Case Studies

1. You have applied the MDR to Per Diem step by step. Now write a short essay explaining what you should do in this case, taking all four elements into account. Use every step of the MDR to determine a morally permissible course of action for the Per Diem scenario. As a military member and friend to Grace, are there any other actions you can take to support your decision?
2. Apply the MDR to decide what the right thing to do in the Clouds Over the Mountain case. Here, the right thing to do is not necessarily the same thing you would do as a service member, because the duty to obey lawful orders might override doing what you think is the best thing. If you decide that the right thing to do is contrary to your orders, then perhaps you could explain your point of view to your superiors and try to get your orders changed. Use every step of the MDR to determine a morally permissible course of action for the Clouds Over the Mountains scenario. As a combat leader, are there other actions you can take to support your decision?

A note about alignment: This course assignment aligns to Course Learning Objectives 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. All objectives are provided in the course syllabus. As you complete this assignment, consider the larger goals of this assignment and course.

Due

• Due by Saturday, 11:59 p.m. PT.

Guidelines and Requirements

• This assignment is worth 250 points.
• Your essay should be a minimum of 1000 words. Your cover page, citations and bibliography do not count towards the word requirement.
• You will be graded according to the Written Assignment Rubric located in the Details & Information panel on the right.
• Format: 12-point font, Times New Roman, and double-spaced.
• Ensure your essay has a dedicated introduction, conclusion, and references/citations as required.
• Be sure to follow Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition for citations. For more information on Chicago Style, refer to the or the website.
• Do not use any material outside of the course unless the sources are approved by your instructor.
• Please submit your paper as a Microsoft Word document by placing the cursor in the text box, select the attachment icon (paperclip), and select the file you want to upload. This will allow your paper to be assessed by SafeAssign. Only add the Word document file. Do not include additional text in the textbox.
• Your document file name should include the Course number Section number First initial Last name Module number Assignment type
• For example, 101003SChestnutM8Essay
• Only use letters and numbers in the file name. Do not use any punctuation or special characters.
• Late work will be deducted 10% per week. The maximum deduction will be 30% (three weeks or later).
• Organization and Structure
• Cover page. Failure to include a cover page can incur up to a 20% deduction.
• Complete omission of an introduction or conclusion will incur a 25% deduction with a maximum deduction of 50% in the Organization rubric if both the introduction and conclusion are omitted. (This is only applicable for the complete omission of an introduction and conclusion. Scoring an incomplete introduction and conclusion is determined by the instructor based on the rubric.)
• Sources (Notes (footnotes/endnotes) and Bibliography Section)
• At least three notes and a Bibliography are required to receive full credit in the Sources rubric.
• Failure to provide any notes and a Bibliography will incur a 50% deduction in the Sources rubric.
• Only providing one credible note or a Bibliography will incur a 25% deduction in the Sources rubric.
• Only providing one credible note and a Bibliography will incur a 10% deduction in the Sources rubric.
• Only providing two credible notes and a Bibliography will incur a 5% deduction in the Sources rubric.

Rubric Requirements:

• Content: Paper develops response to essay prompt that is original and contains appropriate depth and breadth for this audience, level of study and assignment. Counter arguments are addressed tangentially. Students demonstrate accomplished comprehension of the CLO(s) evaluated by this assignment.
• Organization and Structure: Paper possesses a single, coherent, and feasible argument communicated in the introduction. Papers organization is logical and sophisticated. Introduction contextualizes and problematizes thesis effectively, sections and paragraphs build a coherent and well-thought argument, and conclusion summarizes and insightfully presents implications of the argument.
• Higher Order Thinking Skills: Paper develops component parts of argument with refined connections and links between and among parts. Paper justifies judgment based on extensive and relevant internal evidence and/or external criteria. Paper develops original argument, idea, or concept.
• Sources: Evidence is extensive, relevant, and complete for this argument. Evidence is drawn from sources that are sophisticated and appropriate for this audience, level of study, and assignment.
• Language and Format: Paper uses language in an effective and original way to create an argument for this specific audience. Includes precise and specific word choice, appropriate tone, and appropriate level of complexity or creativity. Sentences are clear and sophisticated, displaying the writer’s skill with language. Grammatical or mechanical errors are insignificant. Paper follows format and conventions of required style.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate and apply foundational ethical theories associated with constraints, consequences, character, and special obligations and apply them to resolve a moral dilemma
• Apply the jus in bello criteria to determine the morality of specific actions within war: modern, historic, and potential
• Creatively frame and solve problems
• Identify scholarly sources accessing bias and veracity of supporting evidence
• Create superior outcomes by integrating alternative views within a group
• Develop written products that demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate complex topics clearly and succinctly

Sources:

Below I have attached a plethora of authorized sources throughout this course that you may use to support the essay as you see fit (along with the MDR and two articles the instructions and guidelines are referring to).