Name of the textbook is Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity and Social Responsibility, by Laura Hartman, Joseph DesJardins, and Chris MacDonald.
Instructions
Example Selection
You should select a business ethics issue that either has occurred or might occur in a veterinary practice and write an analysis of the issue and potential decisions/solutions, using the concepts introduced in your textbook. You might pick one of the following:
A situation currently in the news
An ethics dilemma witnessed in a veterinary practice either as an employee or a client
A high quality hypothetical business ethics issue in a veterinary practice (either one youve seen in books or film, or one you create)
Be sure to choose an example for analysis that seems interesting, difficult, or complicated.
Project Process
Step 1: Select an example for your analysis as outlined above.
Step 2: Perform your analysis. Apply the recommended high quality, ethical decisionmaking process described in your course book. Youll want to consider the facts of the situation, the ethical lenses, legal, regulatory, and any other more specific lenses that might be applicable. Describe how the key concepts apply, and explain why the decision is difficult or complicated. Recommend the course of action you believe is best taking all the relevant considerations into account.
Your textbook should be your primary reference. Your paper may also include independent and reliable sources (many of which you might access from your textbooks chapter notes). You should feel free to consult sources on the Internet. However, always make sure your work is original and well-documented. Notes from a website should include the source of the site. This is done to establish that the site is authoritative and not merely idle opinion.
Use APA style for citations and the Works Cited page. For information on APA style format see the Library.
Step 3: Write a first draft of your essay. Your paper should be written using a word-processing program, such as Microsoft Word or a Word-compatible program. Your analysis should be five to eight written pages. The essay should include a brief introduction, several paragraphs examining the key issues, your recommended course of action, and a conclusion that acknowledges arguments for and against your recommended decision. (Recommendation: Finish your first draft several days before you plan to finalize your paper. Its best to set it aside for a couple of days before moving on to the completion.)
Step 4: Complete your final draft. Carefully review your written essay, correct any errors, and submit your final draft to your instructor. (Recommendation: Read your essay out loud to yourself. Doing this will help make you aware of gaps, redundancies, and areas where the writing should be improved.) Include a title page and a bibliography of sources. The last page after the main body of the essay should provide a list of your reference sources.
Grading Criteria
The following rubric will be used to grade your project.
Skill/Grading Criteria Exemplary (10090) Proficient (8980) Fair (7970) Poor (6960) Not Evident (590)
Selection of example situation for analysis Example situation selected involves several different kinds of issues and provides plenty of complexity for the analysis
(Remember, the way a situation is described enables the reader to see the complexity!)
109 points Example situation selected involves several different kinds of issues
87 points Example situation selected involves a few different kinds of issues
65 points Example situation selected doesnt seem to require much, if any, weighing of issues
4 points Example situation selected is presented as a simple decision
30 points
Identification of relevant issues Describes the example situation
Explains the facts
Identifies all relevant lenses (ethical, legal, regulatory, and so on)
Shows completeness in thought process applied to identifying relevant lenses
1514 points Describes the example situation with adequate description of facts
Explains the facts
Identifies most relevant lenses (for example, ethical, legal, regulatory)
Shows thought process applied to identifying relevant lenses
1312 points Statement of the example situation with few details or facts
Identifies some relevant lenses (for example, ethical, legal, regulatory)
Shows limited thought process applied to identifying relevant lenses
1110 points Simple statement of the example situation and facts
Identifies 23 relevant lenses (for example, ethical, legal, regulatory)
Thought process used in analysis not well communicated in essay
9 points Appropriate connection to Business Ethics course concepts are not in evidence in the introduction to the chosen example/ situation and identification of relevant issues
80 points
Assessment of relevant issues Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)
Explains legal and regulatory views (perhaps corporate culture) of the issues at stake
Takes stakeholders into account
Indicates which values, legal obligations, ethical perspectives seem most compelling and why
3029 points Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)
Explains some legal and regulatory views (perhaps corporate culture) of the issues at stake
Takes some stakeholders into account
Indicates which perspectives seem most compelling
2827 points Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)
Explains few legal and regulatory views (perhaps corporate culture) of the issues at stake
Takes few stakeholders into account
Simple statement of which perspectives seem most compelling, without discussion
2625 points Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)
Explains 1 legal or regulatory view
Takes few stakeholders into account
Simple statement of whats right, without discussion
24 points Explains how few or some lenses apply to the situation
Missing significant legal and regulatory issues
No discussion of impact on stakeholders
230 points
Recommended decision and supporting arguments Recommends a resolution to the situation (for example, Sally should do x, y and z)
Explains reasons for this decision, in spite of the reasons against this decision (acknowledges both sides)
3029 points Recommends a resolution to the situation (for example, Sally should do x, y and z)
Explains reasons for this decision but struggles with discussing ambiguity / reasons against
2827 points Recommends a decision
Doesnt explain this decision in terms of business ethics concepts
2625 points Recommends a decision
Doesnt provide arguments for and against
24 points Doesnt recommend a decision
230 points
Written communication Is clearly written and articulate
Use of language reflects nuances in the complex situation
109 points Is clearly written and articulate
Use of language reflects nuances in the complex situation
87 points Is written in plain and clear language, but complexity may not be included
Shows limited grasp of subtleties involved in making hard business ethics decisions
6 points Is written in simple language that conveys basic points
Doesnt show grasp of subtleties involved in making hard business ethics decisions
5 points Mentions important concepts but doesnt connect the dots to explain the way they apply to the example/ situation being analyzed
40 points
Format Follows all formatting instructions completely
5 points Follows most formatting instructions
4 points Follows some formatting instructions
3 points Follows few formatting instructions
2 points No effort put into formatting
10 points
