Category: Homework

Create a draft thesis and arguments for your paper

Note: you do NOT need to hand this assignment in to turnitin.com YET. Please bring a hard copy with you to class, where you will work on it in pairs. You will need to upload a revised version to turnitin.com by midnight on Wednesday, 4/3.

Please read the Written Report assignment on OpenLab (also found under “Assignments”—“Case Project”)

We have practiced identifying the thesis and supporting arguments for articles we have read and for articles summarized in the annotated bibliography. Now it is time for you to develop a draft thesis for your written case report, along with supporting arguments.

For the homework assignment, please do each of the 4 parts below. Please be as concise as possible—there is no need to write more than 150 words total.

1. Background: in about 2 sentences, give a brief background explaining what your case is about. This should be clear enough that a student who is not familiar with your case can read it and gain familiarity with the most important facts of the case.
2. Main Ethical Dilemma: In 1 sentence, explain what you think the main ethical dilemma in your case is. An ethical dilemma is a choice that must be made in which all possible decisions violate some ethical norms. It should be worded as a question (e.g., “should the doctor do X or Y?”). The main ethical dilemma is the most important ethical dilemma in the case.
3. Thesis: please formulate your thesis in one sentence. The thesis should summarize your main recommendation for what should happen in your case. It should respond to the main ethical issue. It should be a truth claim that is concise and appropriately specific. These are characteristics of any good thesis, as we discussed in class. The thesis should also be normative. It should explain what someone in the case—usually the health professionals—should do.
4. Arguments: please formulate 2-3 brief arguments (1-2 sentences each) in support of your thesis. It should be clear to someone not familiar with your case how these arguments support your thesis.

Read the article, “Medical learning curves and the Kantian ideal” (Le Morvan and Stock, link in syllabus) and answer the following questions concisely. Please use your own words. (Of course, if you do use the words of the authors, you must use quotation marks. But please try to use your own words).

1. What is the thesis of this piece? 
2. Briefly explain two major arguments the authors use to support their thesis. 

Your answer should be at least half a page but no more than one page (handwritten or typed and double spaced), or about 150-300 words. Please bring a hard copy of the assignment to class.