Directions for Case Study Analysis

(1600 word minimum) in-depth analysis of a particular set of issues emerging from a specific case (provided by instructor).  This includes recognizing the specific moral questions and/or dilemma(s), identifying the relevant ethical principles/rules, and providing a set of concrete recommendations.  Thus, it should include these three components: 

(I)  Statement of the Problem(s):

What are the moral questions that this case presents? (e.g., What are the ethical issues at stake?  What are the moral dilemmas/tensions?) You do not need to provide the various details of the case – you can assume the reader is familiar with these. Once you have identified the range of possible moral questions, which one is central to the case?   

(II) Resolution(s) to the Problem(s):

First, provide answers to the central ethical question identified in (i) above.  Second, attempt to defend those answers by providing the argumentative rationale.  In so doing you should identify the operative moral principles/rules; establish why those principles/rules were chosen and others excluded; demonstrate work in specifying and/or generalizing as necessary; weigh the respective principles and rules to articulate how they support your conclusions; also give reasons why other alternatives/positions were rejected or deprioritized.  Third, you should demonstrate awareness of topics/issues in the assigned reading and course lectures that are pertinent to the case; seek to integrate assigned readings/lectures into your analysis of the problem.   

(III) Recommendations:

Provide concrete and specific recommendations for the course(s) of action to be taken by the various parties involved.  To do this, you should think creatively and prudently about the specific ways your moral conclusion (from section ii) is to be implemented. These recommendations should be delineated with short bullet points describing the particular recommendations.     

– include I-III as headings for your paper.

You will be graded on how well you:

– identify the moral questions/issues the case raises.

– support your judgment concerning the moral question(s) by identifying, specifying/generalizing, weighing.

– integrate course readings into your analysis of the case

– provide specific, concrete recommendations

You will not be graded on the actual position you take.

Any citation format is acceptable, just don’t plagiarize. 

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I have attached the case study (The Working Couple) and the notes we use for the paper from the class (Bioethics HANDOUT) please base the paper off these materials. Other sources we were given as good examples are the two articles I’ve attached as well (Thomson A Defense of Abortion) and (Beckwith Arguments from Bodily Rights). Thank you.