In the most general terms, your task is to formulate and defend a thesis, or central claim. Toward the beginning of your paper, you should clearly state your thesis. (“I will argue that…” or “My
thesis is…” or “I claim that…” etc.) It is only a slight simplification to say that everything you say in your paper should be aimed at supporting your thesis — why the reader should accept
your thesis as true, and why opposing arguments fail. (This is a simplification partly because you may also wish to explain what exactly your thesis means and/or discuss the implications of your
thesis being true.)
In addition, I highly recommend that you read Jim Pryor’s guidelines on writing a philosophy paper: < http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/guidelines/writing.html >
Read: Helen Frowe “ Non-Combatant Liability in War”
Paper Instructions:
Identify the author’s main claim (or one of the author’s main claims). Clearly explain that claim and the author’s arguments for it. Then evaluate those arguments: identify their weak points and
why one might disagree, provide new arguments for or against the claim in question, and/or defend the author’s arguments from a (real or hypothetical) critic. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE A SUMMARY OF THE
ARTICLE!! It is crucial to follow directions down to the “T” and no outside sources other than what is given. NO PLAGIARISM!! I REPEAT NO PLAGIARISM!!!

THE PAPER “MUST” INCLUDE:
Clarity. Is it clear, at every point in the paper, exactly what the author is claiming, and how the points they make and the examples they use are supposed to support that claim?
Conciseness. Is everything in the paper strictly relevant to the claim the author is trying to make? Does the author make their points efficiently?
Structure. Is the structure of the author’s argument completely clear? For example, does the author appropriately distinguish premises vs. conclusions, and objections vs. replies?
Originality . Is the author merely repeating points made in the lectures and readings, or have they thought deeply about the issue for themselves?
The paper demonstrates deep and precise understanding and originality of thought, with a consistent precision of ideas and elegance of expression. The paper should logically flawless and extremely
well-structured.
It is important to be clear and concise.