Paper Prompt
This semester, we will review several selections from your text that proffer a new view of the way law functions within society. Some of these assessments send a message that the law is not the panacea we believe (or perhaps simply hope) it to be. Instead of right versus wrong and black versus white, we see shades of gray that reflect the tough choices and value struggles underlying our law’s intentions and outcomes. We see the role of the attorney in a newer light – focusing on the struggles inherent in working in such a system. In the book Just Mercy, you will read one lawyer’s account of working within our imperfect system. Your assignment is to use the information that you have learned in class to write a response paper on the book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.
What is a response paper?
A response paper communicates your intellectual reactions to one or more books, ideas, or events. Much like a book review, the response paper usually provides an overall view of the book(s), idea(s), or event(s), and then responds in detail to more specific parts. For example, a response paper on the book Just Mercy might start with overview of the book and its context, but then choose to focus on the writer’s concern about the problems inherent in juvenile sentencing, or the specific case of Walter McMillian (or one or more of the other topics broached in the book).
Prewriting a response paper:
As you read, highlight significant points in the book. At the end of each chapter, summarize in your own words the main points made and what you think about them. As you read, take note of any significant ways in which you agree or disagree with the author. Keep a running list of these. When you have finished the book, reflect on its significance. Is this an important book? Why or why not? What are its implications for the subject at hand? How does it relate to the course material? Do you see illustrations of the material we discussed in class? By the time you have finished the book, you should have many pages of notes from which to work.
Writing the response paper:
Once you have read the book well and taken notes, review your notes carefully. Can you identify patterns in your notes? What you are looking for is a major theme. Since you can’t possibly respond to every idea in the book in the limited number of pages, you will have to be selective here and choose the most important and most interesting ideas to which you will respond. For example, you may notice or believe that the author is fairly cynical or hopeful about human nature in general. You may be able to provide information from the course that demonstrates a contrary viewpoint. So you may choose to respond to the discrepancy here.
You will probably find that you could write several response papers. This is intentional! The project is designed so that you can write on a theme that you identify that you want to learn the most about or that resonates most with you. Do not try to write on every theme. Pick one theme and write a great paper.
Note: Do not simply respond to the first or last chapter of the book. Occasionally a student will use this as a rather transparent strategy to avoid reading the book. Avoid the appearance of negligence by paying special attention to overarching themes as well as by using specific examples from throughout the book.
What parts should I include in my response paper?
Title page. This identifies the paper as yours and provides a descriptive title that gives the reader a hint of what your paper is about (hint – do not use ‘Just Mercy: A Reaction Paper’).
Introduction. Identifies major theme(s) of the book and your intellectual reaction to them.
Body. Systematically addresses your areas of agreement and disagreement with the author(s), giving reasons, facts, and examples from both the course and the book. Be specific and detailed. The evidence should be connected to your major theme, established in the introduction. You may compare and contrast authors/theories/etc based on your major theme. Be sure to cite the page and the source (of either the book or text) when you are using specific ideas or quotes.
In your paper, you must use and grapple with ideas from the reading and/or lectures in this course and use them to frame and illustrate your theme. Remember, this is your chance to demonstrate how reading the material in class and participating in class discussion has improved your ability to think critically about the law, and in this specific case, the issues raised throughout the book. I am not looking for a specific opinion. Rather, I am looking to for you to show me that you have developed your ability to think critically. All responses should be carefully reasoned and supported by evidence taken from the text, lecture, and discussions.
Note that your personal beliefs, if they are to be considered valid, must be supported by facts and logic. You may not simply say “Sentencing juveniles to life in prison is wrong” or “Sentencing juveniles to life in prison is right”. If you want to state that this topic is right or wrong, you must give the reader facts and logic that lead the reader to that inescapable conclusion. If you cannot back up a statement with facts and logic, leave the statement out of the paper.
4. Conclusion. Summarizes your reaction and sets out your ideas about the significance of the book and its implications.
5. References. A good writer always gives credit where credit is due. Make sure to cite your sources in text (in any style you prefer). Then, list the sources you used on an additional page tacked on to the end of your paper.
What makes a good paper?
Work independently. In writing this paper, you may draw on any sources provided by the course with the exception of your fellow students. Although you may have discussed ideas that appear in the paper with other students, please remember that it is your responsibility to write an original paper and you should not collaborate or work with your fellow students. If you have questions, please arrange to meet with me or our teaching assistant rather than with another student. Remember to use your resources – we are here to help!
Know a variety of themes are appropriate. This paper is intentionally formulated so that a variety of responses may be appropriate. Therefore, it would be helpful to you to reacquaint yourself with the material before beginning the paper to bring to mind a range of different options in deciding how you want to write the paper. Again, take notes while reading the book.
Be specific and complete. Responses that are only associations, examples, or unsubstantiated opinion will not be adequate. Make sure to include as many class sources as possible and appropriate in your paper. Make sure to identify the sources or ideas that you use. You do not need to include material that we did not discuss in class.
Format. Your papers must be at least 3 full pages and no more than 5 full pages typed in 12- point Times New Roman font, double spaced, with 1.0” margins. References and title pages should be included but will not count toward the page requirement. Do not exceed the page limit. Part of learning to write well is learning to say what you need to say in the space given.
Direct quotes. You may include no more than 2 direct quotations in your paper – other material should be paraphrased into your own voice. Quotations should be no longer than a sentence and should only be included if absolutely necessary (that is, the information would lose effectiveness if it were paraphrased).
Proofread. If you want to be taken seriously, make that clear in your presentation. I will regard each typo, misspelled word, or grammatical error as a blob of ketchup on the front of your shirt which, besides being distracting, interferes with your credibility. I’ll tell you what; I’ll give you one such mistake per page free, but everyone after that will cost you one point. If you need help editing your work in order to correct these kinds of mistakes, make sure to consult with a writing advisor in sufficient time to correct your work and hand it in on time.
To turn in your paper, you must do two things by the deadline:
1) Upload a word document to canvas.
2) Email the TA a copy of the text of your paper IN THE BODY OF AN EMAIL (not as an attachment).
Grading. Your paper will be evaluated according to the grading rubric. Please take the time to look over this grid, and note the relative value placed in each category.Paper Prompt
This semester, we will review several selections from your text that proffer a new view of the way law functions within society. Some of these assessments send a message that the law is not the panacea we believe (or perhaps simply hope) it to be. Instead of right versus wrong and black versus white, we see shades of gray that reflect the tough choices and value struggles underlying our law’s intentions and outcomes. We see the role of the attorney in a newer light – focusing on the struggles inherent in working in such a system. In the book Just Mercy, you will read one lawyer’s account of working within our imperfect system. Your assignment is to use the information that you have learned in class to write a response paper on the book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.
What is a response paper?
A response paper communicates your intellectual reactions to one or more books, ideas, or events. Much like a book review, the response paper usually provides an overall view of the book(s), idea(s), or event(s), and then responds in detail to more specific parts. For example, a response paper on the book Just Mercy might start with overview of the book and its context, but then choose to focus on the writer’s concern about the problems inherent in juvenile sentencing, or the specific case of Walter McMillian (or one or more of the other topics broached in the book).
Prewriting a response paper:
As you read, highlight significant points in the book. At the end of each chapter, summarize in your own words the main points made and what you think about them. As you read, take note of any significant ways in which you agree or disagree with the author. Keep a running list of these. When you have finished the book, reflect on its significance. Is this an important book? Why or why not? What are its implications for the subject at hand? How does it relate to the course material? Do you see illustrations of the material we discussed in class? By the time you have finished the book, you should have many pages of notes from which to work.
Writing the response paper:
Once you have read the book well and taken notes, review your notes carefully. Can you identify patterns in your notes? What you are looking for is a major theme. Since you can’t possibly respond to every idea in the book in the limited number of pages, you will have to be selective here and choose the most important and most interesting ideas to which you will respond. For example, you may notice or believe that the author is fairly cynical or hopeful about human nature in general. You may be able to provide information from the course that demonstrates a contrary viewpoint. So you may choose to respond to the discrepancy here.
You will probably find that you could write several response papers. This is intentional! The project is designed so that you can write on a theme that you identify that you want to learn the most about or that resonates most with you. Do not try to write on every theme. Pick one theme and write a great paper.
Note: Do not simply respond to the first or last chapter of the book. Occasionally a student will use this as a rather transparent strategy to avoid reading the book. Avoid the appearance of negligence by paying special attention to overarching themes as well as by using specific examples from throughout the book.
What parts should I include in my response paper?
Title page. This identifies the paper as yours and provides a descriptive title that gives the reader a hint of what your paper is about (hint – do not use ‘Just Mercy: A Reaction Paper’).
Introduction. Identifies major theme(s) of the book and your intellectual reaction to them.
Body. Systematically addresses your areas of agreement and disagreement with the author(s), giving reasons, facts, and examples from both the course and the book. Be specific and detailed. The evidence should be connected to your major theme, established in the introduction. You may compare and contrast authors/theories/etc based on your major theme. Be sure to cite the page and the source (of either the book or text) when you are using specific ideas or quotes.
In your paper, you must use and grapple with ideas from the reading and/or lectures in this course and use them to frame and illustrate your theme. Remember, this is your chance to demonstrate how reading the material in class and participating in class discussion has improved your ability to think critically about the law, and in this specific case, the issues raised throughout the book. I am not looking for a specific opinion. Rather, I am looking to for you to show me that you have developed your ability to think critically. All responses should be carefully reasoned and supported by evidence taken from the text, lecture, and discussions.
Note that your personal beliefs, if they are to be considered valid, must be supported by facts and logic. You may not simply say “Sentencing juveniles to life in prison is wrong” or “Sentencing juveniles to life in prison is right”. If you want to state that this topic is right or wrong, you must give the reader facts and logic that lead the reader to that inescapable conclusion. If you cannot back up a statement with facts and logic, leave the statement out of the paper.
4. Conclusion. Summarizes your reaction and sets out your ideas about the significance of the book and its implications.
5. References. A good writer always gives credit where credit is due. Make sure to cite your sources in text (in any style you prefer). Then, list the sources you used on an additional page tacked on to the end of your paper.
What makes a good paper?
Work independently. In writing this paper, you may draw on any sources provided by the course with the exception of your fellow students. Although you may have discussed ideas that appear in the paper with other students, please remember that it is your responsibility to write an original paper and you should not collaborate or work with your fellow students. If you have questions, please arrange to meet with me or our teaching assistant rather than with another student. Remember to use your resources – we are here to help!
Know a variety of themes are appropriate. This paper is intentionally formulated so that a variety of responses may be appropriate. Therefore, it would be helpful to you to reacquaint yourself with the material before beginning the paper to bring to mind a range of different options in deciding how you want to write the paper. Again, take notes while reading the book.
Be specific and complete. Responses that are only associations, examples, or unsubstantiated opinion will not be adequate. Make sure to include as many class sources as possible and appropriate in your paper. Make sure to identify the sources or ideas that you use. You do not need to include material that we did not discuss in class.
Format. Your papers must be at least 3 full pages and no more than 5 full pages typed in 12- point Times New Roman font, double spaced, with 1.0” margins. References and title pages should be included but will not count toward the page requirement. Do not exceed the page limit. Part of learning to write well is learning to say what you need to say in the space given.
Direct quotes. You may include no more than 2 direct quotations in your paper – other material should be paraphrased into your own voice. Quotations should be no longer than a sentence and should only be included if absolutely necessary (that is, the information would lose effectiveness if it were paraphrased).
Proofread. If you want to be taken seriously, make that clear in your presentation. I will regard each typo, misspelled word, or grammatical error as a blob of ketchup on the front of your shirt which, besides being distracting, interferes with your credibility. I’ll tell you what; I’ll give you one such mistake per page free, but everyone after that will cost you one point. If you need help editing your work in order to correct these kinds of mistakes, make sure to consult with a writing advisor in sufficient time to correct your work and hand it in on time.
To turn in your paper, you must do two things by the deadline:
1) Upload a word document to canvas.
2) Email the TA a copy of the text of your paper IN THE BODY OF AN EMAIL (not as an attachment).
Grading. Your paper will be evaluated according to the grading rubric. Please take the time to look over this grid, and note the relative value placed in each category.
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