Phil 2200: Ethics
100 points
Due: May13, 2013
Project Description
This project is an investigation of the relationship between applied ethics and issues affecting the community in which we live. As we learn about ethics, you will pick an issue you feel passionate about and try to make a change in the lives of those in your community. How can you work on making the world a better place?
You will choose this project in consultation me, and must be appropriate for our class. You will write a draft of the project introduction, and at that time (or before) I will let you know if your project is appropriate for our class. Don’t overestimate how much work you can get done, but try to pick something interesting and challenging. You may work in a group or alone. And remember that I am here to help you accomplish your goals.
Pick a project that:
- you can work during the time this class is in session
- shows that you can take initiative
- shows that you have (or are working on your) organizational skills
- allows you to use campus and/or community resources to accomplish your goals
- impacts the community in which you live
- allows you to get something done, to make a difference. This is NOT a research project.
Time
This project is worth a large portion of your grade. I expect you to be working on it throughout the semester. You should expect to work about one hour each week on this project (about 15-20 hours total). You may work in groups, but groups will be expected to accomplish more and have a more complete portfolio. You will need to pick a project that you are passionate about, or this project will be very difficult for you.
Project Objectives
- Develop civic engagement and leadership skills.
- Take a project from start to finish: defining, planning, and carrying out social action and activities.
- Attain experience and skills to act on social problems.
- Learn more about the topic you are addressing, and be in a better position to have and defend your
- own views on this topic.
- Think about the relevance of the ethical theories learned in class to your own life.
- Develop leadership and personal responsibility
- Use creative and critical thinking skills to make a difference.
- Engage the public in an issue that is important to you.
Ideas for Projects
Students have done a variety of things for projects. The most important thing is that you do something you feel passionate about. This is an opportunity for you to make the world a better place. Here are some successful past projects:
- Build a trailer for aluminum can recycling at a church.
- Plan a fun activity to meet neighbors and build community (for example, a Dodge ball tournament, Spring party, community garden)
- Plan a party or event to raise money for a cause you want to support. (For example, plan a pancake breakfast and charge friends $3 each. You could donate the money raised to Famine relief for Somalia).
- Plan a neighborhood, school, or community coat and mitten drive.
- Work with your child’s school to volunteer in the classroom. Work with your child’s teacher so your child does better in school. Work with your child’s Parent/Teacher Association to help the school.
- Go Green: recycle, reduce gas/electricity consumption, reuse items, and develop systems within your own house (or workplace) to live (or work) in a more environmentally sound way.
- Start an activity group at a local nursing home as a way to help residents be more active and engaged with others.
- Get to know the Homeless. (One student invited individuals on the street out to lunch.)
Project Portfolio
The main purpose of the portfolio is to help you document what your project is about, what steps you took when you worked on it, and apply our in-class learning to your work. Your final portfolio will include all the following materials in this order and be turned in on May 7th:
Title and Author(s)
Introduction (from Ch 1, 5, & 6)
• Give a description of your project • How is your project related to ethics? Here, you need to define ethics. Look up what Weston says. Now, think about what you think “ethics” is all about. Explain how your project is related to ethics as you define it. • What ethical values do you hope your project demonstrates? Be sure to explain what ethical values are. Explain why these values are related to your project and why they are important to you. • Why should someone else care about your project? How does your project affect others? How does it make the world a better place?
Research (from Ch 11, 15, & 17)
• Are there facts and figures related to your project that show why your project is important? • Who is affected by your project? • What do you know about the topic you are working on? What have other people done in situations like yours? • How will your project make the world a better place? • Include citations of your research. You can use any style of citation, but you must include them for full points. You need to do real research on your topic—don’t just ask your friends.
Background (from Ch 11,14, 15 & Ch 6-10)
• Document how you used one of the Creative or Critical Thinking tools to think of your project. Be sure to explain and define the tool you use. • Why is there a need for your project? Presumably, you want to make the world a better place. Why does the world need to be fixed? Try to explain what may have caused the need for your project. • Pick one ethical theory that we have studied in class and explain how it relates to your project. You must explain and define the ethical theory. How is your project related to this ethical theory? For example, are you doing things like a utilitarian or demonstrating care for others (as in care ethics)? Be very clear about how your project is related to this ethical theory.
Actions Taken
• What did you do for your project? What steps did you actually take? You may write this in a list form using bullet points, if that is easier for you. • Remember that many projects run into “dead ends”, despite lots of hard work. Explain why or why not something you tried worked or didn’t turn out as you had planned. • Be sure I understand everything you have done. Show me that you worked hard on your project. This should be one of the last things you write up.
Results and Evaluation
• What are the results of your project? How did you affect the community? Did you make a difference—in your life or in the lives of those around you? Why or why not? • What were you able to accomplish? Again, don’t be shy. Be sure to show off your accomplishments. • Do you think this project made you apply ethics to your everyday life? Do you understand the ethical theories better? • Step back and evaluate the assignment as a whole. After completing your project, do you see things in a different way? Has your perspective changed? • What would you do differently next time? What did you learn? Did you grow as a person? Why or why not? Should I assign this project again?
Tips for Good Writing
• Proofread and edit your papers. In addition to spellchecking your writing, ask a trusted friend to see if your writing makes sense. Or better yet, visit the Learning Center on campus for help. • Find your voice. Don’t try to write in a fancy way using big or complicated words. Use your “natural” voice. (But be careful not to write too casually using texting abbreviations!!) • Be honest. If something you tried didn’t work, say so. You will not be graded on your “success” but rather on your writing and your effort. • If you need help writing, get it. You know you have a big project due at the end of the semester. You also have chances to draft parts of your paper. Don’t leave this to the last minute. Turn in quality work. If you need help to do this, plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to visit the LRC or Writing Center.