General Assignment Instructions
1. Format
a. Use Microsoft Word, 12 point font, times new roman, single spacing.
b. Use the format demonstrated in the sample paper called “Excerpts from A
papers ..” provided under Writing Resources in Blackboard for Assignments 1 through 3. This format incorporates the use of headers that distinguish the different areas of thought within the memo.
c. Where using headers in Assignments 1 through 3, you must include these:
1. Facts2. Issue
3. Analysis (note- this is where you may want to use additional headers to further organize your thoughts)
4. Recommendation
d. Assignments 1 and 2 should be between 750 and 1000 words. Lastly assignment 3 should amount to 1400 – 2000 words. This is merely a guide. The purpose of the guide is to help you understand whether you have thought deeply enough about the topic. Your grade does not depend on the number of words written. However, your grade will be affected by whether or not you have fully analyzed the issue and fully supported your conclusion/decision. If you find that you are significantly over this range of words, you should edit your paper so that your ideas and words are conveyed in the most concise manner. This does not mean eliminating key arguments. It just means editing your wording so that it is more concisely written.
e. Inside your document – DO NOT include any personal information inside your document (such as name, CougarNet ID, etc). We will not remove this information before submitting it for assessment.
f. Naming your document as follows: "Assignment [number]_last name_first name"
2. Submitting your assignment into the link in BB
a. Be sure your Word document is properly named first.
b. Upload your Word document into the Turnitin link provided in Blackboard.
c. You will be asked to provide a name for your document. Use the same assignment title as your Word file name.
All assignments must be submitted using the assigned link in Blackboard. We will not accept papers sent via email or delivered by hand.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your paper has been submitted properly AND on time. When you properly submit your paper, you will receive an email confirmation from Turnitin confirming your submission. If you don’t get this you haven’t completed the submission process and you will not receive credit for your work.
3. Feedback and grades
Feedback is provided with help from RichFeedback (as discussed in the syllabus.) You may access your feedback via Blackboard 10-12 days after the due date (give or take a day or so). Your grade will be posted into the grade book thereafter. Your paper with feedback will be returned to you in the same Weekly Folder where you submitted your paper.
4. Academic honesty (discussing the papers, cheating, and plagiarism)
All assignments, including this one, are individual assignments. This means that you are prohibited from discussing any part of the assignment with other people. Your analysis and work must be original. This means that you must use proper citations (and quotations, where necessary) throughout your paper and may not submit a paper that you used in a prior class.
Papers will be analyzed using www.turnitin.com. This website checks your paper to determine the similarity of your paper to other students’ papers, internet or book resources, and papers found commercially on the internet. If your paper is sufficiently similar to another student's paper or other resource, you will be reported for violating the academic honesty code. This may result in receiving a "0" grade for the assignment, points being deducted from your final points calculation, and/or earning an F in the class or expulsion from the university.
Citations MUST BE provided for any information used or relied upon that is not your original idea. There are plagiarism presentations posted on the course website. It is your responsibility to review this to be sure you fully understand what constitutes plagiarism, how to properly paraphrase and cite, and when to use quotations. If this information is not sufficient for you to understand how to provide a proper citation, you may want to visit the following website: http://www.uh.edu/writecen/Resources/GrammarAndDocumentation.php.
You may use MLA or APA or any other format as long as (1) you clearly identify that the work is attributable to another source, AND (2) the original source can be easily located.
5. Grading rubric/chart
Assignments are worth either 50 (Assignments 1 and 2) or 100 points (Assignment 3.) Please review each assignment’s grading rubric as each assignment may be different.
Written communication 50%Critical thinking and knowledge application 50%
A B C D E
Written communication Written communication Written communication Written communication Written communication
Clearly arranged andorganized;
Professional tone (i.e.,appropriate choice ofwords for businesswriting);
Sentences are easilyunderstood, concise,direct, and effective;
No noticeable editingerrors; ANDPaper followsrequiredformat.
For the most part…
Clearly arranged andorganized;
Professional tone;
Sentences arefunctional;
AND/OR
Very few editingerrors.
In many places…
Confusing due tounclear sentences orparagraphs, and/orlack of organization;
Many sentences areoverly simple orneedlesslycomplicated;
AND/OR
Several editing errors.
In most places…
Confusing due tounclear sentences orparagraphs, and/orlack of organization;
Most sentences areoverly simple orneedlesslycomplicated;
AND/OR
So many editingerrors that paper isdifficult to read.
Wholly ignoresassignmentinstructions;
Sentences areincoherentor nonsensical;
AND/OR
Paper is difficult toread,careless,irresponsible.
Critical thinking andknowledge application
Critical thinking andknowledge application
Critical thinking andknowledge application
Critical thinking andknowledge application
Critical thinking andknowledge application
Event discussedrepresents mostpressing ethical issue;
Full understanding ofthe ethical theoriesdiscussed (includingappropriate discussionof criticisms ordisadvantages of eachethical lens applied);
Full consideration ofthe issues andapplication of thefacts to the theories;
Arguments andsentences are wellsupported andrational;
Logical flow ofarguments;
Conclusion followsrationally from thearguments presented;
AND
Paper presents mostlyoriginal thought (withuse of occasionalquotes, ifappropriate).
For the most part…
Full understanding ofthe ethical theoriesdiscussed;
Full consideration ofthe issues;
Demonstrates a fullunderstanding of theethical theoriesapplied;
Arguments andsentences are wellsupported andrational;
Logical flow ofarguments;
Conclusion followsrationally from thearguments presented;
Paper presents mostlyoriginal thought (withuse of occasionalquotes, ifappropriate).
In many places…
Lacks fullunderstandingof the ethical theoriesdiscussed;
Lacks fullconsiderationof the issues;
Arguments andsentences are notrational orwell-supported;
Arguments may notbe presented in alogical order;
Conclusion may notfollow rationally fromthe argumentspresented;
AND/OR
Paper has littleoriginal thoughtbecause most of theanalysis is fromquoted sources.
In most places…
Lacks fullunderstanding of theethical theoriesdiscussed;
Lacks fullconsiderationof the issues;
Arguments orsentences are notrational or wellsupported;
Arguments may notbe presented in alogical order;
Conclusion may notfollow rationally fromthe argumentspresented;
AND/OR
Paper has very littleoriginal thoughtbecause most of theanalysis is fromquoted sources.
Most of the paperremains unfinished;
Rambles incoherently;
AND/OR;
Paper has very littleoriginal thoughtbecause most of theanalysis is fromquoted sources.
6. Rubric interpretation
a. Most pressing ethical issue – You must describe the issue in 1-2 succinctsentences, and then explain what makes the issue an ethical one. In other words,what makes the issue an ethical one (as opposed to just a regular businessdecision)? Considering this will help you determine the most pressing ethicalissue to be discussed (and provide a context for your arguments).
b. Arguments are well-supported and rational – You should fully define the ethicallens/theory used, discuss it, tell how it will apply in the case, then apply the factsto the lens/theory. Definition and introductory discussion of the theories should bebrief (approximately ¼ of your paper).
1. Application of the facts to the theories – This is the most critical part ofyour paper and should consist of approximately ¾ of your paper. You mustconsider criticisms to applying the theories. For example, what is adisadvantage to using theory “x”? This is where making an outline canreally help to organize your thoughts and ensure you cover all of the topicsnecessary.
2. You should include a brief conclusion after each lens/theory analysis. Thiswill provide the reader closure on your analysis for each lens.
c. Writing directly and concisely – If you feel that you are well over the suggestednumber of words, eliminate what is not necessary to argue your points. Mostpapers can cut out at least 100 words by eliminating unnecessarywords/phrases/sentence and still retain all of the arguments required to supportyour conclusion.
d. Conclusion – This should directly answer the question you asked AND makesense given your analysis. You should not restate any arguments here. This iswhere you tell us your final conclusion, after considering the different lenses.
