Excerpts from A papers (assignment 4)
Includes excerpts from different papers (all earning As on the assignment)
Pat is the plant manager in one of ABC Company’s five plants. Her boss informed her in complete
confidence that the company will have to lay off 200 workers. Luckily, her job is not at risk. However,
a rumor is circulating in the plant, and one of her workers (who also happens to be an old friend) asks
her, “Well, Pat, what’s the word? Is the plant closing? Am I going to lose my job? The closing on our
new house is scheduled for next week. I need to know!” (citation removed)
FACTS
[This is a good statement of the facts because it is clearly, concisely, and directly worded.]
Should Pat disclose the information to her worker or should she keep it confidential? In this particular
case an ethical issue arises immediately from the conflict between a set of good values: honesty and
loyalty. Pat has to choose between being truthful to her friend or loyal to her company…
ISSUE
[This is a good statement of the issue because it describes WHAT the issue is and WHY it is an issue.
The sentences are also clearly, concisely, and directly worded. Note that the paper went on to discuss
in a bit more detail the difficulties presented by the conflict in values.]
ANALYSIS – APPLICATION OF ETHICAL LENSES/THEORIES
