AI in Assessment Example: Level 1

Reflective Essay (Ethics, 100-level)

At this “No AI” level of the five-level AI Assessment Scale (Perkins, et al., 2024) the assignment is completed entirely without the use of Al. This level requires students to rely solely on their own knowledge, understanding, and skills. Al must not be used at any point during the assessment.

Course: ETH 101 – Introduction to Ethics

Assignment Title: Reflective Essay on Applying Ethical Theories to a Real-Life Situation

Due Date: [Insert Due Date]

Assignment Overview:
In this assignment, you will write a reflective essay that explores how ethical theories apply to a real-life situation you have encountered. The purpose of this essay is to encourage you to connect the theoretical concepts learned in class with your personal experiences, allowing you to critically reflect on how ethics influence decision-making in everyday life. No AI tools are allowed in this assignment; the essay must be entirely based on your independent thinking, personal experiences, and reflections.

Objectives:

To apply ethical theories to a real-life situation, demonstrating an understanding of key concepts and their relevance to personal experiences.
To develop a reflective essay that connects theoretical knowledge with personal insights, encouraging deep, independent reflection.
To document your writing process through a process journal, showing the evolution of your ideas and the development of your essay.

Instructions:

Situation Selection and Initial Reflection:
- Think about a real-life situation where you faced an ethical dilemma or had to make a decision that involved ethical considerations. This could be a situation from your personal life, work, school, or community involvement.
- Reflect on the situation and consider how different ethical theories (such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, etc.) could apply. Identify which ethical concepts are most relevant to the situation and why.
Brainstorming and Essay Planning:
- Begin brainstorming ideas for your essay. Consider how you will structure your reflection, including the introduction, discussion of the situation, application of ethical theories, and your conclusions.
- Create an outline that organizes your thoughts and ideas into a coherent structure. This outline will serve as the roadmap for your essay.
Writing the Reflective Essay:
- Write your reflective essay (4-5 pages), ensuring that it is well-organized and clearly written. The essay should include:
  - Introduction: A brief description of the real-life situation you encountered and a preview of the ethical theories you will discuss.
  - Description of the Situation: A detailed account of the situation, including the context, the ethical dilemma or decision you faced, and the factors that influenced your thinking.
  - Application of Ethical Theories: An analysis of how different ethical theories apply to the situation. Discuss the principles of each theory and how they would guide your decision-making in the scenario.
  - Personal Reflection: A reflection on how these ethical theories influenced your actions, decisions, or understanding of the situation. Consider how this reflection has impacted your personal views on ethics and decision-making.
  - Conclusion: A summary of the key insights gained from the reflection, including any lessons learned and how you might approach similar situations in the future.
Process Journal:
- Maintain a process journal throughout the assignment. This journal should document your brainstorming, drafting, and revision process, including any challenges you encountered and how you overcame them.
- The journal should include entries that reflect your thinking at each stage of the essay development, providing insight into your independent work and thought process.
Final Submission:
- Submit your final reflective essay along with your process journal. Ensure that both are well-organized, clearly written, and professionally presented.
- The process journal should demonstrate your independent work and the evolution of your ideas from initial brainstorming to the final draft.

Evaluation Criteria:

– Depth of Reflection (35%): Demonstrating a thorough understanding of the ethical theories discussed and their relevance to the real-life situation. The reflection should show deep personal engagement with the material and insightful connections between theory and experience.

– Clarity and Coherence of Writing (25%): Presenting a well-organized and clearly articulated essay that effectively communicates your reflection and analysis.

– Application of Ethical Theories (20%): Accurately applying ethical theories to the real-life situation, with a clear explanation of how these theories guide ethical decision-making.

– Process Journal (15%): Providing a detailed and thoughtful process journal that documents your independent work, showing the development of your ideas and the steps taken to complete the essay.

– Writing and Presentation Quality (5%): Producing a professionally written and well-presented essay and journal, with attention to clarity, formatting, and adherence to academic standards.

Support Resources:

– Writing Center: The university’s writing center offers support for students working on reflective essays. You can schedule one-on-one appointments to discuss your ideas, receive feedback on drafts, and improve your writing skills.

– Office Hours: Schedule office hours with your instructor to discuss your essay topic, ethical theories, and how to structure your reflection effectively.

– Library Resources: The university library provides access to books and articles on ethical theories and reflective writing. Librarians are available to assist you in finding relevant resources.

– Peer Collaboration: Participate in peer review sessions where you can share your initial ideas and receive feedback on how to develop your reflective essay.

Academic Integrity:
This assignment must reflect your original work, based on personal experiences and independent reflections. No AI tools are allowed in the creation of the essay or the process journal. Misuse of external resources to generate content or failure to document your independent work in the process journal will be considered a violation of academic integrity.

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