Sample Paper: Assignment #3 This paper earned a grade of 47/50 This grade consists of these components, per the rubric: Written Communication: 48 Critical Thinking: 46 Read the comments that follow the sample paper to learn what the graders are looking for and how they communicate those instructions. File name: Assignment_3.pdf (35.69K) Word count: 797 Character count: 3862 1 2 3 4 5 FINAL GRADE 47/50 Assignment #3 GRADEMARK REPORT GENERAL COMMENTS Instructor Ethical Dilemma: Great job!  Ethical dilemma is identified correctly.  You have also aptly described the competing pulls on Luke and brought out the ethical dilemma he faces here. The Golden Rule: Some good arguments made here towards theory application, but it is not complete! To apply this theory, you need to put him into other relevant stakeholders’ shoes (such as ABC’s stakeholders, other local community members, regulatory authorities, etc.) and ask what he would want himself to do in each case. Complete your arguments from each stakeholder’s perspective.  The next question is how he prioritizes between different choices.  You also need to consider the theory’s criticism that the Golden Rule leads you to the best decision only if you’re highly ethical. You need to discuss what its implications are. What does this hold for Luke? Does this help you to make a recommendation to Luke with greater support from the theory? Consider ending this section with a preliminary conclusion here, to sum up your recommendation using this theory. Virtue Ethics: Some good arguments made to describe the dilemma that Luke faces here, considering competing values. So, what does he do? Perhaps, you could argue this better using the standards of Luke’s professional and social communities, and the perspective of the disclosure rule. How would Luke feel if his professional community was to come to know that he had informed his brother about the upcoming project? What type of person does Luke want to be (by reference to his community)?  What character traits does he want to have?  Does consideration of the Disclosure Rule help you make decision for Luke? Final recommendation: Your final recommendations for Luke needed to be supported by arguments made towards application of theories to case facts. Application of theories to case facts needed to be done more completely, as indicated above.  A little more support to your final recommendations would make it more convincing. Also, consideration of the criticism of the theories may help decide which of the theories may be more applicable in this case. Understanding the theories, the case facts and the approach to finding a solution to the given problem needs to be tackled in a systematic manner. All relevant aspects of the theories, and the choices and their consequences must be equally considered. Written communication: Good effort! A little better organization of the application of theories to the case facts will he.

1. Sample Paper: Assignment #3
This paper earned a grade of 47/50
This grade consists of these components, per the rubric:
Written Communication: 48
Critical Thinking: 46
Read the comments that follow the sample paper to
learn what the graders are looking for and how they
communicate those instructions.
File name: Assignment_3.pdf (35.69K)
Word count: 797
Character count: 3862
1
2
3
4
5

2. FINAL GRADE
47/50
Assignment #3
GRADEMARK REPORT
GENERAL COMMENTS
Instructor
Ethical Dilemma:
Great job! Ethical dilemma is identified
correctly. You have also aptly described the
competing pulls on Luke and brought out the
ethical dilemma he faces here.
The Golden Rule:
Some good arguments made here towards theory
application, but it is not complete!
To apply this theory, you need to put him into
other relevant stakeholders’ shoes (such as ABC’s
stakeholders, other local community members,
regulatory authorities, etc.) and ask what he would
want himself to do in each case. Complete your
arguments from each stakeholder’s perspective.
The next question is how he prioritizes between
different choices.
You also need to consider the theory’s criticism
that the Golden Rule leads you to the best decision

3. only if you’re highly ethical. You need to discuss
what its implications are. What does this hold for
Luke?
Does this help you to make a recommendation to
Luke with greater support from the theory?
Consider ending this section with a preliminary
conclusion here, to sum up your recommendation
using this theory.
Virtue Ethics:
Some good arguments made to describe the
dilemma that Luke faces here, considering
competing values. So, what does he do?
Perhaps, you could argue this better using the
standards of Luke’s professional and social
communities, and the perspective of the disclosure
rule.
How would Luke feel if his professional community
was to come to know that he had informed his
brother about the upcoming project? What type of
person does Luke want to be (by reference to his
community)? What character traits does he want
to have?
Does consideration of the Disclosure Rule help you
make decision for Luke?
Final recommendation:

4. Your final recommendations for Luke needed to be
supported by arguments made towards
application of theories to case facts. Application of
theories to case facts needed to be done more
completely, as indicated above.
A little more support to your final
recommendations would make it more convincing.
Also, consideration of the criticism of the theories
may help decide which of the theories may be
more applicable in this case.
Understanding the theories, the case facts and the
approach to finding a solution to the given
problem needs to be tackled in a systematic
manner.
All relevant aspects of the theories, and the
choices and their consequences must be equally
considered.
Written communication:
Good effort! A little better organization of the
application of theories to the case facts will help
you improve your paper. Some key aspects of
theory application have not been considered or do
not come across very clearly.
Arguments to support the recommended action
could be developed in some more detail to make
your point convincingly, in line with the application
of the theories.

5. Do remember to proofread the paper to ensure
that there are no language, spelling and
punctuation errors.
PAGE 1
Comment 1 | Critical Thnk
Ethical Dilemma:
Great job! Ethical dilemma is identified correctly. You have
also aptly described the
competing pulls on Luke and brought out the ethical dilemma he
faces here.
Comment 2 | Critical Thnk
The Golden Rule:
Some good arguments made here towards theory application,
but it is not complete!
To apply this theory, you need to put him into other relevant
stakeholders’ shoes (such as
ABC’s stakeholders, other local community members,
regulatory authorities, etc.) and ask
what he would want himself to do in each case. Complete your
arguments from each
stakeholder’s perspective.
The next question is how he prioritizes between different
choices.
You also need to consider the theory’s criticism that the
Golden Rule leads you to the best

6. decision only if you’re highly ethical. You need to discuss what
its implications are. What
does this hold for Luke?
Does this help you to make a recommendation to Luke with
greater support from the theory?
Consider ending this section with a preliminary conclusion here,
to sum up your
recommendation using this theory.
PAGE 2
Comment 3 | Critical Thnk
Virtue Ethics:
Some good arguments made to describe the dilemma that Luke
faces here, considering
competing values. So, what does he do?
Perhaps, you could argue this better using the standards of
Luke’s professional and social
communities, and the perspective of the disclosure rule.
How would Luke feel if his professional community was to
come to know that he had
informed his brother about the upcoming project? What type of
person does Luke want to be
(by reference to his community)? What character traits does he
want to have?
Does consideration of the Disclosure Rule help you make
decision for Luke?

7. Comment 4 | Written Comn.
Written communication:
Good effort! A little better organization of the application of
theories to the case facts will
help you improve your paper. Some key aspects of theory
application have not been
considered or do not come across very clearly.
Arguments to support the recommended action could be
developed in some more detail to
make your point convincingly, in line with the application of
the theories.
Do remember to proofread the paper to ensure that there are no
language, spelling and
punctuation errors.
Comment 5 | Critical Thnk
Final recommendation:
Your final recommendations for Luke needed to be supported by
arguments made towards
application of theories to case facts. Application of theories to
case facts needed to be done
more completely, as indicated above.
A little more support to your final recommendations would
make it more convincing.
Also, consideration of the criticism of the theories may help
decide which of the theories
may be more applicable in this case.

8. Understanding the theories, the case facts and the approach to
finding a solution to the given
problem needs to be tackled in a systematic manner.
All relevant aspects of the theories, and the choices and their
consequences must be equally
considered.
A B C D F
Written
communication
Written
communication
Written
communication
Written
communication
Written
communication
Clearly arranged
and organized;
Professional tone
(i.e., appropriate
choice of words for

9. business writing);
Sentences are easily
understood,
concise, direct, and
effective;
No noticeable
editing errors; AND
Paper follows
required format.
For the most part…
Clearly arranged and
organized;
Professional tone;
Sentences are
functional; AND/OR
Very few editing
errors.
In many places…
Confusing due to
unclear sentences or
paragraphs, and/or
lack of organization;

10. Many sentences are
overly simple or
needlessly
complicated;
AND/OR
Several editing
errors.
In most places…
Confusing due to
unclear sentences
or paragraphs,
and/or lack of
organization;
Most sentences are
overly simple or
needlessly
complicated;
AND/OR
So many editing
errors that paper is
difficult to read.
Wholly ignores
assignment
instructions;
Sentences are
incoherent or
nonsensical;

11. AND/OR
Paper is difficult to
read, careless,
irresponsible.
Critical thinking
and knowledge
application
Critical thinking and
knowledge
application
Critical thinking and
knowledge
application
Critical thinking
and knowledge
application
Critical thinking and
knowledge
application
Event discussed
represents most
pressing ethical
issue;
Full understanding
of the ethical
theories discussed
(including

12. appropriate
discussion of
criticisms or
disadvantages of
each ethical lens
applied);
Full consideration
of the issues and
application of the
facts to the theories;
For the most part…
Full understanding
of the ethical
theories discussed;
Full consideration of
the issues;
Demonstrates a full
understanding of the
ethical theories
applied;
Arguments and
sentences are well-
supported and
rational;
In many places…
Lacks full

13. understanding of the
ethical theories
discussed;
Lacks full
consideration of the
issues;
Arguments and
sentences are not
rational or well-
supported;
Arguments may not
be presented in a
logical order;
Conclusion may not
follow rationally
In most places…
Lacks full
understanding of
the ethical theories
discussed;
Lacks full
consideration of the
issues;
Arguments or
sentences are not
rational or well-
supported;

14. Arguments may not
be presented in a
logical order;
Most of the paper
remains unfinished;
Rambles
incoherently;
AND/OR;
Paper has very little
original thought
because most of the
analysis is from
quoted sources.
Arguments and
sentences are well-
supported and
rational;
Logical flow of
arguments;
Conclusion follows
rationally from the
arguments
presented; AND
Paper presents

15. mostly original
thought (with use of
occasional quotes,
if appropriate).
Logical flow of
arguments;
Conclusion follows
rationally from the
arguments
presented;
Paper presents
mostly original
thought (with use of
occasional quotes, if
appropriate).
from the arguments
presented; AND/OR
Paper has little
original thought
because most of the
analysis is from
quoted sources.
Conclusion may not
follow rationally
from the arguments
presented;
AND/OR

16. Paper has very little
original thought
because most of the
analysis is from
quoted sources.
Analysis and Recommendations
Facts:
ABC plans to build a retail store for adult entertainment on the
recently purchased property. The store will be situated in the
neighborhood of Luke's brother Owen. Luke worries that the
neighborhood's property values will significantly decline if the
store's plans are made known. In a month, ABC wants to release
the project to the public. Luke is worried about the
confidentiality obligations placed on his business, but he is also
close to Owen (Hoffman et al., 2018). The real estate market
being what it is, Owen recently told Luke that he had an offer to
sell his house for an acceptable price. Owen is considering
selling, but he hasn't decided yet. When the housing market has
improved in a few years, he speculates that he might receive a
better offer. Luke, who is close to Owen, wants to support him
in making the right choice for his future.
Issues:
The protagonist, Luke, must decide whether or not to tell his
brother, Owen, about the upcoming adult entertainment retail
store that will be built on the corner of Owen's neighborhood. If
Luke tells Owen, then Owen may sell his house before the store
is built and values drop, but if he doesn't tell Owen, he risks
breaching his confidentiality agreement with ABC. Luke should
weigh each option's pros and cons before deciding. On the one
hand, if he tells Owen about the store, Owen may be able to sell
his house at a higher price and avoid the negative impacts of

17. living near an adult entertainment store. However, Luke would
be breaching his confidentiality agreement with ABC, which
could lead to serious consequences for him.
On the other hand, if he doesn't tell Owen about the store, he
risks Owen's anger and betrayal if Owen finds out later. In the
end, Luke must decide what is more important to him: his
relationship with his brother or his obligations to his company.
If he values his relationship with his brother more, he should
tell Owen about the store. However, if he values his obligations
to his company more, he should keep the information to himself.
Lens and analysis:
Utilitarian Theory
The utilitarianism theory is based on the principle of
maximizing utility or happiness. In other words, the right thing
to do is the thing that will produce the most happiness for the
most people (Hayward, 2022). When applied to the facts of this
case, the utilitarianism theory would suggest that Luke should
not tell Owen about the upcoming adult entertainment store.
This is because doing so would likely decrease Owen's
happiness (by decreasing the value of his property) and would
not produce any happiness for anyone else. The utilitarianism
theory would therefore conclude that Luke should keep the
information to himself.
The pros of the utilitarianism theory are that it considers the
happiness of all people involved in a situation. The cons of the
utilitarianism theory are that it does not always produce the
most ethical results. For example, in this case, the utilitarianism
theory would allow ABC to build the store and decrease the
happiness of the surrounding neighborhood as long as the
overall enjoyment of the people involved is increased.
Kant's categorical imperative
Kant's categorical imperative is an ethical theory that states that
an action is only morally good if it is done for the sake of duty.
In other words, an effort is only morally reasonable if it is done
out of a sense of obligation (Hayward, 2022). This means action
cannot be morally good if it is done for self-interest. For

18. example, if someone donates money to a charity out of a sense
of duty, that action is morally good. However, if someone
donates money to a charity out of self-interest, that action is not
ethically sound.
Applying Kant's categorical imperative to the facts of the case,
it is clear that Luke has a duty to ABC to keep the plans for the
store confidential. However, Luke also has a responsibility to
his brother Owen to tell him about the plans for the store. Given
that Luke cannot fulfill both duties, he must choose which duty
to perform. Kant would say that the only morally good option is
for Luke to tell Owen about the plans for the store, even though
it means breaking his confidentiality agreement with ABC. This
is because Luke's duty to his brother is more important than his
duty to ABC. This is because ABC is a company, and companies
are not as important as family. Therefore, the only morally good
option for Luke is to tell Owen about the plans for the store.
Conclusion:
As an advisory of the ethics department of ABC Company, the
utilitarian theory would be the best ethical theory to base the
recommendation/conclusion on in the given case. The
Utilitarian theory is based on the principle of maximizing
utility, which means that the morally right action is the one that
produces the most outstanding amount of good for the most
significant number of people. In the given case, the ethically
right move would be for Luke to tell Owen about the upcoming
store so that Owen can make an informed decision about
whether or not to sell his house. This would produce the most
outstanding amount of good for the most significant number of
people because it would allow Owen to make a decision that is
in his best interest and prevent Luke from violating his
confidentiality obligations to ABC.
Work Cited
Hoffman, W. M., Frederick, R., & Schwartz, M. S. (2018).
Business ethics : readings and cases in corporate
morality. Wiley Blackwell.

19. https://www.wiley.com/en-
us/Business+Ethics:+Readings+and+Cases+in+Corporate+Moral
ity-p-9781118336687
Hayward (2022)
Utilitarianism, Universal Ethics, Golden Rule, and
Virtue Ethics. (2020). Paper per Hour.
https://paperperhour.com/utilitarianism-universal-
ethics-golden-rule-and-virtue-ethics/
2
Facts
Luke who works at ABC Company wants advice based on the
recent project he has been given by the company. Luke has been
asked to work on the company’s recent land aimed to build an
adult entertainment store within his brother’s recent
neighborhood. Based on the plan, the land would affect the
surrounding neighborhood market price. Additionally, due to
the company’s loyalty set up Luke cannot attempt to give the
information to the public before the company makes the
property public. The company also plans to give the information
to the public exactly a month from today. This happens after
Owen got an offer to sell his house however, he chooses not to
hope that the market rates might increase with time.
Issues
Luke faces great ethical issues in his place of work while trying
to maintain the loyalty of the ABC company by not spilling out
information to his bother about the upcoming project that would
negatively impact the market rates within the community. On
the other hand, if he chooses to follow company rules, it ends
up that he will have failed his brother and the two might end up
having a strained relationship. If he chooses to announce the

20. information to his brother, then it is likely that he will risk his
job which creates more issues.
Ethical Analysis
Golden Rule: The rule is a philosophy that guides how people
live their lives and suggests many other people should be
treated. Fairness and respect are determined by relationships
with people. People tend to always act good for others since
they would love to be treated in the same way. Hence, the
famous saying that we should do unto others what we expect
them to do unto us. In this case, while we apply the golden rule,
two cases of the incident may exist. The case of Luke and his
brother Owen and the case of Luke and his work ethics
concerning ABC Company.
Therefore, if we reverse the case and fit in Luke's co-workers
with the help of the Golden rule, we find that one must
reciprocate what they would wish to be done to them. Luke
would not wish his information is disclosed if he worked in the
company, the colleague would have messed the company up at
large. Consequently, he would not wish the information to be
shared. If Luke was still a client at the company and realizes his
information is not confidential, it would create issues.
On the other hand, it is through the golden rule that Luke would
love to see the same case from his brother's view. If it happens
his brother knew the information that his job would be
terminated, he will alert him early enough to look for options,
however, if Owen would choose not to help him, he would lose.
Virtue ethics
The Virtue of ethics implies a broad understanding of the
concept of the role of character and that of moral philosophies
that tie around the understanding that one should act in order of
their consequences. This means that Luke can choose either to
be a good brother or a loyal employee. It all rolls on him, if he
chooses to be a loyal employee and not share the information
about the company with his brother, he should brace himself for
the consequences of the same. His actions would lead to a poor
relationship with his brother and might cause an entire turmoil

21. between the two even shortly.
If look chooses to be a good and virtuous brother, then he must
also be ready to brace for the consequences that will come with
him losing his job and saving his brother to sell his property
before the company goes ahead with its plans. This means that
the task he was allocated to run the upcoming project will end
and his job will come to a stop. All this will affect his financial
status at the cost of maintaining virtue ethics and the
relationship between him and his brother Owen. This implies
that both virtuous sides give a chance for individuals to choose
what they feel is most applicable to their lives and what
consequences they could take up easily.
Conclusion
Based on the case, being the advisor at the ABC company
accredited the responsibility to take care of employee
challenges and give the best way forward. The impacts of Virtue
ethics and the golden rule play a major role in what people
choose to go with. Additionally, I feel that Luke should not
disclose ABC company plans on the new project since he always
has a chance to convince his brother to sell his house earlier
enough citing information that the market price is
unpredictable. Later after the company accomplishes its plan, it
is time to explain to his brother his deeds and how he intended
to help him and maintain his job as well. I choose virtue ethics
since it would apply best in this case scenario.
References
Lawrence, J. E., & Manolopoulos, D. E. (2019). An analysis of
isomorphic RPMD in the golden rule limit.
The Journal of Chemical Physics,
151(24), 244109.
Papouli, E. (2019). Aristotle’s virtue ethics as a conceptual
framework for the study and practice of social work in modern
times.

22. European Journal of Social Work,
22(6), 921-934.
Assignment 3
Suggested Length:
1400 to 2000 words
Ethical Theories to Apply:
Utilitarianism, Universal Ethics, Golden Rule, Virtue
Ethics
Task
You work in the Ethics Department for ABC Company (ABC).
Your department is dedicated to advising its employees about
their ethical obligations in the corporate setting. You are an
internal consultant who provides advice and most importantly,
recommendations for action to employees of the firm.
All communications you receive in this capacity are
confidential.
Luke, an employee of ABC, comes to you with the following
scenario and asks for your advice. He wants to fully consider
the situation.
Your task is to advise and recommend a course of
action based on the specified ethical lenses and facts as given.
Your recommendation must be based on only one of the four
ethical theories – not both or a combination of both. In other
words, your reasoning must support your choice. Choose one
theory only and support it with your reasoning.
Below are the facts that Luke provides to you.
*****

23. Luke has been asked to work on a project that involves
developing land recently purchased by ABC to build an adult
entertainment retail store. According to the plan, the land is
located on the corner of the neighborhood where Owen, Luke’s
brother, lives.
Luke knows that as soon as the plans for the store are made
public, property values for the surrounding neighborhood will
decrease significantly. ABC plans to publicly announce the
project one month from today.
Luke is concerned about his obligations of confidentiality to his
company. However, Luke is also very close to Owen, who
recently told Luke that he received an offer to sell his house at
an “okay” price given the current real estate market. Owen is
considering selling but hasn’t made any final decision yet. He
wonders if he might get a better offer a few years from now
when the real estate market improves.
What is the ethical issue, why is this an issue, and what should
Luke do about it?
*****
For assignment 3, prepare a memo, setting out your analysis and
recommendations, that considers ONLY the following ethical
lenses: Utilitarianism, Universal Ethics (i.e., Kant’s categorical
imperative), The Golden Rule and Virtue Ethics.
You must choose only one of the four theories to support your
recommendations.
(continued)

24. Remember that Assignments 2 and 3 are considered “drafts” for
Assignment 4.
In other words, you may revise and reuse parts of
Assignments 2 and 3 (facts, issues, description of the ethical
lenses) for Assignment 4, but please make sure that you make
improvements where indicated.
Your analysis for Assignment 4 will be different since you’re
incorporating all four theories into your analysis. But you may
reuse other elements of assignments 2 and 3 (facts, issues,
description of the ethical lenses) if they are written as well as
you can write them.

25. Page
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