For this week’s mid term, please go to the following cite. The link is below. Please follow the following steps to complete this midterm. The ultimate goal of this exercise is that you know an issue well and that you can explain to any person what the issue is, what the arguments are and how that can help all of us make a decision based on the information given
Step 1 -> Please click on the link https://www.procon.org/
It is a website with tons of ethical topics (e.g., Should we ban TikTok? Student Loan Debt Forgiveness, Artificial Intelligence)
Step 2 -> You can read the first few paragraphs about the history of the issue. (You are also welcomed to read as much about the issues from various sources (e.g., library, online, news, interviews). Then, read the 3 pro and con arguments for each. It is laid out very clearly and is easy to follow.
Step 3 -> If you are writing this assignment, we will require at least four paragraphs
Paragraph 1 -> Name and summarize what is the issue and the problems this issue is causing in society
Paragraph 2 -> Summarize the 3 pros for the issue in your own words based on the article
Paragraph 3 -> Summarize the 3 cons for the issue in your own words based on the article
Paragraph 4 -> State your own position using a moral theory that we have covered (e.g., “I will use utilitarianism to analyze the topic of gun control”).
(When stating your own position, please keep the following in mind)
a. Remember that you are assuming to take a position with a certain ethical theory in mind (e.g., utilitarianism)
b. When you do follow a certain ethical theory, keep in mind that you have to stay consistent with that theory’s strengths and weaknesses (This requires that you know that theory sufficiently)
c. Whatever position you take on a topic or theory does NOT determine your overall grade. What matters is how well you have justified your position and how well you know the potential weaknesses are
d. Mention, if any, what you might be able to do with the potential negative pitfalls of your position.
(Part 1)
a. Name the topic you have chosen
b. Name the ethical theory you have chosen to analyze your issue
c. Summarize the problems that this moral issue is causing and why it has not been solved yet (e.g., if you picked gun control, what has been the competing issue? You should be mentioning relevant laws and organizations here (e.g., NRA, the Second Amendment). Also, please feel free to look at outside information on your topic besides our link. If you need help with that, please contact me
(Part 2)
a. Summarize the 3 Pro and 3 Con argument
b. You can always go into more detail within those 3 arguments by addressing them independently.
c. Please do this in two separate paragraphs (one for pro and one for con)
(Part 3)
This is the most important part of the midterm. This is where you get to take a side (if you can unless you find that you cannot because both sides have such equally compelling argument). Whatever, the case, you have to justify your position and convince the reader why your position is the optimal one. When completing this part keep the following in mind
-> Be objective. Avoid “I take this position because my family, my culture, my religion says that I should believe in this …..)
-> Be specific. Avoid “Americans want to be gun free ….”. Instead, say “37% of Americans who are younger than 35 with a college degree do not think guns are …..” When you bring in outside information, make sure you cite your sources. Let me know if you need help
-> Be critical. Ask yourself “Does my argument make sense?” “Did I give both sides equal time and fairness?” “Will my argument work in the real world?” “Is there anything I should change based on all the available information?”
