ETHICS PAPER #2: APPLIED ETHICS
PHIL 2306
Prof. Linda Cox
OVERVIEW:
In this paper, you will select an applied ethics topic area, identify an ethical problem in this area,
apply three ethical approaches to solving the problem, and evaluate which approach offers the
most ethical solution to the problem. In doing so, you must support and defend your thesis over
multiple paragraphs.
METHODS:
Step 1: Select an ethical area from one of the following choices:
A. Criminal Justice
B. Latin American Immigration
C. Animal Ethics
D. Nursing Ethics
E. Global Hunger
F. Environmental Ethics
Locate the Blackboard link to your chosen ethical area under the Applied Ethics navigation menu
tab. Read the required reading and at least one optional reading listed under your chosen topic to
help you identify and define an ethical problem in your chosen area. Take notes and write a brief
summary of the articles.
Step 2: Identify and define an ethical problem in your chosen area. In the process of
considering this ethical problem, you should take notes that answer the following questions:
What is an ethical problem that you consider important? How is this an ethical problem (as
Cox “Formatting Sample”
opposed to a legal problem, a scientific problem, etc.)? Why is it an ethical problem? How
might reasonable people disagree on how they think the problem should be solved? Are there
any terms that need to be defined as you identify the problem? Do you need to clarify how this
problem differs from any similar problems?
Step 3: Research the data on the problem so that your solution can be backed up by strong
empirical evidence. Make sure your data is from a reputable and responsible source. Sources
from commercial groups (.com websites, for example) will generally not be accepted. Look for
sources from academic journals and government data. If in doubt, consult your nearest ACC
librarian.
Step Four: Write your applied ethics paper as outlined below (and further discussed in the
Vaughn article, “How to Read and Write Philosophy Papers,” included in the assignment
folder as a pdf file).
1. Introduction (1-1.5 pages):
a. Identify the problem you are addressing. Be as specific as possible so that your
project is not overly vague and general. State your conclusion (thesis)—your
thesis is your proposal for the most ethical solution to the problem.
b. Summarize the evidence (philosophical arguments and empirical evidence) you
will provide to support your thesis in the body of the paper.
c. Provide the context/background for this problem and define any ambiguous terms.
2. Body (3-5 pages):
a. Provide evidence for your conclusion. Which ethical approach(es)--virtue ethics,
utilitarianism, deontology, care ethics, Rawlsian justice, and/or the capability
2
Cox “Formatting Sample”
approach--are you using to make your claim? Why is this approach superior to
other approaches according to your analysis?
b. Identify any potential objections to your thesis and address them thoroughly and
fairly.
3. Conclusion (1/2 page):
Summarize your thesis and the evidence you presented to prove your thesis. Tell
the reader why it is important to resolve this ethical problem or what the next step
should be going forward.
4. Works Cited list should be included at the end of the paper. See the guidelines below
for how to format this list. BE SURE TO ALPHABETIZE your entries!
3
Cox “Formatting Sample”
GRADING GUIDELINES:
A Papers: These papers will clearly define an ethical problem, including a compelling reason
why it is an ethical problem. The paper discusses the motivation for addressing the topic and
defines any ambiguous terms. The essay will also clearly and thoroughly describe the current or
conventional approaches or solutions to the problem. These essays make a sophisticated and
thoughtful thesis proposing a solution to the problem and present convincing evidence in
support of the thesis over multiple paragraphs. Although not without minor flaws (especially
A- papers), these essays exhibit the writer’s ability to analyze philosophical arguments
perceptively, control a thesis, and write with coherence, clarity, and precision. Length is at least
1000 words and papers are turned in on time (barring extraordinary circumstances).
B Papers: These papers will clearly define an ethical problem, including a compelling reason
why it is an ethical problem. The paper discusses the motivation for addressing the topic and
defines any ambiguous terms. The essay will also clearly and thoroughly describe the current or
conventional approaches or solutions to the problem. These essays make a very good,
thoughtful thesis proposing a solution to the problem and present convincing evidence in
support of the thesis. These essays exhibit the writer’s ability to analyze philosophical
arguments perceptively, control a thesis, and write with coherence, clarity, and precision. Length
is at least 1000 words and papers are turned in on time (barring extraordinary circumstances).
C Papers: These essays respond to the assigned task, but they tend to be superficial in analysis.
They may contain only superficial reasons why the problem is ethical in nature, or may define a
problem that is not interesting in the philosophical sense. These essays respond to the assigned
task, but they tend to be superficial in analysis. The ethical question may be superficial or less
clear than B papers. The writers demonstrate adequate control of language and their writing is
generally coherent, but the paper may be marred by surface errors and may lack effective
organization. Length is at least 600 words.
D Papers: These essays reflect an incomplete or oversimplified understanding of the ethical
problem, or they may fail to establish an adequate relationship between the claim and the
evidence. Assertions may be unsupported or even irrelevant. These essays reflect an incomplete
or oversimplified understanding of the philosophical problem selected. They may rely
description alone. Often wordy, elliptical, or repetitions, these essays lack control over the
elements of college-level composition. Essays may exhibit more than one of the stylistic errors;
they may also be marred by significant misinterpretation and/or poor development.
F Papers: These essays give a response with no more than a reference to the task, or they are
plagiarized.
4
Cox “Formatting Sample”
Format: Papers should be 4-6 pages, double-spaced and in 10- or 12-point font. Margins
should be one inch. Take care not to use the ideas, words, or arguments of anyone else without
properly documenting the source. All references should be in MLA format. Please use the
formatting I am modeling on this assignment sheet, including the information in the upper lefthand corner of the first page (instead of a cover sheet), your title centered and spaced 2 lines
beneath that information, a header beginning on the second page that includes your last name and
title, and page numbers beginning on the second page (anywhere on the page is fine). Do not,
however, use boldface to emphasize words—use italics if needed. Please do not leave extra lines
between paragraphs. And, again, YOU MUST DOUBLE SPACE your essays.
5
[Your Name]
PHIL 2306-000: Ethics
Prof. Linda Cox
[Date]
Formatting Sample
Your paragraphs should be indented ½ inch on the left, as this paragraph demonstrates.
Do not put any extra spaces between paragraphs. When you make a citation within the text, put
the period AFTER the parentheses, like this (Cox 14). When you insert a quote of text longer
than 4 lines, indent the entire quotation and do not use quotation marks. In this case, the period
will go BEFORE the parentheses at the end of the quotation, like this:
For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place
quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation
on a new line, with the entire quote indented ½ inch from the left margin; maintain
double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation
mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (Purdue Owl)
For those trying to take your writing to the next level, be sure to use a complete sentence before
and after quotations, sandwiching the quotation between an statement that introduces the
quotation and an explanation. In most cases, quotations should not stand alone.
Use a heading like the one shown in the upper left-hand corner of the formatting sample.
Use a header, beginning on the second page, with your last name and a shortened title of the
paper, along with the page number. Double-space the paper, including the quotations! Please
use a Works Cited list, formatted like the one below. You will be graded primarily on the quality
of your philosophical work, rather than on your adherence to paper formatting, but these
conventions are good practice and will elevate the professionalism of your written work.
Cox “Formatting Sample”
Works Cited [sample]
Gunkel, David. “The Real Problem: Avatars, Metaphysics, and Online Social Interaction.” New
Media and Society 12:1, February 2010. Sagepub. www.newmediaandsociety.org.
Accessed 27 Jan. 2010.
King, Dr. Martin Luther. “Open Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Bates College, 12 Jan. 2001.
abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html. Accessed 25 Jan. 2011.
Solomon, Robert C. Introducing Philosophy: A Text with Integrated Reading (9th ed.). New
York: Oxford UP, 2008. Print.
Notice the following about this Works Cited list and use this as a checklist:
1.
It ALPHABETIZES the entries by last name.
2.
It does include URL’s—beginning only with www (do not include https://, for example).
3.
It uses hanging indent (for MS Word, look under “paragraph,” then “indentation,” then
“hanging”).
4.
It is entitled, “Works Cited” (but does not, of course, have quotation marks).
5.
It italicizes titles of books and web pages and puts shorter works like articles in
quotations.
6.
It uses the same font and style as the rest of the paper—it doesn’t simply copy and paste
web addresses or source lists from the web page.
7.
It is double-spaced throughout.
Questions about citations? Consult the Purdue Owl website for up-to-date MLA information:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
7
Purchase answer to see full
attachment