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Get the scoop on citation basics and how to cite different sources in MLA, APA, and Chicago formats with our citation guides here.

Teacher Wants Annotations?

Annotations are a great way to add a summary of your personal thoughts about a source. To include yours, go to the citation form and fill out the "Add Annotation" field.

Evaluated Your Sources?

Your teacher will be looking at the kind of sources that were cited. Take a moment to think about the credibility of your sources before using them in your paper or project.

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Make a title page! The topper on your awesome, finished paper should be a perfectly formatted title page. Here's a title page tool to help you make one!.

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Creating a citation starts with knowing what kind of source you're citing. We have citation forms for over 50 different source types! Click "Other" to see the options.

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Understanding Grammar - Commas and Semicolons

SAMPLE LAYOUT FOR DB1

  

SAMPLE LAYOUT FOR DB1

In any writing, you want to try to create a 3-part-structure: introduction, body, and closing.  This flow helps to make ideas clearer, and it resembles the traditional layout that the world is familiar with.  Furthermore, especially in personal message or emails, it helps to establish niceties and politeness that can go a long way in putting people at ease. 

See the suggested layout for the Discussion Board 1 Introduction/Analysis post below.  You will see that the personal introduction is broken into 3 parts and the analysis section below that is broken into three parts as well.  While you do not have to follow this layout exactly, this is what I will be expecting as a general layout for your DB1 initial post in our classroom discussion. All of the content below will go into one post: the initial post.  Do not make 2 separate posts for this first part of the discussion board assignment.  Once you have made your initial post, you can then begin reviewing what your classmates have posted and attempt to complete the second part of this assignment: the peer response post.

 

Formatting Using WORD

All assignments through Liberty University should be created using Microsoft Office WORD.  If you do not have this program, you can access a free version online through Liberty, or you can download the program directly to your computer--if you have the space--for use while at Liberty University.  

You've Got a Paper to Write!

You Have Been Given a

Writing Assignment to Complete

Are you ready to start your paper?  Follow the steps below to make sure that you are meeting all the requirements for the writing assignment.  I have broken the steps for the 1^st and 2^nd weeks of the written assignment below.

1st Week Paper is Assigned Overview Writing Prompt (see Assignment Handouts) Instructor’s Lecture (see Collaboration forum in Discussion Board) Learn From Experts (visit THIS Handout) Brainstorm What You Know About the Topic/Issue (write out your general ideas) What do You WANT to Know About the Topic/Issue (write out areas to look into to round out your ideas on the topic) Clarify the STYLE and TYPE of Writing (i.e. Style: Proposal; Type: Argument) Research General Ideas Surrounding the Topic/Issue (See the classroom suggested readings on the topic.  You may research your own content as well as long as it comes from academic sources, not Wikipedia or Blog posts.) Focus Ideas Construct an Arguable THESIS (Visit THIS Handout) Break Essay Map into Body Paragraph TOPIC SENTENCES (visit THIS Handout) Locate Research Collect Notes from Sources that DEFEND Your Body Paragraph Arguments (visit THIS Handout) OUTLINE Create an OUTLINE that Follows Academic Writing Flow Requirements Introduction Structure / Outline Body-Paragraph Structure / Outline Conclusion Structure / Outline Empty Outline Sample Outline Guidance Submit OUTLINE Upload the OUTLINE for Review Write Degree and Documentation Style in the Submission Comment Section 2nd Week Paper is Assigned Revise Review the Instructor/Peer Feedback About Argument THESIS, TOPIC SENTENCES, and OUTLINE Transform OUTLINE into Essay Layout Introduction Guidelines Argument Body Paragraphs Counter Argument Paragraphs Conclusion Guidelines Edit Review Academic Writing Guidelines to Eliminate Basic Mistakes are Being Made in the Essay Academic Guidelines Argument Essay Guidelines Standard English Writing Conventions Documentation Check Source Usage within Sentences (visit THIS Handout) Make Sure YOU Dominate the Argument, NOT the Sources Avoid Writing a Walk-Through Essay The 80% / 20% Rule of Writing Should I Paraphrase or Quote? Check In-Text Citations (visit THIS Handout) Title Create an Original, Unique Title for the Writing (visit THIS Handout) Title Page Create a Title Page that Meets Documentation Style and Liberty Requirements References Create a References or Works Cited Page (see your Handbook) Check References or Works cited Page for Correct Formatting (see your Handbook) Submit Essay Upload Essay Assignment into Blackboard (Make sure it is in Microsoft Office Word—if you do not own this program, use the online, FREE version through Liberty. Ask your instructor for help locating the program if you need it.) Write Degree and Documentation Style in the Submission Comment Section

Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument

1.      Ethical Argument Overview 2.      Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument a.        Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard b.      Arguing from American Ethical Standards c.       Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards 3.      Common Mistakes 4.      BRAINSTORMING 5.      Steps-to-Success

Narrowing Your Ideas

for your THESIS

A THESIS for an Ethical Argument needs to do many things:

·         Address the specifics in the writing prompt,

·         Assert a claim to be proven in the body paragraphs, and

·         Declare the ethical standards that will be used for the ethical issue.

After reviewing the writing prompt, what is your gut reaction?  How do you feel about the topic?  Do you know enough about the issue to decide right now, or do you need to review some Christian and secular views on the topic?

Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards

1.      Ethical Argument Overview 2.      Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument a.        Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard b.      Arguing from American Ethical Standards c.       Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards 3.      Common Mistakes 4.      BRAINSTORMING 5.      Steps-to-Success

Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards

The chart of ethical principles (below) may assist you if you are writing an ethical argument using Medical Guidelines as your ethical standard for proof/defense.

Arguing from American Ethical Standards

1.      Ethical Argument Overview 2.      Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument a.        Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard b.      Arguing from American Ethical Standards c.       Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards 3.      Common Mistakes 4.      BRAINSTORMING 5.      Steps-to-Success

Arguing from American Ethical Standards

The chart of ethical principles (below) may assist you if you are writing an ethical argument using American Laws as your ethical standard for proof/defense.

Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard

1.      Ethical Argument Overview 2.      Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument a.        Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard b.      Arguing from American Ethical Standards c.       Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards 3.      Common Mistakes 4.      BRAINSTORMING 5.      Steps-to-Success

Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard

The Chart of ethical principles may assist you if you are writing an ethical argument using Christianity as your ethical standard for proof/defense.

Steps to Success

1.      Ethical Argument Overview 2.      Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument a.        Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard b.      Arguing from American Ethical Standards c.       Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards 3.      Common Mistakes 4.      BRAINSTORMING 5.      Steps-to-Success

ETHICAL ARGUMENT: Steps to Success

1.      OVERVIEW

2.     COMMON MISTAKES

3.     ANALYZE YOUR AUDIENCE SAMPLE

a.     ANALYZE YOUR AUDIENCE WORKSHEET

4.    IDEA BRAINSTORMING

5.     RESEARCH

6.    CONSTRUCT A THESIS

7.     CREATE TOPIC SENTENCES for BODY PARAGRAPHS

8.    IDENTIFY ETHICAL PRINCIPLES (DEFENSE)

9.    CREATE OUTLINE

10.            TRANSFORM REVISED OUTLINE INTO ESSAY LAYOUT

a.     Introduction Expectations

b.    Understanding Body Paragraphs

c.     Perfect Conclusions

11.  REVIEW ACADEMIC WRITING GUIDELINES

12. CHECK SOURCE USAGE AND INTEGRATION

13. CREATE AN ORIGINAL TITLE

14.CREATE CORRECT TITLE PAGE

15. REVIEW REFERENCES/WORKS CITED PAGE

ETHICAL WRITING: Common Mistakes by Students

1.      Ethical Argument Overview 2.      Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument a.        Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard b.      Arguing from American Ethical Standards c.       Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards 3.      Common Mistakes 4.      BRAINSTORMING 5.      Steps-to-Success

Important Reminders About the Writing Prompt

Common Mistakes by Students

NOT Designer Babies…

As you begin thinking about how to properly defend ethical arguments in the Thesis/Outline for Essay 2, you will need to stay focused on the assignment.  Do not wander off the assigned ISSUE and writing STYLE.  

Please keep in mind the actual writing assignment for Essay 2, Ethical Essay Prompt: 

Write an ethical argument in which you address the question: “How far should scientists go to modify humans through genetic engineering?”

Therefore, even though the video to show the ‘general overview’ of the issue tends to lightheartedly focus on designer babies, “designer babies” is NOT your writing assignment. 

You need to think about all the issues surrounding scientific study that modifies humans through genetic engineering.  This genetic engineering can be designer babies, but it can also be disease reduction, or superior race construction, and so on.  Your argument must clearly state HOW FAR scientists should go and you would then PROVE that argument through clearly agreed upon ethics.

KEY POINT 2 THE TOPIC IS NOT DESIGNER BABIES.  The topic is “How far should scientists go to modify humans through genetic engineering?”    This is an ethical argument, and so you must use ethical standards to argue your viewpoint. There are various beliefs and ethical standards for how one forms his/her beliefs.  Keep in mind the three primary ethical standards for this topic: ·         If you choose Christian ethics, the principles would be from the Bible; ·         If you choose American ethics, the principles would be from the Constitution or the Bill of Rights; ·         If you choose Medical ethics, the principles would be based on the Hippocratic Oath. If you have no ideas about this topic…you will want to begin by researching the issue.  Some research sources for this essay have been provided for you in Blackboard.  Any additional sources that you may choose to use must be credible academic sources, not blog-posts or Op-Ed pieces from newspapers or magazines.  (Note: Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source for academic writing.)

Clearly Locate an Ethical Standard…

Students Move in the Wrong Direction when they do not have a clear ethical standard (and principles within that standard) chosen from the very beginning.  If you do not know which standard you will use to argue your ethical views, consider the guidance below:

Some students are intimidated by writing from a Christian perspective because they fear the tremendous amounts of biblical research needed to identify their viewpoint.  However, even the newest Christian should grasp some basic Christian principles such as LOVE, IDOL-worship, and how SIN creates disease and pain in the world. Can you think of a few more basic beliefs that Christians hold based on the Bible, the LAWS, and Christian teachings?

It is very important to remember that this is not a research paper. 

This is an argument…an ethical argument based on your chosen, specific, core values. 

Are you still not comfortable with Christian standards and principles of ethics?

If you choose to not use Christianity as the core value/ethical standard...what ethical standard will you choose?  

I would suggest brainstorming to... 

1.            FIRST, determine how AND why you feel the way you do about the issue, and 

2.            THEN, I would suggest identifying the standard that is leading you to those conclusions.  

If you are being guided by Christian beliefs on the issue (Biblical foundations, laws, and belief-system), then you should choose that. 

If you are being led by American views of freedom and advancement (Constitution/Bill of Rights), then go with that. 

If you are being led by Scientific/Medical values of research, experiments, and pursuit of 'can it be done’ without pain or death to the patient (Hippocratic Oath), then go with that.

No matter what is leading your ethical views on the subject, you MUST identify the standard for your views so that the audience will know if your ethical argument is valid based on the standard. After all, your argument must be DEFENDED by a clear ethical standard and within that standard, clear principles that are agreed upon within that standard.

KEY POINT 3 Use Ethical Support in Your Ethical Argument While you are encouraged to use the Bible as your ethical standard and support for your ethical essay, you can use any ‘standard’ of ethics as long as you clearly state what your STANDARD is and the individual principles that support your ethical view.  Please remember… ·              This is NOT a research paper—where you stack one-after-the-next sourced idea on the issue into a paper and call it your research.  ·              This is YOUR view on the issue from a specific standard, arguing the ethical nature of the topic.  ·              This is an argument essay.  ·              This is academic writing, which requires the use of 3rd person voice at all times. Do not use “I” or “YOU” or “WE”. ·              This is an ethical, academic argument which means that you are asserting your views—in 3rd person voice—and you defend those views through ethical source material following the Hamburger Method. Be sure to show ethical reasoning as you create your Brainstorming or first Outline.

End of COMMON MISTAKES                                   

• Continue to BRAINSTORMING
• Continue to NARROWING YOUR IDEAS (for the ethical argument)
• Continue to COMMON MISTAKES
• Continue to You've Got a Paper to Write
• Continue to: The Difference Between Morals and Ethics

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