Due Date: Please submit your final paper in the submission drop box in Blackboard before
11:59 pm by Sunday, 12/10! Length: roughly 8-12 double-spaced pages.
Task: For your final project for this course, you are to write a case study-based moral
philosophy paper. You will begin by choosing a topic has appeared in the media and poses and
ethical dilemma. What I mean by this is that the criteria, which your topic must satisfy both of
the following criteria (1& 2):
1) the topic has ethical considerations, meaning the moral and ethical philosophies we’ve
discussed throughout this course can be applied to it and you’re able to analyze the moral/ethical
dimensions of the case thoroughly.
2) Your chosen case inherently involves media – What I mean by this is that the case has either
been covered and reported on substantially by national or local news media. So, coverage and
records of the case exist to the extent where you can analyze, explain and critique the news
media’s ethical practices, handling of, and reporting on the case; OR the nature of the case
involves public relations practitioners, advertising, digital/electronic media content or creators,
or entertainment media such as podcasts, blogs/vlogs, movies, tv, books etc. and the case poses a
professional ethical dilemma and considerations directly related to media ethics for you to
describe, critique, analyze, interpret and apply. This final paper offers you two similar but
slightly different approaches to applying information and perspectives into your paper.
Specific Rubric & Guidelines for Writing Your Paper:

• Intro: Clearly introduce your topic. Including background information, details necessary to
  understand it, a brief history, and the moral issues/dimensions at hand. You should cover the
  Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of your topic here with specific information.
  After introducing your topic, you may want to outline or preview the main important points
  of this paper and the order in which you intend to discuss them. Then you could consider
  using an example, couple of sentences or an effective transitional statement that will set up
  and directly lead into what you’re going to discuss next.
• Body: This part of your paper will be the most extensive in length and offers you the ability
  to discuss many examples, introduce sources to support your arguments and to really analyze
  your topic in detail showcasing your personal insights, moral ethical codes, and critical
  thinking you’ve used throughout this course. There are also a handful of requirements you
  must fulfill within this section of your paper, which I’ve outlined for you below!
• In addition to applying specific examples relevant to this topic and laying out the
  moral/ethical arguments related to this topic/case and your insights in relation to them you
  must analyze at least one form of media coverage on this topic. You’re welcome to choose
  any medium, source, or form of media coverage related to this topic. You should describe the
  quality, nature of the coverage and analyze the professionalism and ethical qualities of the
  media professionals work in the context of this topic. (Ex. Did they objectively and
  unbiasedly present all aspects of the story? Did they use reliable sources? Did they tell the
  truth? Did they keep the public informed and allow them to make their own decisions? Etc.
• Somewhere within the main body of your paper you must mention and apply to your topic at
  least one professional code of ethics. These are the codes that we discussed, which govern
  professional conduct in certain fields and often set minimum standards (Ex. The Society of
  Professional Journalists code, PRSA code of Ethics, Newspaper/Broadcasting code of ethics,
  Marketing code of ethics etc.). Most likely you’ll apply these to your analysis of the media
  coverage of this topic, meaning whether or not the coverage of this topic or the media
  professionals involved where acting in a manner consistent with the ethical codes of their
  profession.
• Additionally, you must apply and discuss at least one of the justification models we
  discussed in the context of your topic (Ch.2 – Ex. The rotary four-way test, Bok’s test of
  veracity, the TARES test, the Potter Box etc. *some will fit certain situations and topics
  better than others that’s why it is up to you to choose and apply one of them).
• In your analysis of this topic/case you must reference the ideas or theories of at least one of
  the many philosophers we’ve discussed throughout this course to support an argument you
  make you make within your paper. Please also explain why you believe this philosopher
  would agree with the point you’re making by citing the perspectives of your chosen
  philosopher and citing any of our course material related to this individual that helps to
  strengthen and build support for your argument. (*You really have a bit of freedom to use
  this requirement anywhere you believe it would fit well within the context of your paper and
  the arguments you intend to make. Some of the most notable of your options to reference
  whom we’ve discussed this semester: William Perry, Mary Belenky, Lawrence Kohlberg,
  Carol Gilligan, James Rest, Albert Bandura, George Gerbner, Jeremy Bentham, Immanuel
  Kant, Aristotle, John Rawls, John Stuart Mill, William Frankena, Bernard Gert, William
  David Ross etc.).
• Of the individual’s involved in your topic/case or the main audiences you must explain what
  level of moral development they are operating at. This can be as simple as referencing the
  model of the 3 stages of development low, medium, and high (Ch.4 lecture slides) and
  describing the characteristics of one of the stages and associating it with the context of your
  topic. Or if you choose you may dive more deeply into the moral development philosophies
  of Ch. 4 (*this may be a good opportunity to reference a philosopher and their ideas – such as
  Perry, Belenky, Kohlberg, Gilligan, or Rest).
• Conclusion: In the conclusion of this paper, you may want to summarize/emphasize the most
  important parts of your paper. If this is an on-going issue/unresolved moral topic you may
  want to add a call-to-action or support a possible resolution you would like your audience to
  look into to be informed on this topic. You are welcome to pose a question or conclude with
  reflecting on a quote or thought from one of the philosophers as well. Personal narratives or
  situations related to the topic are fine as well, as long as the information is not fabricated.
  Summarizing the most important points and concluding your paper in a memorable,
  engaging, and clear manner will be effective.
• Formatting/Citations: Please include a heading that has your full name, the course name,
  and the date. You may include this in the top corner of the page or on a separate title page
  that is up to you. Please be sure to write your paper double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-
  point font. All sources and outside information used in the paper must be cited where it
  appears in text and in a separate reference section at the end of the paper in APA style 7th
  edition. For help with citations feel free to access the links on the next page of this rubric.
  There are no specific margins or indentation requirements for this paper.
  Grading Criteria: Total Points Available: Media Ethics Final Paper (150 points)
• Introduction & all requirements included under that section: A possible 30 points
• Body of the paper & all requirements included under that section: A possible 65 points
• Conclusion & all requirements included under that section: A possible 30 points
• A possible 25 for:
• Proper grammar, formatting, and complete sentences. Including using 12-point Times
  New Roman Font, double-spaced, with a proper header that includes the course name and
  number, date, and your full name. If you use outside materials, please be sure to cite your
  sources both in-text where the sources are used in your paper, as well as in a separate
  reference section at the end of your paper. All citations should appear in accordance with
  proper APA Style 7th edition. Please refer to APA style 7th edition. If you need help with
  your citations, please feel free to reference any of the following links:
  https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_g
  uide/index.html
  https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf
  Writing tips/suggestions:
• Use a heading atop your first page or on a separate title page that includes: your full name
  and the course number.
• Throughout your paper be sure to: use proper grammar, write in complete sentences,
  label/number in order each section of your paper/which question prompt you’re responding
  to, and proofread your paper before submitting to avoid errors.
• Please take your time to read and understand all aspects of the question prompts and tasks
  included in this case study before writing the paper.
• Please use this rubric, guidelines, the grading criteria I will be evaluating this paper based on
  and my tips as a guide, although you are encouraged to respond with your own thoughts,
  insights, creative ideas, and strategies. Please feel free to email me if you have questions.
• This paper must have a header that includes the course number, the date, and your name. The
  paper must be written in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, and any outside
  sources must be cited both in-text and in a separate reference section at the end of the paper
  in APA Style 7th edition.
• Please ensure that you meet the requirements all the components fully. As a rough guideline
  your final paper should be around 8-12 pages double-spaced (*not including a title page or
  your reference section). Please be sure to submit your personal insight paper # 4 before 11:59
  pm on Sunday, 12/10. Please let me know if you have any questions!