Unit 9 Final Project: Construction Guide

Unit 9 Final Project For Your Final Project You Will Construct A Po

For your Final Project, you will construct a Portfolio documenting your successes in achieving key objectives in the class. This is an ethics class. The three primary course goals reflected in your Portfolio will be: Analytical skill building: Improving your critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Knowledge acquisition: Mastering knowledge of central concepts, ideas, and perspectives of the humanities. A summary of major ethical theories should be included in this section as part of knowledge acquired.

Practical application: Learning how to connect course material to issues you care deeply about and thoughtfully applying course material to your own life goals, decisions, and practices. Your Portfolio can also include information about your work in other areas, such as the work you did to achieve the personal goals. Examples of documentary evidence to use in your Portfolio include, but are not limited to, excerpts from your papers and rewrites, examples of your reading notes, selected discussion interactions.

Your Portfolio will also require you to reflect on your progress in meeting course goals, including your own evaluation of the effectiveness of your work habits, your reflections on any difficulties that you faced, and any special challenges that you overcame. The Portfolio may be organized as a Word document, due by 6pm.

Paper For Above instruction

The final project for this ethics course requires the creation of a comprehensive portfolio that effectively encapsulates the key objectives we aimed to achieve throughout the term. This portfolio serves as both a reflective and a demonstrative tool, showcasing your growth in analytical skills, mastery of ethical concepts, and ability to apply these principles to real-life situations.

Introduction

The importance of ethics in contemporary society cannot be overstated. As students of humanities, we are called not only to understand ethical theories but also to evaluate how these theories influence our perceptions and actions. The development of critical thinking and analytical skills forms the backbone of this course, enabling students to interpret complex ethical dilemmas with clarity and insight. Your portfolio reflects your journey in acquiring this knowledge, sharpening your reasoning capabilities, and applying ethical principles pragmatically.

Analytical Skill Building

One of the primary aims of this course was to enhance your critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. Critical reading involved engaging deeply with texts, questioning underlying assumptions, and identifying arguments' strengths and weaknesses. Through written assignments, discussions, and reflective exercises, you cultivated an analytical mindset that aids in dissecting moral issues logically and systematically. Evidence of this development includes annotations, reading notes, drafts of essays, and revisions that demonstrate your ability to construct well-reasoned arguments.

For example, your analysis of Kantian ethics and its emphasis on duty reveals an increased capacity to evaluate complex moral frameworks. Reflecting on your initial understanding versus your current perspectives demonstrates growth in critical reasoning.

Knowledge Acquisition

A core component of the course was mastering central ethical theories and perspectives within the humanities. These include utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, virtue ethics, and relativism, among others. Summaries of these theories, along with comparative analyses, showcase your comprehension of their principles and implications. For instance, understanding utilitarianism's focus on happiness maximization versus Kantian ethics' emphasis on moral duty indicates a broad grasp of differing ethical paradigms.

Additionally, your portfolio should feature concise summaries of major theories, citing key philosophers and their contributions. Demonstrating familiarity with ethical viewpoints, along with insights into cultural and historical contexts, reflects a deepening of knowledge that integrates both theoretical and practical understanding.

Practical Application

This aspect of the portfolio highlights your ability to connect course material with personal experiences and societal issues. Reflect on instances where you applied ethical reasoning to decisions in your daily life, such as discussions on honesty, fairness, or social responsibility. For example, you may include reflections on a recent ethical dilemma you encountered, analyzing it through different theoretical lenses learned in class.

Your work in other areas, such as community service or personal development projects, can also be incorporated to illustrate how ethical principles inform your actions beyond academic settings. The selection of evidence might include discussion posts where you debated ethical issues, revised papers demonstrating moral reasoning, or notes from readings that resonated with your values.

Reflection and Evaluation

A significant part of your portfolio involves introspection. Assess your progress concerning the course goals, noting strengths and areas for improvement. Consider how your work habits—such as time management, engagement with readings, and participation—affected your learning journey. Reflect on challenges you faced, whether conceptual difficulties or external commitments, and discuss strategies you employed to overcome these hurdles.

Such honest self-assessment not only demonstrates growth but also solidifies your understanding of ethical inquiry as an ongoing process.

Organization and Submission

The portfolio should be organized coherently, with clear sections corresponding to the course goals. Use headings, subheadings, and logical sequencing to guide the reader through your development as a critical thinker and ethical individual. Compile your materials into a Word document, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. Submit the document by 6 pm on the designated due date.

In conclusion, your portfolio is a comprehensive reflection of what you have learned, how you have applied it, and how you have grown intellectually and ethically during the course. It is an opportunity to demonstrate mastery, introspection, and continuous development in the pursuit of ethical literacy and responsible citizenship.

References

• Bauman, Z. (2013). Liquid Modernity. Polity Press.
• Gilligan, C. (1982). In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women’s Development. Harvard University Press.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Translated by Mary Gregor. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
• Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.
• Nussbaum, M. C. (2011). Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach. Harvard University Press.
• Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Ross, W. D. (1930). The Right and the Good. Oxford University Press.
• Slote, M. (2010). The Ethics of Care and Empathy. Oxford University Press.
• Singer, P. (2011). Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press.
• Timmons, M. (2005). Friendship and Moral Obligation. Oxford University Press.