Book Report & Final Project

1. Book Report & Final Project

2. Ethics Book Report (100pts) • “Academic” read as opposed to “pleasure” read • Systematic “information mining” exercise • Strategy • Cover and book-flap • Table of contents • Introduction and conclusion • Chapter summaries • Read specific chapters for clarification • Read two (2) book reviews

3. Book Report: Guiding Questions • Why a book on ethics for your profession? What are the author’s reasons for writing such a book? • What is unique about the moral problems in your profession? • How do the authors define ethics? • What suggestions do they offer for recognizing and defining moral problems? • What systematic approaches do they suggest for coping with these problems? • What theories (tools) do they discuss? Which do they emphasize? • What did you like about the book? What was problematic? • Would you recommend it to people in your profession?

4. Details • 5-7 pages • Double-spaced • Times New Roman Font • 1” Margins • Include citations from the book and book reviews (if available)

5. The Final Projects

6. Final Project This project is an opportunity for you to transform your theoretical knowledge into living (well, almost living) practice. Along the way you are expected to develop the beginnings of your own systematic paths through ethical dilemmas so that when you confront them in your professional life, you've done much of the heavy-lifting already.

7. Final Project • Systematic moral analysis of case study in your chosen professional field (200pts) • Personal moral reasoning strategy (100pts)

8. Pt. 1: Case Study (200pts) • Locate a case study in your profession that interests you. • Photocopy the case study • Take a day or two to sit with the case and your course notes. Mark-it up thoroughly noting the ways our course work might be brought to bear in the analysis of this case. • Review the systematic approaches to moral decision making we’ll cover in this class over the next three weeks. • Formulate a strategy for “resolving” your case. • Borrow freely from all that we’ve covered, and if you’ve discovered other ideas that work for you, include them. • Be able to justify your decisions.

9. Assessment Questions • Does the author thoroughly understand the dilemma? And has she described the context and the nature of the conflict in a clear and understandable way? • Has she identified all important stakeholders? Has she considered the rights and responsibilities of the agent and the claimants? • Did the author consider the guiding principles and codes of ethics in her field? What about personal or cultural values? • Did the author apply relevant theory to the resolution of her case? • Did her approach demonstrate creative problem solving strategies? • Did she thoughtfully justify her decision to her most adamant detractor?

10. Pt. 2: Personal Moral Reasoning Strategy (100pts)     The next time you are confronted with a real-world ethical dilemma, one that gives you pause because of the potential impact your decision may have on others, how will you systematically negotiate that situation? Or, to put it differently: What is your personal moral reasoning strategy? It is my hope that this becomes a document you will carry with you into your professional life, one that you might consult when confronted with a difficult decision. Best wishes!