Read Ruse, chapters 28-31. You have three short and one long paper to do for this class. These papers are expected to demonstrate your ability to do rigorous and sustained analytical thinking. You may choose short paper topics from either the readings or the lectures. Your long paper topic must be approved by the TA who grades your papers.
Short papers can be either summary, criticism or commentary.
Criticism means that you attack or defend an important claim or argument made in the material you've chosen. Commentary means writing critically about the implications of your chosen material. What does it tell, or seem to tell, us about some other topic. Again, the claims you make should be supported by argument. If you want to improve your chances of getting good grades on your papers, you could also check out my writing manual.