Instructions
Example Selection
You should select a business ethics issue that either has occurred or might occur in a veterinary practice and write an analysis of the issue and potential decisions/solutions, using the concepts introduced in your textbook. You might pick one of the following:

A situation currently in the news
An ethics dilemma witnessed in a veterinary practice either as an employee or a client
A high quality hypothetical business ethics issue in a veterinary practice (either one youve seen in books or film, or one you create)
Be sure to choose an example for analysis that seems interesting, difficult, or complicated.

Project Process
Step 1: Select an example for your analysis as outlined above.

Step 2: Perform your analysis. Apply the recommended high quality, ethical decisionmaking process described in your course book. Youll want to consider the facts of the situation, the ethical lenses, legal, regulatory, and any other more specific lenses that might be applicable. Describe how the key concepts apply, and explain why the decision is difficult or complicated. Recommend the course of action you believe is best taking all the relevant considerations into account.

Your textbook should be your primary reference. Your paper may also include independent and reliable sources (many of which you might access from your textbooks chapter notes). You should feel free to consult sources on the Internet. However, always make sure your work is original and well-documented. Notes from a website should include the source of the site. This is done to establish that the site is authoritative and not merely idle opinion.

Use APA style for citations and the Works Cited page. For information on APA style format see the Library.

Step 3: Write a first draft of your essay. Your paper should be written using a word-processing program, such as Microsoft Word or a Word-compatible program. Your analysis should be five to eight written pages. The essay should include a brief introduction, several paragraphs examining the key issues, your recommended course of action, and a conclusion that acknowledges arguments for and against your recommended decision. (Recommendation: Finish your first draft several days before you plan to finalize your paper. Its best to set it aside for a couple of days before moving on to the completion.)

Step 4: Complete your final draft. Carefully review your written essay, correct any errors, and submit your final draft to your instructor. (Recommendation: Read your essay out loud to yourself. Doing this will help make you aware of gaps, redundancies, and areas where the writing should be improved.) Include a title page and a bibliography of sources. The last page after the main body of the essay should provide a list of your reference sources.

Grading Criteria
The following rubric will be used to grade your project.

Skill/Grading Criteria    Exemplary (10090)    Proficient (8980)    Fair (7970)    Poor (6960)    Not Evident (590)
Selection of example situation for analysis    Example situation selected involves several different kinds of issues and provides plenty of complexity for the analysis

(Remember, the way a situation is described enables the reader to see the complexity!)

109 points    Example situation selected involves several different kinds of issues

87 points    Example situation selected involves a few different kinds of issues

65 points    Example situation selected doesnt seem to require much, if any, weighing of issues

4 points    Example situation selected is presented as a simple decision

30 points
Identification of relevant issues    Describes the example situation

Explains the facts

Identifies all relevant lenses (ethical, legal, regulatory, and so on)

Shows completeness in thought process applied to identifying relevant lenses

1514 points    Describes the example situation with adequate description of facts

Explains the facts

Identifies most relevant lenses (for example, ethical, legal, regulatory)

Shows thought process applied to identifying relevant lenses

1312 points    Statement of the example situation with few details or facts

Identifies some relevant lenses (for example, ethical, legal, regulatory)

Shows limited thought process applied to identifying relevant lenses

1110 points    Simple statement of the example situation and facts

Identifies 23 relevant lenses (for example, ethical, legal, regulatory)

Thought process used in analysis not well communicated in essay

9 points    Appropriate connection to Business Ethics course concepts are not in evidence in the introduction to the chosen example/ situation and identification of relevant issues

80 points
Assessment of relevant issues    Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)

Explains legal and regulatory views (perhaps corporate culture) of the issues at stake

Takes stakeholders into account

Indicates which values, legal obligations, ethical perspectives seem most compelling and why

3029 points    Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)

Explains some legal and regulatory views (perhaps corporate culture) of the issues at stake

Takes some stakeholders into account

Indicates which perspectives seem most compelling

2827 points    Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)

Explains few legal and regulatory views (perhaps corporate culture) of the issues at stake

Takes few stakeholders into account

Simple statement of which perspectives seem most compelling, without discussion

2625 points    Explains how the lenses apply (what would a utili tarian assessment say, what would a Kantian evaluation say?)

Explains 1 legal or regulatory view

Takes few stakeholders into account

Simple statement of whats right, without discussion

24 points    Explains how few or some lenses apply to the situation

Missing significant legal and regulatory issues

No discussion of impact on stakeholders

230 points
Recommended decision and supporting arguments    Recommends a resolution to the situation (for example, Sally should do x, y and z)

Explains reasons for this decision, in spite of the reasons against this decision (acknowledges both sides)

3029 points    Recommends a resolution to the situation (for example, Sally should do x, y and z)

Explains reasons for this decision but struggles with discussing ambiguity / reasons against

2827 points    Recommends a decision

Doesnt explain this decision in terms of business ethics concepts

2625 points    Recommends a decision

Doesnt provide arguments for and against

24 points    Doesnt recommend a decision

230 points
Written communication    Is clearly written and articulate

Use of language reflects nuances in the complex situation

109 points    Is clearly written and articulate

Use of language reflects nuances in the complex situation

87 points    Is written in plain and clear language, but complexity may not be included

Shows limited grasp of subtleties involved in making hard business ethics decisions

6 points    Is written in simple language that conveys basic points

Doesnt show grasp of subtleties involved in making hard business ethics decisions

5 points    Mentions important concepts but doesnt connect the dots to explain the way they apply to the example/ situation being analyzed

40 points
Format    Follows all formatting instructions completely

5 points    Follows most formatting instructions

4 points    Follows some formatting instructions

3 points    Follows few formatting instructions

2 points    No effort put into formatting

10 points
Submitting Your Project
Each project is individually graded by your instructor and therefore takes up to a few weeks to grade.

Be sure that each of your three files contains the following information:

Your name
Your student ID number
The lesson number
Your email address