PRESENTATION
You should pick a complex case, which has substantial issues to analyze. Your whole presentation, including the discussion period, should be 20 min long.
1) Summarize your news story. You can include images and a short, relevant film clip.
2) Give an ethical analysis, applying all moral theories and using ethics vocabulary. Talk about, when relevant: competing rights, negative and positive consequences, vulnerable populations, cultural sensitivity, discrimination (sexism, racism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism, specism, etc.), favouritism, preferential treatment, environmental sustainability, corporate responsibility, and particular vices and virtues displayed in different behaviour.
3) You must present 5 discussion questions that stimulate debate in your classmates.
You will submit a hard copy of your presentation to me on the day you present. Please note that any sources you use must be cited directly in your power point text and you must include a works cited page at the end of your presentation. Papers that simply summarize a news story will not receive a passing grade. When analyzing your case, refer to any textbook content that is relevant. Higher grades will be given to presentations that thoroughly apply ethical frameworks and refer to relevant textbook material. Since I want to assess your level of knowledge of course material, do not apply theories or ethical approaches found through research that were not discussed in the textbook or in class. You are encouraged, though, to do research on your news story and refer to other analyses of the story.
Marking Grid:
Summary, analysis, and discussion questions:
Clarity and grammar :
Case Study; Essay
Use the same case you are using for your final presentation. This essay is due on the day you give your presentation. Your case must be complex enough that it is debatable. You need to find and use at least 5 relevant research sources (e.g. academic articles and credible online sources). Marks will be deducted for essays that exceed 1200 words. Your essay should be typed and printed, follow a consistent method of citation, be double-spaced, and use 12 point font.
Introduction:
Briefly introduce your topic saying why it is important. Do not talk generally about your topic, or say things like, "This topic has been debated for a long time and everyone has a different opinion." You need to take a firm stand on your topic. Say what you will be arguing in your paper and how you will be defending your claims. You could also mention any counterarguments that you will be covering and how you will be addressing these. 3-4 sentences.
Body paragraphs:
In one or two paragraphs summarize your case. This should be brief and no more than 250 words of your essay. This should be in your own words, and not include long quotes.
In the next paragraphs present an ethical analysis of your case, applying ethical theories and connecting with relevant textbook content.
Example 1: Say you chose the topic of incidents of discrimination of passengers based on culture and ethnicity on an airline. You could give some socio-historical context to this problem, as in the case where certain groups are being targeted more for hostile treatment in other areas of life and society. You would need to refer to kantian and utilitarian arguments against discrimination in our textbook chapter on discrimination and discuss various short-term and long-term negative consequences of discrimination for passengers, the airline, and society as a whole. You would need to present how the airline addressed the problems and discuss whether you think this response was or was not sufficient and why. You could do some research on how other airlines or companies in other areas have handled customer complaints related to discrimination and present approaches that reflect cultural sensitivity and a concern with avoiding various kinds of discrimination (including discrimination based on disability). It would be important to apply virtue ethics and care ethics and detail the different virtues companies should display toward passengers.
Example 2: Say you chose the topic of the marketing and selling of a hand sanitizer. You could give some socio-historical context to this product, such as the rise of germ theory and modern preoccupation with cleanliness. You could research the ingredients in the product, and, applying utilitarianism, refer to the short-term and long-term benefits and harms. For example, some hand sanitizers contain alcohol and young people and people in stressful work situations have misused the product. You could explore whether the company is to blame for this misuse, and discuss different theories related to obligations of companies discussed in our textbook in the chapter on marketing ethics. People have a right to a safe product and not to be mistreated as a means for profit. You could discuss other companies that make products that contain alcohol that are misused by others and give your opinion about whether these products in general should be better regulated. Perhaps some countries are strongly regulating these products; you could research this issue and give recommendations. You could also discuss duties of health care providers to teach patients about good hand washing habits.
Conclusion:
Your conclusion should sum up what you have argued in your paper in 3-4 sentences.