The paper will be a critical paper requiring you to critically assess one of the topics provided for each of the weeks.  That is to say that you must lay out some argument or arguments, possibly from one or more of the readings, and then critique those arguments, identifying any strengths or weaknesses they have, and coming to some conclusion as directed by the topic which is backed up by proper reasoning.  The paper must not be mere opinion or simply a recounting of what the readings have to say.  The focus of your paper must be your own argument.