Assignment: Dilemma Analysis Essay

Learning Outcomes:
LO1 Analyze examples of moral reasoning and justify ethical standpoints.
LO4 Research and analyze arguments on ethical issues, which may include those related to students’ program areas and professional ethics.
LO5 Reflect on their own code of ethics.

Late Penalty:
Unless special circumstances are agreed with the course teacher regarding late submission, work submitted 1 working day late will be deducted 10%, 2 days late 20%, 3 days late 30% and any work submitted more than 3 days late will get a zero mark.

Academic Honesty:
Breaches of Academic Honesty will be treated with the utmost seriousness. You are reminded the penalties for cheating or plagiarism include dismissal from the HCT.

Student Declaration:
This assignment is entirely my own work except where I have duly acknowledged other sources in the text and listed those sources at the end of the assignment. I have not previously submitted this work to the HCT. I understand that I may be orally examined on my submission.

Assessment (20%) – Individual Project: Dilemma Analysis Essay

A. Basic Idea:

Write a report in which you create and describe an interesting ethical dilemma then analyse and consider different solutions.

In-class timed Writing
The other sections will be written in week 9 from the start of class. You will have 1 hour and 50mins to complete this in BBL.
You may bring a print out of your dilemma (sections 1 and 2) with you.

B. Essay Structure:
Your essay must include the following sections and numbering:
Cover Page: name / ID / course / title / date / teacher / word count
1. Introduction: Give a brief couple of sentences introducing your dilemma topic and why you think it’s important to discuss.

2. Ethical Dilemma:
(a) Think of a dilemma
• Think back to a difficult ethical situation you, or your friends, have been involved in or read about (in the UAE). It might be related to family life, business, medicine, education, entertainment, technology or other areas.

• Discuss and approve the ethical dilemma with your teacher before start writing.

(b) Write the dilemma as a story (see the example given to you by your teacher of ‘Noisy Neighbours’) Your dilemma story should have:

• Several people involved with a lead person who is in a situation in which he or she must choose between at least two equally bad difficult options.

• The dilemma should discuss the conflicting interest of all the people involved directly.

• The dilemma story should be clear to understand but difficult to resolve.

• The dilemma story should be realistic (not a dramatic story involving things like gun battles or Hollywood/Bollywood style stories)

• Leave the story hanging open – create a dilemma, don’t give the solution

3. Dilemma Analysis (minimum 150 words)
Analyse your dilemma using the ethical triangle. Remember to:
• Describe all 3 areas of the triangle
• Explain and describe in detail different points and areas of conflict in the 3 areas

4. Two possible solutions - Discuss two possible alternatives to solve the dilemma (minimum 100 words)
• Briefly describe each solution
• Connect each solution to One ethical theory (explain the theory clearly and link it to the solution clearly)

5. Personal response (minimum 100 words)
• State and explain which alternative solution is better in your opinion. Support it with ethical principles.
• Explain why you think the alternative for the other side of the dilemma is not so strong.

Formatting
Your writing should follow these formatting rules:
• Use 12 point font size (Arial or Times)
• Headings should be 14 point font size and in CAPITALS
• Line spacing should be at 2.0 (double-spaced)
• New paragraphs and after/before headings should have one line space