Ethics Essay
Order Description
Write an essay on one of the following questions:
1) Consider the following scenario:

Imagine that you are the Regional Manager of a multinational paper company, and, after an extensive vetting process by the Human Resources Department, you are
presented with the final two job candidates (let’s call them Jim and Dwight) competing for the position of Assistant Regional Manager. You must decide who will get the
job, and given that you will be working closely with this individual, you don’t take your decision lightly.

Upon reviewing their resumes, you find out that Dwight is the more qualified of the two. They both have MBAs, but Dwight’s is from a more prestigious program. They
both have good experience working for big corporations, but Dwight has been at it for longer. They both have good letters of reference, but Dwight’s are better.

After interviewing them, you find out that Jim has a family member who is in the hospital. You also discover that Jim doesn’t have health insurance, and you know that
one of the benefits of the job includes a comprehensive health plan that would cover his family. He is in serious debt, and the hospital bills are mounting. Dwight, on
the other hand, is single and has enough money saved up from his previous job to buy private insurance.

Furthermore, you notice that Jim is the more easy-going of the two – he is warm and fun to be around. He also shares many of your interests and hobbies. Dwight, on the
other hand, has a lukewarm personality. He’s not mean exactly, just very serious and direct, and the two of you have very little in common. Finally, you notice that
Jim is a better dresser than Dwight.
If you were an act utilitarian, who would you hire and why? Explain act utilitarianism and defend your answer.
2) According to Kant, it is always irrational to act immorally. Why does he think this? Do you agree with him? Defend your answer.
3) How does Hobbes defend the claim that it is never rational to behave unjustly? Explain by discussing his social contract theory. Do you agree with him? Defend your
answer.

Essay Structure ü Title: You should give your essay a title that will inform the reader of its specific contents. Introductory Paragraph: Your essay should begin with
an introductory paragraph in which you state your thesis and outline the argument(s) that you will make in support of your thesis.
Supporting Paragraphs: After the introduction, your essay will contain several supporting paragraphs, each one devoted to explaining one part of your argument.
Concluding Paragraph: Your essay will end with a concluding paragraph in which you restate your thesis and summarize, but do not repeat, the argument(s) that you made
in support of the thesis.
Bibliography or Works Cited: You must include either one after your concluding paragraph.

Essay Content ü

Audience: Imagine that you are writing your essay for someone who has never taken a philosophy course. That person should be able to read your essay and understand how
and why it is an answer to the essay question. Take time to craft your answers and to organize your thoughts in a clear and accessible manner. Do not assume that your
audience understands the meanings of the concepts you are using: define all technical philosophical terms. Remember to answer all parts of the question.
Quotations and paraphrases: If you quote or paraphrase, make sure to explain what the quote means in your own words and why it’s relevant for your essay.
Citations: If you do quote or paraphrase, you must properly cite the source using either the APA, MLA or Chicago style (whichever one you are most comfortable with)
style.
Source: You are permitted to use the textbooks, but nothing else. You are NOT permitted to use the Internet or use (or quote from) any other books in crafting your
answers. Also, if you use your class notes, you need to cite the relevant passages in the readings that the notes are about. You should be working primarily from the
textbook – the class notes should only be used to help you understand the primary texts.

Essay Style and Format ü

Length: 1000-1250 words Font Size: 12 point Font Style: Times New Roman Line Spacing: Double spaced Assignment Identification: Your name, student number, course name
and number, and date in the top right or left-hand corner of the first page
Page Numbers: Lower, right-hand corner of each page Title Location: Centered at the top of first paragraph
Submission Instructions

Due Date: By 11:59pm, May 1 You must submit your essay as a Microsoft Word document through the essay upload link in Blackboard.
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Grading Rubric

A (90-100)
Essay has a coherent argument, has a clear and logical organizational plan (the ordering of ideas, sentences, and paragraphs builds naturally toward the achievement of
its central thesis), is sophisticated, persuasive, concise, fully and clearly explains the relevant philosophical terms, concepts, and distinctions, provides textual
support where appropriate, uses original examples, answers all parts of the question, has excellent writing (both grammatically and stylistically), stays within the
word limit.

B (80-89)
Essay has a coherent argument, has a clear and logical organizational plan (the ordering of ideas, sentences, and paragraphs builds naturally toward the achievement of
its central thesis), fully and clearly explains the relevant philosophical terms, concepts, and distinctions, provides textual support where appropriate, uses some
original examples, answers all parts of the question, good writing (very few grammatical errors), stays within the word limit.

C (70-79)
Essay has an argument, has some organizational plan, attempts (but does not always succeed) to fully and clearly explain the relevant philosophical terms, concepts,
and distinctions, is unnecessarily wordy, does not consistently provide textual support where appropriate, answers all parts of the question, has very few grammatical
errors, stays within the word limit.

D (60-69)
Essay does not have an argument, is unclear in its organizational plan, fails to explain the relevant philosophical terms, concepts, and distinctions, does not provide
adequate textual support where appropriate, does not answer all parts of the question. May be a hurried, rushed response with not enough time put in, has many
grammatical errors, does not stay within the limit.
F (0-59)
Essay is a total failure, has no argument, usually coupled with many errors in grammar/syntax, and does not stay within the word limit.