Policy from a deontological and consequential point of view.

1. Identify the relevant facts (past/future, known/concluded).
   a. Provide a comprehensive list of facts that are or may be relevant.
2. Identify the possible policies
   a. Generate a broad set of reasonable alternative policies. (Think broadly)
   b. Who is making the decisions?
   c. Who are the stakeholders affected by the policies?
3. Analyze each policy
   a. Impartially consider each policy from a deontological and consequential point of view.
   b. Does the policy pass the tests of fairness and justice? Are some individuals deprived of their rights at the expense of others? Does it make a reasonable universal policy?
   c. Reject any policies that are prima facie excessively unethical, unfair, or unjust.
4. Identify the principles and values
   a. What are the goods to be protected or the rights of the individuals involved?
5. Identify the consequences (known or potential, positive and negative)
   a. Consider the consequences of each policy, with respect to each group of stakeholders.
6. Identify the applicable laws
   a. Do they require or prohibit any actions by the individuals involved?
7. Identify and analyze the tradeoffs
   a. Consider each policy with respect to principles that are in conflict.
   b. Analyze the “goodness/harm ratio” – how much positive benefit is created for how many people, relative to the negative consequences?
8. Analyze the ethical issues with respect to the laws
   a. Are the relevant laws consistent or inconsistent with the ethical tradeoffs?
9. Analyze the ethical issues with respect to the relevant professional code(s) of ethics
   a. Is the professional code consistent or inconsistent with the ethical tradeoffs?
10. Draw and justify a conclusion
    a. What action should be taken, based on the policy that is the most ethical (most fair/just/happiness - maximizing) of the available options?
    b. If this action is inconsistent with the applicable laws, then your conclusion may include a recommendation that the law should be changed.
11. Write a cogent summary of your analysis and reasoning
    a. The written analysis all of the information that you collected/created during the first ten steps of the process.

Ethical/Social Analysis Option: Specific Instructions

Select a topic relevant to this class, identify the related issues or ethical questions, and analyze the ethical, social, economic, and/or legal aspects of these issues. You should identify at least one ethical question to which you will apply the 11 steps of the ethical analysis framework, analyzing possible policies, identifying stakeholders and consequences, and drawing and supporting a conclusion. Try to look at the issues from multiple perspectives and include one or more specific cases or incidents related to the issue.

The paper should not be just a list of questions and answers. It should, in general, be in a narrative form with a clear thesis and flowing sentences and paragraphs.

Length

The target length for the term paper, not including cover page or bibliography, is 8-12 pages, double-spaced, in 11 or 12-point font with usual margins sizes. This will be approximately 3000 words. You should follow the APA writing style format for your paper. You should choose a topic you can cover in sufficient depth in that length. Do not pad the paper just to make it longer or skimp on the details if the topic is too big.

Topic Statement

The topic statement is a short summary of your intended topic area (the topic, the main issues, and specific cases/incidents if you have identified some) or book (title, author, topic, some general explanation of why you chose it and how it is relevant for the class). The topic paragraph is just meant to be a single short paragraph, but of course, you are free to write more if you wish. See the class schedule for when this part of the project is due.

Paper Organization

Since this is a fairly long paper, it should be organized into sections the way that a scientific paper or longer magazine article would be, with section titles (and subsections if appropriate) that help the reader to follow the flow of the paper and identify the main sections.

You are each choosing your own book or topic and your own emphases and perspectives. Choose an appropriate organization. Your submission should have no spelling, punctuation, or formatting errors.

References

Research papers should include a set of references (material that you used as you were researching the topic and that has influenced what you wrote, whether or not you are citing it specifically as a source). Book reports do not require references, but you may end up doing some outside research on claims or issues discussed in the book, and in this case, you should include the references you used.

Use mostly "solid" or "establishment" sources. These include books, peer-reviewed technical articles in academic journals, newspaper or magazine articles in an “establishment” publication (i.e., a professional print publication, not an online blog or open-source website), or professional organization website (such as the American Medical Association or the American Meteorological Society). (It’s fine to access these sources online, in the library electronic collections, Google Books, or wherever you are able to find them.) Most of your sources should be these kinds of references, but you may also include what I would call “informal” sources in your references if you have used them for background or to help you research the topic. Examples of “informal” sources include Wikipedia, company websites, informational sites like AAAI Topics, or respectable blogs like Blown to Bits. (Do not include any “junk” sources like answers.yahoo.com, clearly unfiltered/stream-of-consciousness blogs, or obviously promotional/commercial websites.)

Your bibliography should be neatly and consistently formatted, single-spaced (with blank lines between sources) using a consistent style (APA is a good choice). Use any standard format you wish for the citations and bibliography but be consistent!