Writing a Seminar Paper
A seminar paper requires that you supplement the assigned reading material with some material that you have found through LIBRARY research. Report the content of the material you have read including the supplemental reading, and criticize the material. Library research can be conducted by going TO the library and using the databases (if you have never done this, ASK a reference librarian for help) or, once you have experience, you can log into the library at and use the databases from the web page (ask a reference librarian to show you how).
It is expected that for your seminar papers you find some relevant material beyond the assigned material from the syllabus. “Some” does not mean that you have to find every relevant reference. (Typically, I expect the use of at least 20 peer reviewed journal articles in a substantial paper. I may specify fewer if the paper is not labeled "substantial." Most of these sources should be found by you.) “Relevant” means that you cannot use the first thing you find without regard to whether it has any actual bearing on the same topic as the assigned readings, you must be more choosy than that.
Reporting the content means summarize the main points as briefly as you can without omitting anything important. Bullet points are too brief. Writing the same number of words or paragraphs as in the original is not brief enough. It takes practice to distinguish between a main point and a minor point, your goal is to focus on the main points. In general I advise integrated discussion (focusing your summary on thematic elements, not an article-by-article series of mini-book reports.
Criticizing is rendering justified judgment concerning the readings and additional material you have obtained. One source of criticism of the reading material is the additional material. One useful form of criticism is to point out places in the argument that seem unconvincing and to say why they are unconvincing. Another useful form of criticism is to ask questions that seem unanswered by the arguments and evidence offered in the readings. If you are familiar with formal or informal logic and see a statement that appears to be a violation of a logical rule, it is permissible to cite the rule and say how this affects the argument. Another legitimate criticism is to point out mistaken, false, or unconvincing claims of fact.
It is not useful criticism to flat out declare that you disagree.
It is expected that for your seminar papers you find some relevant material beyond the assigned material from the syllabus. “Some” does not mean that you have to find every relevant reference. (Typically, I expect the use of at least 20 peer reviewed journal articles in a substantial paper. I may specify fewer if the paper is not labeled "substantial." Most of these sources should be found by you.) “Relevant” means that you cannot use the first thing you find without regard to whether it has any actual bearing on the same topic as the assigned readings, you must be more choosy than that.
Reporting the content means summarize the main points as briefly as you can without omitting anything important. Bullet points are too brief. Writing the same number of words or paragraphs as in the original is not brief enough. It takes practice to distinguish between a main point and a minor point, your goal is to focus on the main points. In general I advise integrated discussion (focusing your summary on thematic elements, not an article-by-article series of mini-book reports.
Criticizing is rendering justified judgment concerning the readings and additional material you have obtained. One source of criticism of the reading material is the additional material. One useful form of criticism is to point out places in the argument that seem unconvincing and to say why they are unconvincing. Another useful form of criticism is to ask questions that seem unanswered by the arguments and evidence offered in the readings. If you are familiar with formal or informal logic and see a statement that appears to be a violation of a logical rule, it is permissible to cite the rule and say how this affects the argument. Another legitimate criticism is to point out mistaken, false, or unconvincing claims of fact.
It is not useful criticism to flat out declare that you disagree.