8-10 page research paper, double spaced, 1 inch margins
The goal of the paper is to explore a moral problem that relates to your home or community life, or career or occupational calling. The first third or half of the paper is to discuss the ends, purposes, and good that are embedded in the role and institutions you are discussing (such as family or medicine — think “the Sokolowski article on ends”). From there, you will articulate the nature of a key issue or problem and offer an argument about how to resolve the problem. Each paper will be primarily judged on three factors: 1) an account of the ends and good of an institution, 2) a compelling and relevant moral topic that is genuinely contested (and demonstrated to be so) in a given field of inquiry; 3) demonstration of ability to use course content in understanding, assessing, and resolving this moral problem. Assignment: Big Data Application in Healthcare
Rubric:
1. 30% Account of the ends and goods of an institution.
For example, if a paper is on the inclusion of students with disabilities, the writer should discuss the ends and goods of education. It would be helpful also to specify education – elementary or secondary education. What is education for? Who is it for? What good does it do for individuals, communities, and the society (for the common good)?
Connected to the ends and goods of the institution will be roles and responsibilities. What is the role/responsibility of the teacher to students? What is the role/responsibility of the school system to the community? What is the role/responsibility of the community to the schools?
2. 30% A moral topic contextualized within the account of ends and goods above.
For example, a moral topic could be “use of technology in the home.” This topic might be too broad. Perhaps, it could be narrowed as “Netflix binging” or “online gaming” and the home. I use this as an example because this topic does not lend itself to a yes/no or for/against. The paper would develop what home and family are for (the ends and goods of the institution), the roles and responsibilities of spouses and parents, the roles and responsibilities of children (much different than for parents), and the paper then attend to how technology – or a particular use of technology (gaming) will fit with the ends and goods, and when a use of technology undermines the goods.
3. 20% Course content.
You do not have to use all or most of the terms. Use what seems appropriate: terms like good, ends, virtue, cardinal and theological virtues, moral reasoning, passions, duty/obligations, rights and responsibilities, and theological themes that we will cover in the second half of the course.
Not all are required, but the following are necessary:
• Purposes, ends and goods of institutions are terms that are part of the paper assignment.
• Within purpose, ends, and goods of institutions are going to be roles and responsibilities. For example, hospitals/medical care has “ends” which imply roles and duties for health care workers.
• Virtue – what qualities of a person (e.g., patience and understanding) are needed to fulfill the role/s well.
4. 10% Three peer reviewed sources integrated into the paper.
5. 10% Formatting, etc: 12 point font, double spaced, 1 inch margins, works cited.