ENG103 for Critical Thinking and Communication in Business
Prof. Bauer-Ramazani

Type of Assignment: individual research paper (in memo form) and critical analysis of the impact of globalization on a particular stakeholder group; includes an ethical analysis of core values involved and actions taken. Click on the link in the title for the assignment, the  stakeholder groups, and related articles for the assignment.

Review the assignment in total and your stakeholder group questions in particular carefully. Use the specific guidelines in yellow below for writing each section of the memo.

RESEARCH: Check the SMC Librarians' BU113 Stakeholder Assignment site for information on sources and citation guides.

1.     Ethics case/situation:

Definition--Ethical Dilemma:
An An ethical dilemma is a predicament in which a business person must resolve whether an action, although benefiting the organization, individual, or both may be considered unethical.  An ethical dilemma may arise when two norms or values are in conflict.

2. Memo: Answer each of the following in several paragraphs.

Part 1: The Impact of Globalization on a Stakeholder Group (see groups above)

• How has globalization affected your particular stakeholder group?

Part 2: Objectives of Stakeholder Group

• What does your stakeholder group want?
• Why? What are their main arguments supporting their objectives?
• Discuss any actions taken by your stakeholder group to deal with globalization.

Part 3: Ethical Values and Dilemmas

• What core ethical values (pillars of character/ethical norms as outlined by the Josephson Institute of Ethics (Links to an external site.) <www.josephsoninstitute.org (Links to an external site.)>) relate to your stakeholder group?  Explain how these values relate.
• Are there any ethical dilemmas with respect to the needs and objectives of your stakeholder group? Discuss the core ethical values or norms in conflict.

Part 4: Recommendations

• How do you think your stakeholder group should respond to globalization issues?
• Analyze actions taken or recommended actions using at least two (or more) of the 7 Guidelines for Making Ethical Decisions (see below).

3. Writing Guidelines:

   1. Format: Use memo format. Remember to use section headings.
   2. Begin with an introduction that states the purpose of the paper and end your paper with a conclusion that summarizes the key points you addressed.
   3. References and in-text citations: Include at least 5 in-text citations and 5 references. All in-text citations must have a reference, and you should only list references which are cited in the text. Use the library databases to find authoritative and credible sources.
   4. Use Citation of Electronic Resources (Links to an external site.) <http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/BU113/citation_electr_references.htm (Links to an external site.)>) as a guide for in-text and reference citations. 
   5. Reference Citations – You may use the following methods to create your Reference List:
       A. Use the APA citation given from your library database search.
       B. Use a citation engine (Links to an external site.) to "build" a citation or use the Library's link to a citation builder (Links to an external site.) 
       C.  Refer to the APA Manual in the library or the APA Online Guide (Links to an external site.).
   6. Spell-check your paper and proofread it for wordiness, sentence fragments or run-on sentences, and mechanics (format, punctuation).

____________________________________________________________________________

Introduction

Write an introduction (2-3 sentences) which briefly states the situation.  Then write your thesis statement, which should include the purpose of the memo and give a preview of what the body of the memo will discuss.  You need to include, as keywords, all of the headings/topics you will address in the memo (highlighted below).

Briefly describe the situation and briefly mention the ethical dilemma.  (Then write: )The purpose of  this memo is to ___________________________________________________ (use the keywords discuss, ethical dilemma).  (Next, write a sentence that includes all of the headings/topics highlighted  below.  Use future tense and state what you will describe, state, express, argue, etc.). 

Part 1: The Impact of Globalization on a Stakeholder Group

In short, simple sentences, write 2-3 paragraphs (following the paragraph format) how your stakeholder group is affected by globalization. Use the appropriate discourse markers/transitions from Techniques of Sentence Combination and review them for grammar and punctuation.

Begin with a topic sentence that contains the keywords and answers the questions who? where? when? what?  Then in short, simple sentences, answer the questions who is involved, what happened/what is going on?what global connections exist? how have these global connections affected the stakeholder group. Answer the specific questions on the assignment for your stakeholder group. All supporting sentences that follow must provide more details, facts, explanations about these questions. Please note that some of your sentences will be in PAST TENSE, others in PRESENT PERFECT, so check all verb endings!

NOTES: Research/Paraphrasing/Referencing: To learn how to incorporate sources in-text and cite them properly, both in-text and in the reference section, please refer to Writing a Paraphrase.

Part 2: The objectives of the stakeholder group

Write 2-3 paragraphs answering the questions.

• What does your stakeholder group want?
• Why? What are their main arguments supporting their objectives?
• Discuss any actions taken by your stakeholder group to deal with globalization.

Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that uses the  keywords in the questions. Then give specific explanations, supporting your sentences with information from research. All supporting sentences that follow must provide more details, facts, explanations about these questions. Use the appropriate discourse markers/transitions from Techniques of Sentence Combination and check them for grammar and punctuation.

• Use in-text citations for your research sources.

• Use CAUSE-EFFECT structures and vocabulary to discuss the impact of the situation on your stakeholder group. See Techniques of Sentence Combination.

  • Examples: If ......., then....... .   

  •                 ....... because .......    OR  Because .........., ............. 

  •                 ......., so .........  . 

  •                 .............; therefore, .............  

  • VERBS: lead to, cause, create, generate, result in.

NOTE: Research/Paraphrasing/Referencing: To learn how to incorporate sources in-text and cite them properly, both in-text and in the reference section, please refer to Writing a Paraphrase.

Part 3: Ethical Values and Dilemmas

Describe in detail what the ethical dilemma/issue is. Why is this a problem? Refer to the key points in the lecture.

Begin with a topic sentence that contains the keywords from the heading (ethical dilemma) and answers the questions what is the ethical dilemma confronting the stakeholder group?  Then in short, simple sentences, answer the question which ethical values are in conflict?  Who will be hurt?  Who will benefit?  All supporting sentences that follow must provide more details, facts, explanations about these questions.  For ethical norms (or 6 Pillars of Character), use the 6 Pillars of Character from the Josephson Institute). In the rest of the paragraph, answer the question How is each core ethical value involved?  Write supporting answers for each core ethical value that you identified in your topic sentence.  Use the appropriate discourse markers/transitions from Techniques of Sentence Combination and check them for grammar and punctuation.

NOTE: Research/Paraphrasing/Referencing: To learn how to incorporate sources in-text and cite them properly, both in-text and in the reference section, please refer to Writing a Paraphrase.

Part 4: Recommendations

Write 2-3 paragraphs.

Paragraph 1: Begin with a topic sentence. Then discuss how your stakeholder group should respond to globalization issues. Discuss alternative ways to solve the ethical dilemma/issue(s) involved in this globalization issue. Include the keywords alternative courses of action and tradeoffs. In the rest of the paragraph, discuss each alternative in detail and show how this alternative will affect each of the stakeholders involved positively or negatively.  Use CAUSE-EFFECT vocabulary, e.g. If ......., then....... .    ......., so .........  .  .............; therefore, .............   verbs: lead to, cause, create, generate, result in

Paragraph 2: Begin with a topic sentence that states which course of action would be the best solution. Use one of the 7 Guidelines for Making Ethical Decisions (see below). If the solution passes the test, it is an ethical solution!  If the solution does not pass the test, the decision is unethical.  Please discuss the test you used and the result.  Also, consider the following questions: How many stakeholders will benefit from this alternative vs. the other ones?  Who will be affected negatively?  Which values are more important?

Paragraph 3:  Begin with a topic sentence that states another solution. Use one of the 7 Guidelines for Making Ethical Decisions (see below). If the solution passes the test, it is an ethical solution!  If the solution does not pass the test, the decision is unethical.  Please discuss the test you used and the result.  Also, consider the following questions: How many stakeholders will benefit from this alternative vs. the other ones?  Who will be affected negatively?  Which values are more important?

NOTE: Research/Paraphrasing/Referencing: To learn how to incorporate sources in-text and cite them properly, both in-text and in the reference section, please refer to Writing a Paraphrase.

Conclusion
Write a concluding paragraph (2-3 sentences) in which you restate the thesis statement from the introduction.  Briefly restate your suggested solution and why this is the best solution.