Writing Assignment Topics.docx
Mandatory Writing Assignments
Ethical Essay Description
A 4-5 page reflection essay, typed in double- space, font times new roman 12, margins of 1”, and must contain a heading as shown in the sample provided by the instructor. Essay must be created in MS Word and uploaded online . Students are allowed to deliver their essay any time prior to this deadline.
Note: In order to receive Writing Credit, the student should receive C or above as final grade in the course.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, and any other misrepresentation of work) is a violation of MDC’s Student Code of Conduct Procedures. According to the Student Code of Conduct, “breaches of the College’s policies pertaining to academic dishonesty may result in academic penalties and/or disciplinary action at the discretion of the instructor. Academic penalties may include, but are not limited to, a failing grade for a particular assignment or a failing grade for a particular course. Additionally, the student may be referred to the chief student affairs officer of the campus/center for violations of the student Code of Conduct.” Please familiarize yourself with MDC’s Student Code of Conduct Procedures.
Essay Topics
Choose ONE of these topics to write essay.
1- Abortion was legalized in the U.S. in January 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling. In 1976 the U.S. Supreme Court also ruled that fathers have no rights over a child in the womb; that is, wives are not required to notify their husbands before seeking an abortion. In certain places in the world, such as China and India, it’s economically more profitable to have boys than girls. Women are considered burdens because, when getting married, their parents must send them away to their husbands with a large sum of money. Thus a woman may seek an abortion simply because the fetus is a girl. Research this issue and argue whether or not you think abortion is moral or immoral and should remain legal or be made illegal.
2- The death penalty is the infliction of death by the state as punishment for a crime. As of 2011, more than two-thirds of all countries had abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, including all western Europe, Canada, Australia, and most Central American, South American, and African countries. The United States is the only Western democracy that still uses the death penalty. Research this issue and argue whether or not you think the death penalty is moral or immoral and should remain legal or be made illegal.
3- The internet allows people to view sexual violence without having to leave the comfort of their homes. There are more than 4 million pornographic websites. It is a $ 12 billion industry. The largest consumers of internet pornography are teenagers; 80% of 15 to 17 year-olds have had multiple hard-core pornography exposures. Males are much more likely than females to visit pornography sites. Is pornography harmful to society? Research this issue and decide if you think pornography is immoral and should be made illegal or not.
4- Between 1982 and 2012, there were 62 mass murders in the United States with a combined loss of almost 1,000 lives. Among the most notable incidents were those in Tucson, Arizona; Fort Hood, Texas; Columbine, Colorado; and Newtown, Connecticut where most of the victims were little children. More recently, there has been a mass shooting in a club in Orlando that claimed the lives of 49 people and one in Las Vegas that claimed the lives of 58 people. What do think are the primary causes of mass shootings? Is it gun ownership, mental health, video game violence? Research this issue and argue whether or not banning guns will decrease mass shootings in the United States.
5- In the United States physician-assisted suicide is legal in 5 states only if the patient is suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable disease; whereas in some European countries people suffering from depression, anorexia, blindness, and multiple personality disorder can be deemed candidates for physician-assisted suicide. Is this wrong? Should it be legal? Research this issue and decide if you think physician-assisted suicide is moral or immoral and therefore should be made legal or remain illegal.
6- Genetic engineering is the introduction of new genes or the manipulation of the genetic code to correct a defective gene or to enhance the genetic code. Once we understand what genes code for what traits, we will be able to design our babies to our own specifications. Parents soon will be able to choose both physical (sex, height, skin, hair, eye color) and mental characteristics (intelligence, athleticism) of their children. This is called designer babes. Research this issue and decide if you think designer babies are moral or immoral and should be made legal or illegal.
• Typed
• 4-5 pages
• Follow either Chicago, MLA or APA manual of style
• Times New Roman 12
• 2-5 outside sources
• Double space
All papers will be evaluated for:
• Content
• Organization
• Effective argumentation
• Clarity
• Sentence level concerns (i.e., grammar, spelling, syntax).
• Critical understanding of the ideas and/or philosophical theories under discussion. (If any of these components is deemed unsatisfactory, the paper as a whole will be considered unsatisfactory)
• Internet citations are not acceptable in this course unless the source you are citing is an official peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
