Expository Essay on Science and Ethics

In an expository essay of 600-1000 words, consider whether or not scientists should think about the possible positive or negative outcomes of their research. You essay should take a firm stance on the topic. The last sentence of paragraph 1 MUST specifically and concretely answer the question: Should scientists care whether their work positively or negatively impacts other people? Paragraph 1: What is science? What are ethics? Is it important or unimportant to combine the study of science with the study of ethics? Should we see science as a morally neutral field of study? Should scientists care whether their work positively or negatively impacts other people? Paragraph 2: When scientists begin studying a new field or attempt to create a new invention, should they think about the economic impact of their new field or new invention? What is an example of a field of study or an invention that has had either a positive or negative economic impact? When scientists begin studying a new field or attempt to create a new invention, should they think about the political impact of their new field or new invention? What is an example of a field of study or an invention that has had either a positive or negative political impact? When scientists begin studying a new field or attempt to create a new invention, should they think about the moral impact of their new field or new invention? What is an example of a field of study or an invention that has had either a positive or negative moral impact? Paragraph 3: Which scientific discovery or invention has hurt humanity the most? Who discovered or invented it? When was it discovered or invented? In what concrete and specific way has it hurt humanity? What’s your evidence for your claim? Paragraph 4: Which scientific discovery or invention has helped humanity the most? Who discovered or invented it? When was it discovered or invented? In what concrete and specific way has it helped humanity? What’s your evidence for your claim? Paragraph 5: What advice would you give to an undergraduate beginning studies in the natural or applied sciences? Should such a student be concerned about the economic, political, social or moral impact that their studies may have? Use the Essay 1 Template. Your essay should be exactly 5 paragraphs long. You should use the essay template provided. Since this is the beginning of the term, you may use any sources you feel like except Wikipedia. If you are using an internet source, be sure not to copy and paste it, nor to try to use it by changing the occasional word. Be sure to cite your source. To do so, put the URL of the source in parentheses after the quotation or paraphrase. It is very important to remember that you have to cite your sources every single time you use them, even if you are using the same source over and over. It is very important to remember that you have to cite your sources even if you are not using any of their words. Even ideas and basic facts must be cited. Ideas and basic facts, like words, can be plagiarized. Your essay should be written in clear, correct, and formal English. Do not use the word “I” or address the reader with “you” or “we.” Make sure that you write in complete sentences and do not take short cuts with meaning. Every idea in your essay has to make sense on its own. Imagine that your essay is being read by a random person who has not been in your class, and who does not know the prompt. Do not use contractions (such as don’t, won’t, can’t and so on). Do not ask questions (an essay answers questions). Do not allow yourself to become emotional. Keep your writing completely neutral. Allow your ideas to stand on their own. A fancy sentence will not rescue a foolish idea. Essay 1 is due at midnight on the last day of this week. Essay 1 is worth a maximum of 5 points. Essay 1 will be graded by the Essay 1 rubric. You may submit your essay as a PDF or as a Word file. You may NOT submit your essay in any other file type. You may NOT submit a link to a Google Docs file. If you have any questions about Essay 1, please contact your instructor.