Topic: Ethical Dilemma: Past & Present

Final Essay / Common Assignment

Assignment Title Ethical Dilemma: Past & Present

Objective of the

Assignment

This assignment will be used to evaluate student progress on the state and college learning

objectives for HIST 2328.

Aligned Learning

Outcomes

Critical Thinking; Social Responsibility; Personal Responsibility; Written Communication

Description of

Requirements

For this assignment, you will analyze an ethical issue debated by scholars and

involving Mexican Americans. You will need to compare at least two opposing

perspectives on the issue you select (a list of options will be provided). Specifics

have been outlined below.

Prepare an evidence-based essay evaluating a contemporary ethical issue involving Mexican Americans and with particular focus on: (1) cultural construct within historical context

 What is the setting?

 What historic, cultural, political, economic, or social factors might the reader need to know in order to understand why the issue/conflict exists?

 Are the influencing factors static (consistently the same factors), or dynamic (the factors have shifted over time or with the entry of new participants)?

(2) recognition that the study of cultural development during this period is in itself an ethical problem requiring investigation of sources and careful study of scholarly viewpoints

 Are the perspectives informing this debate credible? Are they objective?

 Have the scholars utilized factual data?

 Is the original data collection or preservation process under scrutiny?

(3) recognition of similar research currently in the field with comments contrasting these works and thoughts about why differences in interpretation persist

 Is there consensus among experts on some aspects of this issue?

 On what points do experts agree?

 On which aspects do experts disagree?

 Are the leading experts using similar source material?

 Does one or more expert have an inferior argument or evidence?

(4) communication of self-reflection, with consideration to the impact this research may have had on your worldview, in affirming or discontinuing beliefs, and areas where you still have further desire to research as a result of this study.

 Do you find yourself agreeing with one expert/perspective more than the others and if so, why?

 Did your thinking about this issue shift? If your view did not shift, did your understanding deepen?

 Did you see an easy solution prior to studying this issue? Does the issue appear more murky, or less capable of resolution? Did you have a good understanding of potential solutions prior to investigating this topic?

 Do you intend to continue studying this topic? If so, for what purpose?

Format:

The paper must be a minimum of 800 words. Your essay should be typed, double-

spaced, using 12 point font. The assignment will be uploaded as a file on Blackboard.

Students are expected to write a college level essay, exhibiting proper grammar and

syntax.

Source Requirements:

Your analysis must demonstrate clear awareness of a broad array of perspectives,

therefore you should consult a minimum of seven scholarly sources. Encyclopedia

sources should be utilized for gathering background information, and will not be

treated as one of the required seven sources. Please cite sources using Chicago

Manual of Style or Kate Turabian's: A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses,

and Dissertation citation style manual formatting. If you use web-based articles or

ebooks, you should provide the full web address (not just the home page or search

engine page that you used to find it).

You should include footnotes where appropriate. See the Writing Workshop file for

examples and tips.

Plagiarism Policy and Punishment:

Plagiarized work will receive a zero. The instructor will determine what qualifies as

plagiarism. Do not copy the words of others unless you put them in quotation marks

and give them credit in a footnote/endnote. Your works are the best words so trust

yourself.

Late papers policy: When the link disappears, so will your opportunity to submit the

work.