Ethical Reasoning

This final written assignment should be written in essay form with the following clearly
labeled sections:
1. Introduction
2. Ethical Argument
3. Explanation and Defense
4. Objection and Response
5. Conclusion
The paper should be between 1,300 and 1,500 words, utilize three scholarly resources, and
include a title page and reference page.
Part 1: Introduction
In this section of the paper, you will begin with your ethical question, introduce the topic
and paper, and close with a thesis statement.
• The ethical question may be the same as your Week 3 written assignment (“Applying an
Ethical Theory”) or a revised version of it.
• The introduction should be revised in a way that reflects your additional thinking on
the issue and question.
• End this section with a thesis statement that states your position on the issue (the
answer to the ethical question you believe is strongest) and provides a brief summary
of the main ideas you will be presenting in the paper. Please see the assignment
guidance for examples of thesis statements.
Place the introduction under the Part 1: Introduction heading.
Part 2: Ethical Argument
In this section of the paper, you will present the strongest argument you can in support of
the position you have stated in your introduction.
• This will be similar to the “supporting reasons” you offered in the first assignment;
however, this argument should reflect your research into the key ethical issues that
need to be identified and addressed, the arguments on different sides of this problem,
and the theories of moral reasoning we have studied in the class (you will discuss the
specific details and implications of the moral theories in the next two sections).
• You can think of this as a summary of the main argument you would give if you were an
attorney trying to convince a jury of your position.
Place this information under the Part 2: Ethical Argument heading.
Part 3: Explanation and Defense
In this section, you will explain and defend your argument by drawing on the moral theory
that aligns most closely with the argument you presented in Part 2. This may be the same
theory you discussed in your second assignment, but it may also be a different theory.
• You must first explain the theory in general terms similar to how you explained a
theory in your second assignment, including a brief account of the historical
background of the theory and the philosopher(s) associated with it and general
overview of the core moral ideal or principle of the theory, including the way it guides
and constrains moral reasoning.
• You should then clearly show how your argument represents an application of that
form of moral reasoning.
• In other words, if the argument you present in Part 2 is utilitarian, deontological, or
virtue-based (teleological), you will want to explain utilitarianism, deontology, or virtue
ethics in general terms, then explain how your argument from Part 2 reflects or draws
upon the core principles and values of that theory. Please refer to the Week 3
assignment instructions for directions on how to explain and apply the moral theory.
Place this section under the Part 3: Explanation and Defense heading.
Part 4: Objection and Response
In this section of the paper, you will present the strongest objection you can to your
argument, and briefly defend that objection by appealing to a different ethical theory than
the one you focused on in Part 3.
• Briefly explain the core moral ideal or principle of the theory and how that could be the
basis of an objection to your argument. For instance, if you explained and defended
your own argument by applying the principles of virtue ethics, you could raise an
objection from the perspective of utilitarianism by briefly explaining the core utilitarian
principle and how applying that principle could lead someone to a different conclusion
than the one you are defending.
• Next, you should respond to the objection by explaining why it is not strong enough to
undermine the main argument in defense of your position.
• See the assignment guidance for suggestions on how to effectively respond to the
objection.
Place this section under the Part 4: Objection and Response heading.
Part 5: Conclusion
In this section of the paper, provide a summary of what you have done in the paper by
briefly describing what you accomplished in each of the above sections.
Place this section under the Part 5: Conclusion headin