Number of sources. Please see the essay marking rubric which outlines our expectations with respect to the number of sources. To pass, you need to reference at least three sources.
To get a high distinction, you need to correctly reference at least 10 sources. The recommended readings for the topic do count toward these. You are encouraged to use the recommended readings but not required to.
Word count. 2500 words +/- 10%. References do not count towards the word count. Footnotes or endnotes, if you use any, do count. Please see the reference to word count in the essay marking rubric.
Essay structure. Your essay should include the following.
- Raise the topic, state what you think the key ethical issues are, and indicate what you will do, e.g. by providing an overview of what the rest of your essay contains.
- Introduce the background facts needed for your analysis.
- This should be the bulk of your essay. Select relevant ethical theories and/or principles, and appropriately apply them. You may wish to use the ‘Approach to ethical analysis and justification’ that we have used during the course. The analysis should build toward a conclusion about what the most ethical course of action is. You need to reach a clear conclusion.
- End your essay by summarising the main points of your analysis and restating your conclusion.
Before writing the final draft of the essay, you should be clear about the answers to the following questions and be confident that your essay will make the answers clear to the marker:
- What is the position you wish to defend?
- What are your reasons for defending it?
- Are there any arguments against your position?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments?
- How will you justify your position?
