Ethical Decision-Making assignment

ASSIGNMENT TWO: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGICAL STUDY SKILLS: 1
Assignment Two: Introduction to Theological Study Skills.
Student
Institution
Professor

ASSIGNMENT TWO: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGICAL STUDY SKILLS: 2
TASK 1
1.0) Three methods of ethical decision making.
a) See-Judge-Act method (p. 4.5)
b) Philip Wogaman’s Method (p. 4.16)
c) Julia Caron’s Method (p. 4.20)
1.1) Models for ethical decision making
1.2) See-Judge-Act Model
Uses three steps to solve ethical dilemmas- see, judge and act, whereby seeing involves an
analysis of the situation and stating the core problem (p. 4.5).
Judging involves assessing the possible options, whereby one may use a teleological or a
deontological approaches (p. 4.8)
Judging entails selecting a decision and action on it. At this stage, a person should also develop a
plan of action (p. 4.12)
Philip Wogaman’s model
It is conducted in five steps- analysis of the situation, formulation of the dilemma,
exploration of possible options, statement of presumptions of what is bad or good and executing
an action and taking responsibility for the decision taken (p. 4.16).
The first three steps of this method are the same to the See-Judge-Act model.
Julia caron’s Model
This model can be executed in five steps, knowledge acquisition, seeking advice and
involving in dialogue with others, conducting a reasoned reflection, making the decision,
implementing the decision (p. 4.20). In acquisition of knowledge, a person should name the

ASSIGNMENT TWO: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGICAL STUDY SKILLS: 3
ethical problem, gather the relevant facts about the problem, determine the motives and align the
values and evaluate the alternative options (p. 4.20)
1.3) Case study
1.3) a) See-Judge-Act Method
b) Summary
This method can be carried out in three primary steps- seeing, judging and acting on a
specific ethical dilemma (Carlson, 2016, p. 21). Seeing the problem entails analyzing the
situation and pinpointing the problem. At this stage, the problem-solver should begin by stating
the ethical problem and any other issues related to the problem, then find all the facts and
feelings relating to the issue and any other ethical norms and values (Mackin, 2012, p. 333). This
leads on to the second step- the Judge step where the problem-solver begins to assess the
different possible alternatives. At the Judge stage, a person should look at the advantages and
disadvantages of the available alternative options. The person should then reflect on the options
in light of the scriptures, church traditions experience and reason. The person may adopt
different ethical approaches like deontological or teleological approaches (West, 2013, p. 43).
The final step is Act. At this stage, the person should take a conscious decision and make a
decision on the course of action to take. Furthermore, the person needs to evaluate whether the
course of action is justified and able to work.
1.4) Solving the Problem Using See-Judge-Act model
Step 1: SEE
The central ethical problem: Should the student copy the information from the webpage
and send it to the marker as his/her own work or avoid copying it?
Other issues

ASSIGNMENT TWO: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGICAL STUDY SKILLS: 4
1) Does the student want to copy the information?
2) Does the student want to avoid copying the information?
If the student sees it fit to copy the information he/she will then have to decide
1) Does she/she want to notify the instructor about the website?
2) Does she want to keep quiet and make the instructor imagine the work is his/her own
original work?
Facts about the problem
How does the student feel towards his/her current status with regards to preparation for
the assignment of the third course?
How will the student’s instructor feel or react when they learn that the student has
copied?
What is the school’s policy with regards to examination integrity, cheating and
plagiarism?
What are the moral standards and religious views about dishonesty and how will the
church view the student’s acts?
Are there other options available for the student apart from copying the material?
My feelings about the student
The student was unable to read the workbooks and prepare for his/her assignment for the
third course because of time.
The student wants to pass the third course assignment.
The student has done some web research and found some relevant information about the
assignment which he/she may copy.

ASSIGNMENT TWO: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGICAL STUDY SKILLS: 5
What I do not know is how the teacher would react on learning that the student copied.
Perhaps, the teacher will be frustrated and take an action to punish the student.
Power dynamics in the situation
The student has power to control the situation by either copying or not copying the
material. The instructor also has power to punish the student upon realizing that he/she copied.
Possible options
To copy the material
To leave the material
If the student decides to copy the material, then:
1) The teacher may discover the activity and punish the student.
2) The teacher may not realize and the student passes the assignment.
If the student decides to leave the material then the student my:
1) Fail the assignment due to lack of preparation
2) Get low marks.
Step 2: JUDGE
The student may adopt one of the options listed above. However, it is good to understand the
advantages and disadvantages of these options as evaluated in the following table. (Ghosn,
Taouk & Butcher, 2016, p. 127) (N- Negative outcomes, P- positive results):
To copy the material P the student will pass the assignment
N the student may be expelled
N the student will go against the moral values of honesty
N the student will breach the originality rights of the author of the
website.

ASSIGNMENT TWO: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGICAL STUDY SKILLS: 6
N the student will lose trust from his/her teacher
N The student will lose trust from the parents, the community and
the church when expelled.
Avoid copying the
material
N the student may fail the assignment.
N the student may get low marks in the assignment
P the student may get a second chance to do the assignment and pass
it
P the student will not be expelled because of dishonesty and
cheating
P the student may explain to the instructor that he/she was not ready
for the assignment and given more time.
P the student will have adopted a more ethical and moral decision
Evaluation of the options in the light of faith
Before, making any decision, the student should evaluate such options in light of faith and
ethical theories. These could be:
1) Which option will result in a greater good?
2) Which action will result into a better consequence?
3) What are the biblical teachings about honesty and cheating?
4) What does the student think God is saying to him/her concerning the situation?
The student should evaluate these options. He/she may take a deontological approach by
analyzing the rules and regulations established by the institution to control cheating and
plagiarism. If cheating and plagiarism may lead into expulsion, being awarded zero marks or the