BSL 212

After reading Chapter 2 of the textbook, watch the 2019 feature film, Dark Waters, directed by Todd Haynes, and starring Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway. Plan ahead to ensure you have time to view the film at least once before beginning your paper.

Essay Prompt:  

There are numerous examples of ethically ambiguous practices featured in the film. These practices may include actions, affirmative statements, omissions and/or schemes. Identify and explain onespecificethically ambiguous practice, including a brief description of the parties involved and how the practice worked. Then, utilizing the ethics material discussed in class and Chapter 2 of the textbook, analyze the ethics of the onespecific practice you are focusing on. Your analysis should:

(1) Includetwoof the “Theories of Ethics” (you must choose from Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Justice) and twoof the “Ethics Traps” presented in Chapter 2. 

(2) Define and explain the theories and traps you are utilizing.

(3) Apply the theories and traps to analyzethe ethics of the onespecificpracticeyou are focusing on.

(4) Use specific conversations and evidence from the film to assist in your analysis. 

Your paper must be written in essay format; in other words, it should not be divided into individual answers to the above questions. Your paper must include an introduction and a conclusion, and the bulk of your paper should focus on analysis, not recitation of facts. There is no need to consult sources beyond your textbook, your class notes, and the film itself (outside research is, in fact, discouraged). Your paper must be a minimum of 1000 and a maximum of 1200 words, and must be double-spaced, utilizing Times Roman 12-point font and 1-inch margins. In the upper left-hand corner of the first page of your paper, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course (BSL 212), the date, and the exact word count of your paper.

Direct quotes from the film or the textbook must be placed in quotation marks and the source should be noted in parentheses directly after the quote (Dark Waters) for the film, and Mann, Roberts, followed by the page number, for the textbook). Failure to comply with these specific instructions will negatively impact your grade, as reflected in the Analytical Paper Grading Rubric posted on Blackboard.  

Your Analytical Paper must be submitted in Word formaton Blackboard under the designated “Assignments” tab no later than the start of class on October 21, 2020.[1] Please note that the papers will be run through Safe Assignment, which will compare them against the entire Internet and our internal database to help detect plagiarism.  There is no makeup for this Analytical Paper; it is not subject to the quiz make up policy articulated in the course syllabus.  

Late papers will be marked down 10 points (out of the maximum of 100) for each day the paper is late. Submissions not uploaded to Blackboard by the due date and time will be considered late. There are no exceptions to this policy.

[1]Blackboard recommends that students using Macs should use Firefox or Chrome. The following is a link to instructions on how to use SafeAssign:  https://help.blackboard.com/SafeAssign/Student. Should you have issues with Blackboard, you can reach the Help Desk at 305-284-3949 from 9AM to 5PM or send an email to [email protected]