STEPS FOR COMPLETION: Part 1: Topic 1. What is the value of Ethics and what does it mean to be Ethical? Part 2: Develop a thesis statement. • Develop a clear philosophical position on the topic you select. • Be certain to include in your discussion ethical applications and theories across cultures and traditions recognizing the diverse conceptions of human nature. This means going beyond the texts studied in this short survey course and considering theories such as “ubuntu” and other African philosophies, Native American philosophies, Asian philosophies such as Confucianism, among others. • Your essay must refer to and cite at least three (3) of the philosophers or philosophical theories covered in this course. • Cite the appropriate academic sources/references that you have used in the class to construct your thesis and supporting argument. Part 3: Develop clear arguments for your thesis. • Use your sources to include at least of 3 levels of analyses as follows: 1. The primary source(s)/theory(s) as identified in the course reading selections; 2. The source(s) that supports your perspective; 3. The source(s) antithetical or opposite to your perspective or the primary source. Part 4: Summarize the results of your analysis of the original topic/problem. • In your summary, be certain to describe the importance and/or relevance of distinguishing between unsupported opinions and justified ethical claims. • Refer back to all of the arguments that have been previously discussed being certain to incorporate applications and theories across cultures and traditions recognizing the diverse conceptions of human nature • Avoid branching into new areas of inquiry within this summary.
