LOGISTICS
Throughout the course you should pay attention to how different real life cases of ethical problems are discussed in our readings and lectures. At the end of the course you will be required to complete a 10-15 minute video containing a case study analysis of your own that you will link or upload to D2L in the assigned forum. It can take whatever video format you like. It can be as simple as a PowerPoint or Prezi with audio recording over it (so, no real “video” other than the PowerPoint or Prezi slides), or you can film yourself doing a presentation with a dry erase board or chalkboard, or upload a Zoom recording where you “share” your screen with slides, documents, etc. If you have a particularly unusual idea for what you want to do, check with me in advance.
You may choose literally any topic or issue of your choice in applied ethics that you think can be presented as a “case study.” This can include a topic used in an online resource, a separate case that has come up in class, or another case of your choice. Verify your topic with me via email by Week 13. This will give you sufficient time to come up with another topic if your first choice is unacceptable for some reason.
CONTENT
You must produce a 10-15 minute video presentation of a case study of your choice, covering the following three general categories:
1. Background factual information
What happened? Who were (or are) the main actors involved?
2. What are the moral issues at stake in the case?
What happened that seems morally bad? Morally good?
What general moral principles, values, rules, or tensions between these does the case raise?
Of the actors involved, were there individuals or groups held (either officially, or in public opinion, or both) responsible for what happened?
3. Diagnosis
Take a stance on the case, and defend your stance from an objection.
GRADING
For some guidance, here are the general things I will be looking for:
Did you cover each of the three main categories above (#1-3)?
Did your presentation accurately speak to the factual and moral issues that you raised? (Note: Of course, these are controversial topics full of disagreement among reasonable people. What I’m worried about here are major misunderstandings of basic issues – not that you take the “right” position on anything.)
Especially when you were discussing category #3, did you clearly state your position, clearly explain the reasons for your position, and clearly address a possible objection to your claims?
