Academic Writing

For purposes of this paper you will conduct an ethical analysis of the death penalty as a criminal justice policy. You will examine and analyze the death penalty in light of the values and ethical theories we have been studying. It is not a paper that discusses the policy in terms of historical development or the impact of the policy on crime or crime rates. The paper MUST focus on an analysis of the policy from an ethics perspective. During the class we will be covering a number of ethical systems and you must frame your analysis using 2 of the ethical systems we covered. This is not a paper in which you express your personal opinion. It is a research paper and must be based on scholarly research. The ethical systems you must use to analyze the death penalty policy are: • Virtue Ethics • Natural Law • Kantian Ethics • Utilitarian Ethics • Situation Ethics • Ethical Egoism Paper Format 1. Paper Length The body of your paper must be 4,500 words at a minimum. The body of the paper does not include: Title Page (You do not need this) Abstract (You do not need this) Tables of Contents (You do not need this) Tables Figures Student's Name or Other Identifying Information on Any Pages (DO NOT PUT THIS ON YOUR PAPER) Headers or Footers (DO NOT USE THESE) Reference Pages (You NEED a reference page to list the sources you used in the paper) Remember, minimum means exactly that. A paper of minimum length (4,500words) is likely to only receive a score equivalent to a "C". Failure to meet the minimum word length will result in a score of less than 128 points (or the equivalent of a D). 2. Skeletal Outline for Paper I have provided a skeletal outline for your paper to assist you in beginning your research. You must use these major heading in the outline for your paper and add any additional subheadings to further organize your paper. Introduction and/or Conclusion sections cannot exceed a short paragraph. I. Description of (Your First Ethical Theory: Name the Theory Here) This should be a complete and thorough description of the concepts and principles of this theory. This section must be completely documented using scholarly peer reviewed sources that specifically and directly describe the concepts and principles of this theory II. Application of First Ethical Theory to the Death Penalty Policy In this section must use your first ethical theory to analyze the death penalty policy. You must use scholarly peer reviewed sources that specifically and directly apply your first theory to the death penalty. You CANNOT make the application and analysis on your own. III. Description of (Your Second Ethical Theory: Name the Theory Here) This should be a complete and thorough description of the concepts and principles of this theory. This section must be completely documented using scholarly peer reviewed sources that specifically and directly describe the concepts and principles of this theory IV. Application of Second Ethical Theory to the Death Penalty Policy In this section must use your second ethical theory to analyze the death penalty policy. You must use scholarly peer reviewed sources that specifically and directly apply your second theory to the death penalty. You CANNOT make the application and analysis on your own. 3. Scholarly Peer Reviewed Sources You will be required to cite a minimum of 10 scholarly sources (scholarly books and scholarly peer reviewed journals). You will be required to document the sources you use in the paper using the American Psychological Association (APA) format for citations and references. You cannot use any of the readings we are using in class for this paper. You cannot use Wikipedia or any other on-line or print dictionary or encyclopedia as a source for this paper.