PHI 735, Spring 2010

Short Paper Assignment

This paper is due 3/2 in class. I will ask you to do a short class presentation (5 - 10 minutes) of your paper that day. Suggested length is around 5 pages typed, but don't feel constrained by that if you get on a productive roll. All sources, of course, must be properly footnoted. Regarding topics, we're open to various possibilities. You could do an examination of a real case, recent or historical. You could write something about one of the topics we've done. (e.g., "A Critique of USM policies regarding Conflict of Interest in Research") Another possibility is what I call "Create a Case;" here's how you might do that:

1. First, write up a case about a professional ethics issue that we may use in this course in the future.  It should be presented as a fictional case, though it may draw on aspects of actual cases, changing names and details as appropriate.  There should be enough background and detail such that it does not leave too many important issues ambiguous, but there's no need to go into a lengthy description of the scientific issues involved - it should be intelligible to people outside your area of expertise.  You also don't want your case to raise such large-scale or policy-related issues such that it's beyond the capability or responsibility of the persons involved to address the problem adequately.  Your case should be in some ways different from those we've already discussed, not simply a re-hash of something we've already done.  Also, the most interesting cases are those where the wrongdoing is not so flagrant as to make the moral conclusions entirely obvious.  You're encouraged to talk to colleagues and mentors for ideas.

2.  Second, include a commentary, or "teaching notes," where you 1) highlight the relevant issues raised and questions posed by the case, 2) answer these questions, and take a stand on what should be done, giving reasoned arguments for your positions.

If, for any reason, you would prefer that I not use your case in future versions of the class (were I to use it, I would give you proper attribution), please indicate that.  Otherwise, I'll assume that we have your permission.  Opting out will not adversely affect you, of course, aside from the possible loss of future glory.

I'd advise you not to try to write about a research ethics issue that lies outside of the sort of things we've discussed so far - e.g., a human subjects or animal subjects case - at least unless you first clear it with me. There are well-established and accepted specific norms and standards that govern research in those areas, and I think that in most cases it will be difficult to write an effective paper unless you have some background with those standards.