Exploring Ethical Frameworks

Individual Activity

Name: Dustin Snyder

Case Study Chosen: #4 Getting The A

Directions: Using the ethics case study you’ve selected, discuss and answer the following
questions to the best of your ability.

Step One: Identify the Issue

1. What is the key dilemma/problem to be solved in this case? Write this so that a
“stranger” could readily understand the dilemma. Include enough detail to make sure
the dilemma is clearly defined.

 The key problem is that a teammate has plagiarized her section of the group
work and will not re due it and has stated that if the teacher finds out about it she
will take the full blame. Worse even is that I need an A to pass the class. What do
I do?

2. Who are the stakeholders in this dilemma? (Note: Stakeholders are any individuals,
written about in the case or not, who may be affected by the decisions that are made.)

 Pete
 Valeria
 Mr. Finley
 Pete’s Group
 The other Students
 The School
 Valeria’s Coworkers
Step Two: Outline the Options

3. Consider as many ways to resolve this dilemma as possible and list them below.
(Note: Question #6 asks that you return to this question to label the frameworks
associated with the possible resolutions.)

Options for Resolving Dilemma Ethical Framework (see Question #6)

The Moral Rights Approach
Mother: Talk with the teacher.

The Moral Rights Approach

Father: Talk with the teacher.

The Utilitarian Approach.

Megan: Focus on your work and turn in what
you have.

The Unitarian Approach.

Phyllis: Do your part of the work and turn it
in.

The Practical Approach.

Daniel: Do nothing.

The Justice Approach.

Samantha: Tell the Teacher.

The Justice Approach.

Ms. Dunn: Let the teacher know.

The Justice Approach.

Debbie: Tell the teacher.

The Justice Approach.

Cathy: Tell the teacher ahead of time
maybe with the person who plagiarized.

The Practical Approach.

Michelle: Do nothing.
Step Three: Gather Evidence/Interview Others
4. Using the key dilemma posed in Step One, interview 10 people on how they would
resolve the problem and why. (Note: As interviewer, please do not share your thoughts
on how you would resolve the problem.) Use the table located on the last page of
this worksheet to record their responses.

Step Four: Construct Ethical Arguments

5. Practice using the four ethical frameworks we have examined in class (utilitarian, moral
rights, justice, and practical) and list one resolution for each framework and explain why
it fits there.

a. utilitarian:

 Talk with the teacher maybe with the person who plagiarized.

Why does this fit the utilitarian framework?

 It fits because if you talk with the teacher ahead of time it will show the
teacher that you are being honest and maybe give you more time. Maybe.

b. moral rights:

 Tell the Teacher.

Why does this fit the moral rights framework?

 In all honestly even if you need the A if you are caught plagiarizing everyone
is going to take a hit. The assignment gets a zero and you and maybe the
whole group will fail the course. All that money wasted for just copying and
pasting something someone found on the internet. It’s not worth it. Most
people would think it’s a bad idea to lie about it even when you found out. So
most people will just tell the teacher.
 

c. justice:

 Talk with the teacher possibly with the person who plagiarized and tell him the
truth.

Why does this fit the justice framework?

 This fits because it is equal to both sides of the spectrum. For Pete he is
admitting to the fact that a team member plagiarized and discovered it. You
admit the truth knowing full well the consequences that will follow.

d. practical:

 Do Nothing.

Why does this fit the practical framework?

 It’s odd yes. But in some ways I can see this fitting. Do you dare risk the act
that the teacher can find out? Of course, but some people have made it out of
high school and many other collage classes by just copying and pasting. And
the person is sure that the teacher won’t catch them. The info’s all there be it
may be from someone else but it’s all there. Is it right? No.

6. Now, go back to your interviews with others and your own options to solve the dilemma
(see question #3) and label each with the appropriate ethical framework.
Step Five: Evaluate the Arguments

7. Reviewing the responses from the individuals interviewed in Step Three as well as your
own options to solve the dilemma, consider how stakeholders you have identified in the
case might best benefit. Then, rank the frameworks below according to their perceived
merit, with “1” being the highest ranking. (Note: Often we “stick” to our first thoughts on
how we would resolve the dilemma; this step asks that you expand your thinking to be
more inclusive of others’ thoughts when ranking the frameworks.)

#1 Justice Approach. framework

#2 Moral Approach________________________ framework

#3__Practical Approach________________________ framework

#4___ Utilitarian Approach _______________________ framework

Step Six: Make a Decision/ Evaluate the Impact

8. Considering all the possible outcomes that you have associated with each ethical
framework, make a decision on how you would resolve the case.
I would explain to the group first then I would talk with the teacher most hopefully
with the person who plagiarized and try and work something out.

9. Explain in some detail why you made your decision.

There are many things that had contributed to my decision. First off is the plagiarism
itself. It’s wrong but in a sense we all do it sometimes without even noticing it. Heck I could be
doing it now the point is that it’s wrong and no matter if it’s intentional or accidental it is still and
forever wrong. So knowing that someone has done it have gone to said person and asked them
to re due their portion of the work, and that person says they can’t for reasons that to some may
sound poor. Yet the person tells you that they will take full blame for the plagiarism if caught by
the teacher. While it is nice to know that they will take responsibility for that in the end it doesn’t
matter. It’s a group assignment and if you fail to tell the teacher anything then the group
including you and the one who did the plagiarizing will fail not only the assignment but the
course itself. No one wants $300 to be wasted like that. So I will tell him. Not only for myself, but
for the group itself and for the one who plagiarized.

10. Explain how each of the stakeholders you listed in Question #2 might be affected by
your decision.
Name What would they do? Why? What ethical
framework did
they use?
Well he might just try and talk with the He is in an awkward The Moral Rights
teacher and his group about the place and he needs Approach.
situation and how to fix it. an A and plagiarism
1.Pete of any kind will fail
not only the class but
the entire course.
She might take the full blame and try She stated she had a The Utilitarian
and explain why she did what she did. job and other Approach.
Or she could do nothing at all. classes. We can
2. Valeria assume that she may
just think that this
class is not needed
and do nothing about
the fact that she
plagiarized.
He might listen to what Pete’s group As a teacher he has The Judgment
has to say and may give them an the resources to Approach.
extra assignment to do instead or he know if they have
3.Mr. Finley might just grade what they have. plagiarized and if he
is a kind teacher will
listen and maybe
surprised but proud
that the students are
honest with him.
They will try and think of the ways To be fair. I don’t The Utilitarian
they can find a solution and may think they want to pay Approach.
end up telling the teacher. $300 again just
4. Pete’s because they fails as
of no fault to their
Group
own.
They might rethink about their own If one plagiarized it The Moral Rights
assignments and maybe confess doesn’t mean that Approach.
as well. others did not.
5.Other Seeing how one
Students group comes clean
they might decide
to as well knowing
that the teacher
might be lenient
 In essence the group might still be The school has a The Judgment
disciplined for their action. set of rules they Approach.
have to obey by. It
6.The School doesn’t matter what
the students do, at
times it’s the crime
that speaks the
loudest.
They might not notice anything but We don’t know what The Practical
might ask her why she looks mad they will do, and in Approach.
and either agree of what she did or essence have no
7. Valeria’s not. idea what their
Coworkers opinions are on the
matter.
They might be disappointed in her They are her family, The Moral Rights
for plagiarizing and not handling what happens Approach.
her time correctly. involving them should
8. Valeria’s stay with them, but it
Family. can be assumed that
they might be a bit
disappointed on how
she had taken a class
that she doesn’t have
the time focus fully
on.
They may be proud at him for Family works in many The Moral Rights
telling the truth and might different ways. They Approach.
understand that what happened may be happy that he
9. Pete’s wasn’t all his fault. had caught what a
Family. teammate had done
tried to correct her
and when it failed
talked with his group
then to his teacher on
the next course of
action. They would
be proud that he
acted like a
responsible person.
While some students The Moral Rights
10.The They will be happy that will not pay for themselves Approach.
Groups have to pay up the money for the others have some
Family same class. help with their family
to help them. And
believe me, no one
likes wasting money
especially if their
child did nothing
wrong.