Phi Sigma Tau Paper Contest 2012
Like all honor societies, Phi Sigma Tau tries to promote academic excellence. In an effort to encourage excellence in philosophy, we intend to honor outstanding work. The prize for the Outstanding Undergraduate Paper in Philosophy stands at the center of our commitment to such excellence.
FORMAT
1. 10 - 20 pages in length.
2. Typed and double-spaced throughout.
3. Footnotes should follow a consistent scholarly format.
4. Proper attention should be paid to grammar, spelling and format.
5. The theme may be either historical or topical.
6. Papers are to be in Word format [doc document] and should be e-mailed to the ΦΣΤ moderator as attachments. The e-mail message must include the author’s name, year in school, local address, local telephone number, and the title of the submitted paper. The papers themselves should be suitable for blind review (i.e. neither the student’s name nor any other identifying information can appear anywhere within the paper) to ensure a fair evaluation process. No paper copies need be submitted.
STANDARDS OF EVALUATION
1. Originality of thesis
2. Completeness of argumentation
3. Cohesiveness of argumentation
4. Creative and effective use of sources
5. Clarity of expression
PRIZE
There will be both a first and a second place prize; these will be awarded during the honor society's Spring Induction Ceremony on April 30, 2012. The first place prize will be a $150.00 BAM Bookstore Gift Card, the second place prize a $100.00 Gift Card. Based on merit and the number of submissions received, additional prizes may be awarded.
PRESENTATION and PUBLICATION
Contest winners will present their papers in a public forum at some time in early May. The exact date will be set by mutual agreement of the winners and the Phi Sigma Tau Moderator. The papers will also be published by the Annual Undergraduate Philosophy Journal Discourse at the University of Scranton in the following academic year.
JUDGES
The three judges, all full-time members of the philosophy faculty, are selected yearly by the members of Phi Sigma Tau. Judging is “blind.” The Phi Sigma Tau moderator serves as a non-voting, ex officio chair of the judging committee.
DUE DATE
Papers are due on the Friday after spring break (March 23, 2012).
Please submit as e-mail attachments (see above) to christina.gschwandtner@scranton.edu. All submissions will be acknowledged (so authors know that they have been received).
For any questions, please contact:
Dr. Crina Gschwandtner
Faculty Moderator of Phi Sigma Tau
Department of Philosophy
New Science Center 253
941-7756
christina.gschwandtner@scranton.edu
