an Annotated Bibliography along with introductory paragraph and detailed thesis statement for their major research paper. The introductory paragraph and thesis statement should be one page in length. The thesis statement moves beyond the statement of a research topic to a clear and concise statement of what the specific argument will be pertaining to the topic and how that argument will be made. In addition to the single page introduction and thesis, the annotated bibliography will bring together the minimum number of 6 secondary sources and offer three key elements for each source: 1) a brief description of the argument of the source, 2) a statement on how this source contributes to the thesis statement (i.e. the specific argument) of the students research paper and 3) an assessment of the merits of the article and a critical evaluation of the article in relationship to your argument.
2)Aim
The aim of this paper is to bring analytical skill to bear in addressing: a) the key philosophical issues raised in developing an overarching worldview and ethical norms within it, and b) the potential applicability of a moral philosophy in bringing central tenets to bear on a pertinent, contemporary, practical issue. In bringing philosophical moral theory and practical issues together, students will learn what fruitful dialogue may be had through disciplined, philosophical analysis and argumentation on relevant personal, societal, and global issues.Method
Through an examination of both the relevant primary literature of a central philosophical figure studied in the course (Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, and Nel Noddings) and the contemporary debates found in the secondary literature, students will offer a thorough and critical summary of the central tenets of the moral philosophy proposed by their chosen figure. Students will then argue how this philosophical account contributes to understanding and engaging a contemporary practical issue of their choosing. The students must be aware of the central issues of debate in their chosen contemporary topic and illustrate how the contemporary question might be approached from the philosophical standpoint offered by the moral theory of the author of their choosing. The student will conclude with a critical assessment of the outcome of the given philosophical approach to ethics when viewed in terms of its outcomes pertaining to the contemporary topic. The student is free to agree or disagree with the outcomes of the applicability of theory to praxis, but must defend the claim through philosophical argument.
Contemporary ethical issues will be joined with historical topics such as sexual ethics, abortion, euthanasia, social justice, globalization, environmental ethics, war, capital punishment etc. It will also deal with issues such as freedom, choice, and concepts of personhood, religion and ethics.
Example
An example question might be What is a Platonic approach to good political governance in the contemporary globalized context?

Annotated Bibliography
Order Description
Annotated Bibliography
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is for students to
1) identify and learn about a subtopic in Am. Popular Culture that is of interest to them;
2) become familiar with the online library resources; and
3) to develop some information literacy skills.

Students will be developing an Annotated Bibliography Table based on a subtopic in American Popular culture that is of interest to them. A minimum of 3 peer-reviewed sources and 4 popular and/or open-web sources will need to be used in the bibliography.

The completed assignment will include:

1) Identify subtopic in American Popular Culture that you chose to investigate for this assignment. (e.g. sport and popular culture)
2) List search terms you used in your searches (i.e. sport, sociology, “popular culture”)
3) A Table with 7 annotated entries
a) Annotated entries in table for a minimum of 3 peer-reviewed articles (see below for what should be included in each entry)
b) Annotated entries in table for a minimum of 4 popular and/or open-web sources

Each source entry should be in a table format (see full guidelines under Homework Assignments folder) and include the following:

1) Title of the source
2) APA-formatted full reference for the source
3) Evaluation of where the source came from – i.e. peer-reviewed journal, blog, website, etc.
4) Brief discussion of how the source is relevant to your subtopic of interest and why you chose it.
5) Brief description of the source – research question, findings, key information, etc.
6) Evaluation of strengths of source in addressing your subtopic of interest (note: if it is not helpful at all, it is not a good source and should not be included)
7) Evaluation weaknesses regarding how helpful the source was in addressing your subtopic of interest.
8) Comparative analysis – compare/contrast how this source addresses your subtopic of interest in comparison to another source (note: no source should be used in this section more than twice)

This could be based on type of methodology used, size of sample, hypothesis, findings, how variables are measured, etc. If you analyze Source 1 in comparison to Source 2, then your Source 2 analysis should be compared to a source other than Source 1. Keep in mind all analysis should relate back to your research question.

Table Format that must be used:

Source 1 Source 2 Etc.
1) Source Title
2) APA-formatted citation for source
3) Source Evaluation
4) Relevance of source to Subtopic
5) 3-5 sentence description of source
6) Strengths
7) Weaknesses
8) Analysis of 2+ sources (compare/contrast)

Annotated Bibliography
Order Description
Annotated Bibliography
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is for students to
1) identify and learn about a subtopic in Am. Popular Culture that is of interest to them;
2) become familiar with the online library resources; and
3) to develop some information literacy skills.

Students will be developing an Annotated Bibliography Table based on a subtopic in American Popular culture that is of interest to them. A minimum of 3 peer-reviewed sources and 4 popular and/or open-web sources will need to be used in the bibliography.

The completed assignment will include:

1) Identify subtopic in American Popular Culture that you chose to investigate for this assignment. (e.g. sport and popular culture)
2) List search terms you used in your searches (i.e. sport, sociology, “popular culture”)
3) A Table with 7 annotated entries
a) Annotated entries in table for a minimum of 3 peer-reviewed articles (see below for what should be included in each entry)
b) Annotated entries in table for a minimum of 4 popular and/or open-web sources

Each source entry should be in a table format (see full guidelines under Homework Assignments folder) and include the following:

1) Title of the source
2) APA-formatted full reference for the source
3) Evaluation of where the source came from – i.e. peer-reviewed journal, blog, website, etc.
4) Brief discussion of how the source is relevant to your subtopic of interest and why you chose it.
5) Brief description of the source – research question, findings, key information, etc.
6) Evaluation of strengths of source in addressing your subtopic of interest (note: if it is not helpful at all, it is not a good source and should not be included)
7) Evaluation weaknesses regarding how helpful the source was in addressing your subtopic of interest.
8) Comparative analysis – compare/contrast how this source addresses your subtopic of interest in comparison to another source (note: no source should be used in this section more than twice)

This could be based on type of methodology used, size of sample, hypothesis, findings, how variables are measured, etc. If you analyze Source 1 in comparison to Source 2, then your Source 2 analysis should be compared to a source other than Source 1. Keep in mind all analysis should relate back to your research question.

Table Format that must be used:

Source 1 Source 2 Etc.
1) Source Title
2) APA-formatted citation for source
3) Source Evaluation
4) Relevance of source to Subtopic
5) 3-5 sentence description of source
6) Strengths
7) Weaknesses
8) Analysis of 2+ sources (compare/contrast)