The Ethical Essay Assignment Two

January 11, 2021

Your goal for this essay is to research and analyze an ethically complex topic. Using David Foster Wallace’s “Consider the Lobster” and Serial as your guide, find a topic that involves a moral question that can be well argued and supported from at least two sides. While you are invited to take up Wallace’s concern with the human treatment of animals, you may consider other compelling topics, including gun control, genetic engineering/testing, affirmative action, workplace/business ethics, professional sports ethics or another topic approved by Professor Kramer. Try to be as narrow and specific as possible in choosing a topic—ideally one that truly interests you and perhaps intersects with your passions or future career aspirations.

The Ethical Essay Assignment Two

As part of the assignment, you will want to find sources that present the issue from multiple perspectives. You must use at least 7 sources, aiming to use a mix of materials (peer-reviewed journals, national papers, websites and academic books). Your goal will be to weigh and analyze these sources, ultimately coming to your own conclusion about the issue. The paper must have a beginning that introduces and gives background on the moral question, a middle that intelligently explores the complexity of the issue, and an ending that attempts to put together your findings.

Final paper approx. 8-10 pages (1900-2400 words), typed, double-spaced, in Chicago style with footnotes

Grading Rubric

Your essays will be graded based on the following rubric:

Category	Unacceptable (0-1)	Needs Improvement (2-3)	Good (4)	Excellent (5)	Total Possible Points
Thesis (x3)	Essay has no clear flow of content and does not address the assignment.	Essay has incomplete or ill-defined thesis, and does not completely address the assignment. Content sometimes strays from the assigned topic.	Essay has thesis that addresses assignment. Some parts of essay could have more thoroughly supported thesis.	Essay has clear thesis that thoroughly and insightfully addresses all aspects of the assignment. All parts of the essay support the thesis and clearly and accurately make case.	15
Organization (x3)	There is no apparent organization to the essay. It shows some coherence but ideas lack unity.	There is some level of organization though digressions, ambiguities, irrelevance are too many. Transition evident but not used throughout essay.	Essay is coherent and logically organized with transitions used between ideas and paragraphs to create coherence. Overall unity of ideas is present.	Essay shows high degree of attention to logic and reasoning of points. Unity clearly leads the reader to the conclusion and stirs thought regarding the topic.	15
Content (x3)	Essay lacks evidence of critical thinking. Uses superficial, simplistic, or irrelevant reasons and unjustifiable claims. Makes illogical, inconsistent inference.	Essay is primarily opinion without valid support. Little critical thinking is evident. Follows existing evidence to obtain conclusions.	Ideas are logical and reasoned, but demonstrate lesser degree of originality. Follows evidence and reason lead to obtain justifiable, logical conclusion.	Writer develops logical and reasoned independent ideas that go beyond predictable outcomes or the conclusions of researched materials. Follows where evidence and reason lead in order to obtain defensible, thoughtful, logical conclusions or solutions.	15
Grammar & Mechanics(x2)	Sentences are unclear and many grammatical errors in structure make essay virtually unreadable. Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and vocabulary usage contain major flaws that impede readability.	Most spelling, punctuation, and grammar correct allowing reader to progress through essay. Some errors remain.	Essay has few spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors allowing reader to follow ideas clearly. Very few fragments or run-ons.	Essay is free of distracting spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors; absent of fragments, comma splices, and run-ons.	5