In your opinion, is euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide ever morally permissible? Are there some situations in which one might be acceptable but not the other?

As for practical issues such as length, footnoting, etc. here are some guidelines:

1. Double space using a 12pt. Times New Roman Font;
2. The essay should be a minimum of 6 full pages, preferably seven (7).  There will be large point reductions for any essay less than 6 full pages.
3. There should not be any need to cite.  The purpose of the essays is to develop your own thought process.  Therefore, everything you put down should be either your own thoughts or a very brief summary (in your own words) of someone else’s words (only if needed to set up or clarify your own presentation).
4. Use “I” (capitalized, please!).  After all, the essay reflects your own ideas.
5. Do not copy ideas from any other source.  To do so will defeat the whole purpose of the class and you will gain nothing from it.
6. Follow formal writing using college level standard English.  If you do not have adequate writing skills, contact the Writing Center and get help immediately, long before you write your first essay.
7. Take advantage of your spell and grammar checkers!  Write in full sentences with correct grammar, verb agreement, and spelling.  Sentences should follow in logical sequence.
8. For those of you who may be a bit rusty, an essay begins with an introduction, which includes a thesis statement (what you will focus on in the essay), a “body” of at least three (or more) paragraphs, and ends with a conclusion that relates back to the thesis and demonstrates how the body of the essay has fulfilled the thesis.  Sometimes, it is helpful to write your conclusion first, then work backward, but do this only for your own benefit, not in the final submission.
9. It is sometimes tempting to sit down and write your essay at the beginning of the semester.  Don’t do it.  The essay requires reflection and is meant to be organized after the readings are completed.