writing paper about ethical issue

Writing Seminar II Formal Writing Assignment #2

Fall 2014

Professional ethics, or what constitutes proper professional conduct, is an important component of every profession and career, and varies from profession to profession. Sometimes issues arise about what such conduct is or should be, given changes in the profession or field, or changes in the cultures in which the profession or field exists. Therefore, learning about ethical issues in a particular profession or field can shed light on that field's concerns, practices, and values, as well as how a profession or field is situated in wider cultural and global contexts.

For this paper, you will research and analyze a current ethical issue in your profession or field. You will then argue for the issue’s importance to the field (or some major element of it), presenting information about the issue and its context to an audience unfamiliar with the issue so that the audience can understand more about your profession or field.

Essay Requirements

The audience for this essay is members of the University community: therefore, assume that your audience does not know about the issue; the importance of ethics in your profession or field; and does not know the course materials.

This essay must include all the following points in the order you think most effective for this audience:

1. A description of the ethical issue as it relates to your profession or field, including why this issue can be considered an ethical one, as opposed to solely an economic, political, cultural, or other issue.

2. An explanation of why this issue is important for your field or profession (how it affects your field or profession). This will inform your thesis and so should be a major theme of the paper.

3. An analysis of why this is an issue right now: What is unresolved? What is left to be decided? What has changed, if anything? Is this an issue that is limited to the profession or field, do you think, or is it part of a larger cultural issue?

4. An analysis of who is involved (who is directly and indirectly affected by this issue).

5. An example of an ethical dilemma in which a professional in your field might find themselves, and at least two possible ways in which this individual might act to resolve this issue.

6. An explanation of the position(s) that the profession (or members of the profession as an organization or association, for example) has/have taken on this issue.

7. An explanation of what steps the profession has taken to prevent accidental or intentional misconduct in relation to this issue, so that readers can see how misconduct can be avoided. (If questions of misconduct are theoretical or not fully defined for your issue, please explain what at least two of the “sides” of the issue would say would prevent accidental or intentional misconduct if it were up to them to define ethical conduct.)

The essay must be [5] double-spaced pages long. It must include an introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs that elaborate on the thesis, and a conclusion. It must be in MLA essay format and include a works cited page: your instructor will explain what sources the works cited page must include.

Grading:

It will be graded on:

· Completeness of points (does the paper include a well-developed discussion of all the required elements for the audience?)

· Analysis of issue (does the paper go beyond summary and analyze the issue’s elements to provide a greater understanding of the field and the issue’s wider contexts?)

· Attention to audience understanding of the issue (does the paper show awareness of the audience needs and understanding of the issue in order to communicate the writer’s point?)

· Organization (Is the paper in MLA format with the appropriate components (introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs and conclusion, works cited list, etc.)?)

· Use of sources for support (does the writer support her or his points with full, clear, and relevant support from the appropriate sources?)

Due date: October 29 or 30 (depending on whether you are in the M/W class or T/R class), 2014.

This is a firm due date—no extensions.