Business Ethics
Essay
Final essay
You are going to write an essay on a topic in business ethics, and you will (i) perform research and identify a business-ethics case in the past three decades, and will be required (ii) to summarize the ethical debate about the case by outlining the arguments in the debate. You should then (iii) evaluate the arguments, and (iv) discuss whether you agree or disagree with them.
You can choose from one of the topics discussed in the course. After you have chosen the topic illustrated with a case, select at least two academic journal or magazine articles from the Search Plus of our library (or, from other creditable sources such as Google Scholar). A list of recommended academic journals is given in Appendix, yet provision of the list is not meant to restriction students’ choice among academic journals. The articles can also be recommended reading or reading for group presentation. If you prefer to work on other topics, you are required to discuss with the instructor and get the approval before embarking on the writing.
In your essay, you should attempt to defend a specific position with regards to the topic of your choice. You might do so by arguing for or against the position and argument(s) in the two selected readings. Alternatively, you might opt to compare the positions in the two selected readings and decide which of them is superior (provided that their positions are different). Notice that your essay should not merely be a report of the selected readings, but it should consist of your position and arguments. More precisely, the essay should include all of the following:
1) Introduce the business-ethics case and identify the ethical issue in the case. It is followed by an overview of the topic, including the background, relevant concepts, and different positions.
2) Literature Review: Particularly, you should include the following:
a. Describe and critically evaluate the position and argument(s) of the reference article(s)
b. Describe clearly your position to the issue.
3) A sympathetic, careful attempt to explain how you would defend your position. Try to respond to existing arguments in the ethical debate and/or develop additional arguments to support your position, using the ethical theories and concepts we have learnt in classes.
In doing so, you should:
a. plan and conduct a search for relevant literature and use it to support your position.
b. Apply relevant theories and concepts in business ethics to the discussion.
c. Use example(s) to elaborate your argument(s) for your position.
4) A sympathetic, careful attempt to explain what you might expect an opponent would challenge your position and argument(s), and how you are going to reply to the challenge.
5) Finally, a concluding section in which you try to come to a reasoned overall judgment of your own position and argument(s).
You are free to take any side. The emphasis in the essay is on reason, analysis and argument. Emotional reaction is not the issue.
In-text citation and reference are definitely required. It would be regarded as plagiarism if any information or arguments are taken from any other resources without in-text citation.
Format/Rules:
1. State clearly your name, student ID and class, e.g., CHAN Siu Ming_s17xxxx_GEN2004-L01, in the file submitted.
2. Double-spacing with font size 12.
3. Complete spell-check before submission.
4. Length of the essay: around 2000 words in English.
5. After submission of the final essay, keep the file without further modification (in case I will ask you to show that the last modified time is not later than the deadline).
6. Please submit your work in the Moodle platform for the module.
7. Late submission will not be accepted.
8. An essay that contains plagiarized material will be penalized according to the University regulations on academic dishonesty.
9. A marking scheme is referred to the Rubric for Essay on eCampus.
Appendix
Business Ethics Quarterly
Journal of Business Ethics
Journal of Political Philosophy
Journal of Applied Philosophy
Ethics
Journal of Moral Philosophy
Res Publica
Philosophy and Public Affairs