Prepare your paper according to the guidelines below. If you have any questions, get back to me for clarification.

Due Date:   XXX in seminar both in hard copy form and digital via e-mail

Ethics Readings & Study Information:

   Dr. Edelbach's ethics cases and case assignments

   Dr. Winston's Ethics Lecture

Objective of this assignment:

This assignment has been designed to provide the opportunity for students to use an analytical decision-making process. Although you might have a personal option based on past experiences or what you have been taught or believe, you are to put those personal views aside for the purpose of this assignment. The option you ultimately choose as being the "best" should be the one supported by the evidence you have considered using ethical principles such as those covered in the Applying Moral Theories book by C. E. Harris. It is suggested that the information contained in this book be used for this assignment although similar concepts from other sources may also be consulted and used. It is most important that your decision be made primarily on the basis of the rationale developed in your paper and not previously held personal beliefs. 

The information below should be carefully reviewed and used when completing this assignment.

"Applying Moral Theories" C. E. Harris, 3rd Edition, Wadsworth Publishing,   1997
Although this book is no longer required in either IDSC 151, Athens to N. Y. or SET, some copies are on 2 hour reserve in the library under my name if you cannot obtain a copy from a friend. The readings below will provide the background information necessary to complete this assignment.

         Chap                Title                                        Pages

             1.        Concept in Ethical Discourse                11 - 12
            2.        The Ethics of Egoism                            74 - 80
            3.        The Ethics of Natural Law                    97 - 108
            4.        The Ethics of Utilitarianism                  126 - 139
            5.        The Ethics of Respect for Persons       156 - 172
            6.        Applying the Four Moral Theories       191 to 194

The paper must :

1. Assume the reader has no familiarity with either your case or ethical principles.
2. Be word processed using MSWord, 12 pt type, double spaced with 1" margins. Approximate length:  12 to 15 pages
3. Submit paper both in hard copy, 8 1/2 X 11 paper and digital format. E-mail to Dr. Edelbach as a MSWord attachment .
4. Have major chapters and section headings listed in a table of contents containing the paper number and be DIVIDED INTO CHAPTERS AND SECTIONS in the body of the paper. Each pages must be numbered. 
5. Be in a folder/cover with a title page containing all the relevant information including the assigned case's name and number, your name, course title, semester and date. Put that essential info on the front if an opaque cover or folder is used.
6. Have sheets fastened together securely.  ( stapled or otherwise secured in a folder) 
   Do not put individual sheets into plastic covers
7. Be submitted by the due date specified.
8. Include a brief description of your assigned case as part of the introduction.
9. Clearly state the problem to be solved and question answered.
10. Identify the facts of the case, stakeholders, and major issues involved
11. Propose at least three viable options or solutions for this dilemma. Clearly state each option first and then explain it in detail.
12. Explain the four basic ethical principles described in the AMT book before using them to consider various aspects of the
    options you proposed as appropriate. This should be one of the major portions of the paper.
13. Follow the basic steps of ethical decision making process.
14. Discuss and build on the appropriate ethical theories when evaluating the various options presented. This is where you might want to develop and use some type of a "scoring" system to help determine which option is the
    "best" one. 
15. Select the "best" solution ONLY AFTER careful consideration of each option relative to the fundamental ethical principles. Base your choice of the "best" solution on which ethical principles are applicable and paramount. (NOTE: The "expressive" or conventional" levels of moral response are  not to be used in this paper.)
16. Your paper must consult and incorporate elements from at least  5 current references, both web materials and books, related to the assigned case. ( List references used in bibliography and use footnotes where appropriate. )
17. Use footnotes where appropriate. Any standard footnoting style may be followed.

It is critical that the ethical theory appropriate to the "reflective" and "philosophical" levels of moral response be used in weighing the various options PRIOR to selecting the "best" solution.

The paper should cover the topic sufficiently so that a person with no prior knowledge can read and understand it. Be concise and clear in your writing. Approximate length of 7 to 10 pages, excluding title page, TOC, etc.   Contact Dr. Edelbach with any questions about this assignment.

Grading:  The paper will be graded on the following criteria:

1. Organization and writing
2. Alternative solutions and possible impacts
3. Ethical decision making process
4. Incorporation of "Ethical Theories."

This assignment counts for 20 % of your final course grade

Suggested Table of Contents: (you may choose to use another one but make certain it covers at least these points)  
       (Use page numbers and section headings in the body of the paper. It is usually advisable to actually put numbers or letters with various items which are being mentioned and discussed if there are more than 2. This makes it easier for the reader to understand what you are attempting to communicate. )

 I.  Introduction - A brief overview of case in your own words. 

II. Issues - details about the case including:

A.  Facts - what are the relevant facts involved in this case and how important are they? If you feel any essential facts are missing, develop reasonable ones and inform Dr. Edelbach via e-mail of what you have done.

B. Stakeholders - what groups/individuals will be affected by  the decision  made and why?

C.  Moral/ethical issues - what are the moral/ethical issues involved in this case based on the four categories and subcategories discussed in the AMT text. You need only discuss the relevant moral/ethical issues from the AMT text, not each one covered!

III. Options -  identify and describe at least three VIABLE, alternative solutions or policies which would resolve this dilemma. Explain the option in sufficient detail to help the reader understand what is being proposed. DO NOT PICK THE "BEST" option at this point!

IV. Ethical Arguments - determine which of the four moral standards apply to each option, considering various ethical issues discussed during seminars, the ethics lecture  and the AMT text.  ( These are especially important to keep in mind when analyzing an ethical case are the six items covered on pages 192 to 194 of the AMT text.)

 V.  Evaluate the Arguments for Each Option - It is suggested that you use some system to weigh the positive and negative points for each option in terms of their relative importance. Make certain to consider the possible impact of each option on the various stakeholders identified.

One technique which you might find useful is to develop and use a scale such as   3 = very important,  2 = important,    1 = little importance,  to rate each argument in number IV above.  This type of  rating system does not have to be used but you must decide which arguments are the most relevant in deciding which solution is the "best" and most appropriate one to choose!

The decision-making process does not become objective just because numbers are assigned to each argument however  it will make it easier to demonstrate to the reader the relative importance you assigned  to each argument.

Naturally, why the particular values were assigned to each  argument must be carefully and thoroughly explained. Numbers alone are not sufficient.

VI. Make a Decision - based on the importance assigned to each argument, select the "best" one in terms of its relative importance and explain why you feel the option chosen was the appropriate one. How will the various stakeholders be impacted either positively or negatively by your decision