During week 4, we
will focus on how to properly defend
ethical arguments as we work toward a completed Thesis/Outline
for Essay 2. In an ethical argument, it is important to know that it
is not just an argument about an ethical issue. An ethical
argument must be DEFENDED with ethical standards that people recognize.
For example, if you said your ethics came from Christianity, then you would
use Christian standards and principles of belief directly from the
Bible to argue your point with an ethical defense. If you think,
“No, I’m an American first, and my ethics come from American laws and beliefs,”
then you would use American standards and principles of belief directly from
American legal documents like the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.
In Module/Week 4 – the overall focus will be Locating and
Evaluating Sources, Notetaking, and Ethical Argument.
Have you learned how to evaluate
a source?
How well do you take
notes about the sources you encounter?
What exactly is
an ethical argument?
How do you defend
an ethical argument topic?
These concepts will be addressed in the classroom lecture
handouts and the classroom readings so that you can use the most effective
sources in your up-coming ethical argument and use them properly.
KEY POINT 1
As you
proceed, keep these concepts in mind:
1.
This is an ethical issue, and so it needs
to be argued and proven using ethical standards.
2.
This is an argument paper, and so you must
take a stand on how far scientists should go in genetic modification.
3.
The source materials you will use will be predominantly
from your ethical standard
·
If you choose Christian ethics, the principles
would be from the Bible;
·
If you choose American ethics, the principles
would be from the Constitution or the Bill of Rights;
·
If you choose Medical ethics, the principles
would be based on the Hippocratic Oath.
4.
You must focus the whole paper on arguing the ethical
reasons why you believe scientists should do this or that in
regard to genetic modification based on pre-set ethical principles.
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Please
keep in mind the actual writing assignment for Essay 2, Ethical Essay
Prompt:
Write an ethical
argument in which you address the question: “How
far should scientists go to modify humans through genetic engineering?”
Therefore,
even though the video to show the ‘general overview’ of the issue tends to
lightheartedly focus on designer babies, “designer babies” is not your
writing assignment.
You need
to think about all of the issues surrounding scientific study that modifies
humans through genetic engineering. This genetic engineering can
be designer babies, but it can also be disease
reduction, or superior race construction, and so on.
KEY POINT 2
THE
TOPIC IS NOT DESIGNER BABIES.
The
topic is “How far should scientists go to modify humans through genetic
engineering?”
This is
an ethical argument, and so you must use ethical standards to argue your
viewpoint. There are various beliefs and ethical standards for how one forms
his/her beliefs. Keep in mind the
three primary ethical standards for this topic:
·
If you choose Christian ethics, the principles
would be from the Bible;
·
If you choose American ethics, the principles
would be from the Constitution or the Bill of Rights;
·
If you choose Medical ethics, the principles
would be based on the Hippocratic Oath.
If you
have no ideas about this topic…you will want to begin by researching the
issue. Some research sources
for this essay have been provided for you in Blackboard.
Any
additional sources that you may choose to use must be credible academic
sources, not blog-posts or Op-Ed pieces from newspapers or magazines. (Note:
Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source for academic writing.)
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Important Reminders
Audience
There are
a few important reminders to note before we begin gathering ideas, assessing
the audience, and organizing the outline. See THIS SHEET for
key points to keep in mind before you begin.
Ethical Reasoning
Biblical Worldview
Choosing an Ethical Standard
Finally,
if you do not know which standard you will use to argue your ethical views,
consider the guidance below:
Some
students are intimidated by writing from a Christian perspective because they
fear the tremendous amounts of biblical research needed to identify their
viewpoint. However, please remember, this is not a research paper. This
is an argument. An ethical argument based on your chosen,
specific, core values.
If you
choose to not use Christianity as the core value/ethical standard...what
ethical standard will you choose?
I would
suggest brainstorming to...
1.
FIRST,
determine how AND why you feel the way you do about the
issue, and
2.
THEN, I would suggest identifying the
standard that is leading you to those conclusions.
If you
are being guided by Christian beliefs on the issue (Biblical
foundations, laws, and belief-system), then you should choose that.
If you
are being led by American views of freedom and advancement
(Constitution/Bill of Rights), then go with that.
If you
are being led by Scientific/Medical values of research,
experiments, and pursuit of 'can it be done’ without pain or death to the
patient (Hippocratic Oath), then go with that.
No matter
what is leading your views on the subject, you MUST identify the standard for
your views so that the audience will know if your ethical argument is valid
based on the standard.
KEY POINT 3
Use Ethical
Support in Your Ethical Argument
While
you are encouraged to use biblical support for your ethical essay, you can
use any ‘standard’ of ethics as long as you clearly state what they are and
the individual principles that support your ethical view. Please remember…
·
This is NOT a research paper—where
you stack one-after-the-next sourced idea on the issue into a paper and call
it your research.
·
This is YOUR view on the issue from a
specific standard, arguing the ethical nature of the topic.
·
This is an argument essay.
·
This is academic writing, which
requires the use of 3rd person voice at all times.
·
This is an ethical, academic argument which
means that you are asserting your views—in 3rd person voice—and you defend
those views through source material following the Hamburger Method.
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That’s
it…my general overview and guidance to help you with the Essay 2 Outline
assignment!
I hope it
has been useful in clarifying the topic and direction for this next
essay. If you want further insights, please visit the Collaboration
section of the Discussion Board forum. I have a thread in there with
optional content on the Essay 2 assignment.
Here is additional help you may want to review as well:
Blessings
to you!
- Continue to BRAINSTORMING
- Continue to NARROWING YOUR IDEAS (for the ethical argument)
- Continue to COMMON MISTAKES
- Continue to You've Got a Paper to Write
- Continue to: The Difference Between Morals and Ethics
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