Ethics Essay

Ethics Essay
Assignment Sheet
Your third formal essay for this course will respond to the ethical dilemma. Your essay
must answer the question: What does it mean to make good, ethical decisions?
Goal:
Your essay must examine the challenges and barriers an individual or community faces
when trying to make the right decisions. We have read and viewed a number of
resources where well-intentioned individuals were faced with difficult choices. The
goal of this paper is to show how to be successful even in these difficult situations.
How can scientists gain the most accurate information without testing humans in a lab,
ignorant to the test? Does America need its president to be completely honest one
hundred percent of the time? Are we challenging authority figures for the right
reasons? These are the kinds of questions your essay needs to answer.
The goal of your essay is to show how to make good, ethical decisions in difficult
situations. While this essay will be subjective in nature, you must write in the thirdperson perspective. Lean heavy on the sources we have discussed in class to prove
your points. You will also need to locate and utilize reputable, research sources to
strengthen your points made in the essay.
Here is a list of topics/texts we have discussed for this unit:
 Video: “Frost/Nixon”
 Video: “Nixon’s Apology”
 “Interview with James Reston”
 “The Milgram Experiment” by Saul McLeod
 “The Lifeboat” by Rosetta Lee
 “Review of Stanley Milgram’s Experiments on Obedience” by Diana Baumrind
 “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula Le Guin
 “The Follower Problem” (p. 591-594)
Research.
You must use a minimum of five sources: three assigned sources and two research
sources. You must include at least one quote from each of the five sources used, and all
sources need to be cited in your paper using in-text citations. You must locate your
research sources using EBSCO or ProQuest, where writers are experts in their fields of
study. For this essay, you will find volumes of research on Nixon’s Watergate Scandal
and Stanley Milgram’s Experiment. Aside from these major topics, you might find
helpful sources on ethical dilemmas or acting for the greater good.
MLA Documentation and Format
In the MLA documentation format, you must acknowledge your sources two times:
• in your text (in-text citations)
• at the end of your paper (works cited page)
Every entry on the works cited page should have at least one corresponding citation in
your paper, and every in-text citation should have a corresponding entry on the works
cited page.
Essay Outline
 Introduction: Introduce the topic of your essay: Ethics. You don’t need to
introduce your sources in the introduction this time because the greater focus is
on making ethical decisions, not necessarily the sources. They will be used as
examples. After you have introduced your topic, transition to your thesis
statement, which is your one-sentence summary of the essay. Close your
introduction with your underlined thesis statement.
 Body: Present multiple body paragraphs to support your overall claim (thesis
statement). Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. Each topic
sentence should provide one necessary part of ethical decision making. Use your
notes and our classroom discussions to identify some significant points. Use
research sources and assigned texts to support your points. Do not use the texts
to make your points, only use them as examples to prove your points.
 Conclusion: Review your main points made in your essay. Do not include any
new information. Close your essay with a final statement.
Format Requirements and Further Instructions:
1. Use 12-point type and Times New Roman font.
2. Use preset one-inch margins on all sides of every page.
3. Double-space throughout the paper and indent paragraphs an extra 0.5”
4. Do not use a title page. Center your title on the first page, using capital and small
letters.
5. Excluding your Works Cited Page, this essay must be 4-5 pages
6. On your first page, put your name, the date, and the assignment type
7. Avoid using contractions.
8. Do not use second person pronouns such as you and your. Write from the third-person
perspective, exclusively.
You may receive 10 bonus points for this essay by using our Writing Center or
Brainfuse.
This essay is worth 200 points. A grading rubric will be posted Blackboard.