How to Write an Ethics Paper or Essay With Tips and Examples

An ethics essay is one type of essays that students write to present their ideas about what is good or bad, right or wrong, white or black, and approved or prohibited in terms of various theories, approaches, techniques, practices, actions, behaviors, responsibilities, morals, results, obligations, virtues, and others, developing essential writing skills. When writing an ethics paper, students should understand that such an essay differs from other assignments, and it focuses on elaborating on issues with ethical or moral implications in philosophy. Basically, this elaboration entails writers arguing for a stand on an ethical or moral issue. Moreover, when writing such a composition, students should follow a basic essay structure: introduction-body-conclusion. In each of these sections, learners should capture critical elements, such as a thesis statement in the introduction part, topic sentences in body paragraphs, and a thesis restatement in the conclusion part. Hence, students need to learn how to write a good ethics paper or essay to demonstrate their knowledge of philosophy by using ethical and moral sides of an issue.

General Aspects

Academic writing is a broad discipline that exposes students to critical skills, including interpretation, explanation, reflection, and analysis of many essay topics. Basically, essay writing is one of the academic exercises that enable students to build these skills. One of the essay types that students write is a research paper on ethics. In this case, writers begin a research paper about ethics by introducing an assigned topic, explaining its significance, and presenting a clear thesis statement. When writing ethics essays in philosophy, students address issues related to morality, such as aspects of right and wrong or good and bad. Then, such concepts of ethics and morals underlie the importance of the right behaviors. In various settings, such as workplaces, humans establish codes of ethics and conduct to guide behavior. Therefore, when writing such compositions, a student’s focus is on how humans embrace or disregard good morals in society.

What Is an Ethics Paper and Its Purpose

According to its definition, an ethics paper is a written work that examines moral issues, ethical dilemmas, and contradicting cases, exploring questions of right and wrong. The primary purpose of writing an ethics paper is to examine and analyze various ethical theories, apply them to real-life situations, and present well-reasoned arguments to support a specific viewpoint on an author (Baron et al., 2014). Through this process, such a work aims to stimulate critical thinking and ethical reasoning analysis, helping people to understand different moral perspectives and refine their own beliefs. By examining the lens of ethical principles and their applications, such essays contribute to academic discourse, guide professional practices, and enhance moral awareness. At the individual level, people learn how to reflect on their values and the implications of their choices (Gorichanaz, 2023). Besides, an ethics paper typically includes an introduction with a thesis statement, a literature review, arguments and counterarguments, an analysis, and a conclusion. In terms of pages and words, the length of such a work can vary based on specific course requirements, topic’s complexity, guidelines provided by the instructor or institution, and academic levels:

High School

Pages: 2-5 pages
Words: 500-1250 words

College (Undergraduate)

Pages: 5-10 pages
Words: 1250-2500 words

University (Advanced Undergraduate or Honors)

Pages: 10-15 pages
Words: 2500-3750 words

Master’s

Pages: 20-30 pages
Words: 5000-7500 words

Ph.D.

Pages: 30-50 pages or more
Words: 7500-12,500+ words

1. Defining Features or Characteristics

Like all other types of papers, an ethics essay has unique features that define it as an academic text. Writing ethics involves explaining and evaluating moral principles, applying them to specific situations, and providing reasoned arguments supported by evidence (Stichler, 2014). To some extent, these features influence an essay structure of a paper. Basically, the first feature is proof of the importance of a topic. In this case, students show this importance by constructing essay topics as challenging issues facing society, hence talking about it. Then, the second characteristic is a thesis statement, and learners in philosophy formulate them to shed light on a topic. Further on, the third feature is arguments that support a thesis, and the fourth characteristic is possible counterarguments. Moreover, the fifth feature is a rebuttal, where writers insist on the strengths of their arguments while acknowledging possible or real counterarguments. In turn, the sixth characteristic is a sum-up of an ethics paper. Here, authors emphasize a thesis statement by justifying arguments in their favor that they provide in a written document. Therefore, to write a professional ethics paper, people clearly define a specific moral issue, use relevant ethical theories, provide reasoned arguments, and cite scholarly sources (Stichler, 2014). In turn, an argument can be considered as an ethical argument if this statement meets certain criteria that distinguish it from other types of claims. Here are key characteristics that make an argument an ethical argument:

Moral Principles: The argument is based on moral principles or ethical theories and involves considerations of right and wrong, justice, fairness, duty, virtue, or other good/bad concepts.
Normative Statements: Moral claims include normative statements, which prescribe how people ought to act rather than merely describing how they do act.
Reasoned Justifications: The statement provides reasoned justifications for its claims, relying on logical reasoning rather than emotional appeals or mere opinions.
Universalizability: Philosophical approaches often aim for universalizability, meaning the principles applied in the argument should be applicable to all similar situations, not just the specific case being discussed.
Consideration of Stakeholders: The argument takes into account the impact on all relevant stakeholders, considering how the actions or policies will affect different individuals or groups.
Ethical Theories and Principles: The claim often references established moral theories and principles, such as utilitarianism (maximizing overall happiness), deontology (duty-based ethics), virtue ethics (focusing on character), or rights-based approaches.
Consistency: Strong arguments strive for consistency, ensuring moral principles applied are coherent and do not lead to contradictory conclusions in different situations.
Moral Language: The sentence uses moral language, such as “right,” “wrong,” “ought,” “duty,” “rights,” “justice,” “virtue,” and others, to articulate its points.
Impartiality: It often requires impartiality, and key decisions should not be biased by personal interests but should consider the perspective of others affected.
Ethical Reflection: The claim involves ethical reflection, encouraging critical examination of moral beliefs and assumptions to arrive at a well-reasoned conclusion.

2. How Does an Ethics Paper Differ From Other Essays

There are many types of essays that students write under a discipline of philosophy. Basically, each essay type has unique characteristics, and they distinguish it from other papers. For an ethics essay, these characteristics include addressing a moral issue, using an ethical lens to make arguments regarding a controversial matter, or explaining a dilemma (Jansen & Ellerton, 2018). Ideally, this type of paper focuses on elaborating on ethics and morality. In contrast, a narrative essay focuses on telling the writer’s story, while an informative essay focuses on educating the audience concerning a topic. Moreover, while some papers, like narrative or college application essays, utilize the first-person language, an ethics essay takes a formal approach to a third-person language. As a result, a good ethics paper clearly defines a particular moral problem, applies relevant ethical theories, presents balanced arguments, and provides well-reasoned conclusions.

3. How to Know if Students Need to Write an Ethics Paper or Essay

Generally, before students write some types of papers, they first consider the department or tutor’s requirements. Basically, these requirements can provide direct instructions, including a research topic, an essay outline, or a grading rubric (Baron et al., 2014). In this case, the latter helps students to understand the basic expectations of educational departments or tutors. Therefore, when students do not get direct instructions about their ethics topics, they can always know what type of essay they need to write by reading grading essay rubric requirements. For ethics papers, such prompts require students to take a stand on an issue of profound ethical or moral implications, such as fraud. In turn, key elements that tell students that they need to write an ethics paper or essay include providing an ethical argument, elaborating on a moral dilemma, or expounding on ethical and legal implications.

4. How Do Students Know if They Need to Write an Ethics Paper by Looking at an Essay Topic

Students consider the instructions given by departments or tutors when writing essays. Basically, these instructions provide directions on essay topics, and students should address them when writing their papers. When writing an ethics paper, students can know that they need to write this type of essay by looking at the department or tutor’s topic. Moreover, this ethics topic may require people to provide valid arguments concerning a matter, elaborate on a moral dilemma, or state whether an issue is ethical or legal (Deaton, 2019). In turn, a central message of a topic should require students to address an issue via a philosophical lens. As a result, to write an ethical dilemma paper, people describe a specific moral problem, discuss conflicting values, analyze possible solutions using philosophical theories, and conclude with a reasoned decision.

5. The Meaning of an Ethical Argument, Ethical Dilemma, and Ethical v. Legal Implications

Key elements that define an ethics paper include ethical arguments, moral dilemmas, and ethical and legal implications. For example, the term “ethical arguments” refers to a concept of taking a stand on an issue with moral implications and defending it (Baines, 2009). In this case, writers make relevant arguments to support their perspectives on an issue raising moral questions, such as fraud. Then, the term “ethical dilemma” refers to a situation where individuals find themselves whenever they face an issue raising ethical or moral questions, such as bribery (Baines, 2009). Moreover, authors are torn between two options, with one option having severe moral implications. In turn, the term “ethical versus legal implications” refers to a situation where a writer has to decide whether an issue, such as bribery, needs ethical or legal redress (Baines, 2009). Hence, ethical dilemmas mean the complexity of making moral decisions and require a balance between conflicting values and principles, while some examples of them are:

Moral Dilemma	Explanation
Lying to Protect Someone	Should you lie to protect a friend’s secret, knowing that telling the truth could harm their reputation?
Stealing to Feed a Family	Should you participate in a war you believe is unjust to fulfill your civic duty or refuse and face legal consequences?
Euthanasia	Should you assist in the euthanasia of a terminally ill loved one who is suffering despite it being illegal?
Reporting a Friend’s Crime	Should you report your friend’s illegal activities to the authorities, risking your friendship but upholding the law?
Breaking a Promise to Help Another	Should you break a promise to a friend to help another friend in a more urgent situation?
Employee Whistleblowing	Should you expose your company’s unethical practices, risking your job but potentially preventing harm to others?
Trolley Problem	Should you pull a lever toward you to divert a runaway trolley, killing one person but saving five others?
Medical Resource Allocation	Should you allocate limited medical resources to a young patient with a better prognosis than an older patient?
Conscription vs. Conscientious Objection	Should you participate in a war you believe is unjust to fulfill your civic duty or refuse and face legal consequences?
Privacy vs. Security	Should you support increased surveillance to enhance public safety, even if it infringes on individual privacy rights?

Examples of Ethical & Moral Themes

Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence: Concerns and Potential Solutions
The Ethics and Legality of Child Adoption
The Pros and Cons of Taking Vitamin Supplements
Plastic Surgery and the Pursuit of Beauty
Human Cloning: Is It Ethical?
Death Penalty: Key Pros and Cons
Abortion as an Intervention Against Teen Pregnancy
Is Voting a Moral or Legal Duty?
Does Driving an Electric Car Indicate Responsible Citizenship?
Social Media Use and Privacy
Should Schools Enact Anti-Bullying Policies?
Does Social Media Use Enhance or Undermine Socialization?
Combating Music Piracy: Should Governments Get Involved?
Organic Foods vs. Processed Foods: Which Is Healthier?
Global Warming and the Extinction of Animal and Plant Species
Should Politics and Church Separate?
Is It Justified to Bribe to Avoid a Legal Penalty?
Should Nurses Be Allowed to Assist Terminally Ill Patients to End Their Lives?
Corporate Fraud: Who Should Take Responsibility?
Is Corporate Social Responsibility a Humanitarian or Commercial Concept?

Ethics Paper Format

Section	Description
Title Page	Begin your paper by presenting the paper’s title, author’s name, course, instructor’s name, and date.
Abstract	Provide a concise summary of the paper’s content, including the main moral issue, theories, key arguments, and final remarks.
Introduction	Start an ethics paper with a compelling introduction that outlines a specific ethical issue, provide background information, and present a clear thesis statement concerning a moral problem under analysis.
Background	Write a relevant context and detailed background information about a particular moral problem being discussed.
Literature Review	Summarize existing research and ethical theories relevant to an assigned topic, highlighting different viewpoints.
Arguments	Include various arguments related to a corresponding moral issue, using relevant theories to support each perspective.
Counterarguments	Discuss potential counterarguments to the main thesis and address them using ethical reasoning.
Analysis	Critically examine arguments and counterarguments, applying theoretical principles to evaluate them.
Conclusion	End by summarizing the main points, restate the central thesis in light of the discussion, and provide final thoughts or recommendations.
References	List all the sources used for writing an ethical analysis and format them according to a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, etc.).
Appendices	Include any additional material, such as surveys, interview transcripts, charts, tables, or detailed explanations, if applicable.

Note: This ethics paper format is general, while some sections can be added, deleted, or combined with each other depending on the scope, requirements, instructions, and purpose.

Ethics Paper Outline

Like any other essay, an ethics paper follows a specific structure that underscores its outline. Basically, this structure comprises three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. When writing these sections, students must ensure they address all the essential defining features stated previously in their ethics essays or papers. When doing so, writers should confirm that the introduction and conclusion sections take 10 percent of the total word count of an ethics paper or essay, while the body, which is the main text, should be 80 percent. Hence, an essay outline of an ethics paper should look as below:

I. Introduction

A. Hook sentence.
B. Background information on an ethical dilemma.
C. Writer’s claim – A thesis statement covering a moral part.

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Argument

state a position of an argument;
support this position with evidence;
explain how this evidence is right toward this argument and evidence;
conclude why this argument is valid.

B. Counterargument

provide a counterargument to a position in the first body paragraph;
include evidence that supports this counterargument, being opposite to an argument in the previous section;
explain how this counterargument and evidence in this paragraph are correct by using an opposite perspective;
finish why this counterargument is valid for this case.

C. Rebuttal

define the weaknesses of a counterargument;
cover credible evidence that supports such weaknesses;
write how these weaknesses make a counterargument irrelevant;
end with a statement that explains why a counterargument is not valid compared to an argument.

III. Conclusion

A. Restate a thesis.
B. Sum up on the argument, counterargument, and rebuttal.
C. State a paper’s final claim with a moral lesson.

Explaining Each Section of an Ethics Paper Structure

I. Introduction

When writing the introduction section, authors of an ethics paper should be brief and concise. Here, students should inform the audience about the purpose of writing by accurately expounding on an ethical issue they intend to address (Baron et al., 2014). In essence, this aspect means highlighting their stand concerning an issue. Moreover, formulating a thesis statement helps to accomplish this goal. In this case, writers frame their minds and structure their compositions via the use of arguments, and they defend their stand on an issue of profound moral implications. Notably, when writing the introduction part, which signals the start of an ethical paper or essay, learners should begin with a hook to grab the readers’ attention. This sentence can be a popular misconception or a question that writers intend to answer when writing an ethics paper or essay. In turn, the next examples of starters can help writers to begin their ethical analysis and set the stage for a thorough exploration of the topic:

Moral implications of [issue] are complex and involve different considerations, such as … .
One of the most pressing ethical questions surrounding [issue] is whether … .
From the perspective of deontological ethics, [action] can be viewed as … .
A utilitarian approach to [issue] would suggest … .
The principle of autonomy plays a crucial role in the debate over [issue], as it emphasizes … .
In considering the ethical dimensions of [issue], it is important to weigh the potential benefits against … .
The controversy over [issue] highlights the tension between [value 1] and [value 2] … .
Philosophical lenses, such as [theory 1], [theory 2], and [theory 3] provide a framework for understanding [issue] by focusing on … .
The debate over [issue] raises significant moral concerns, including … .
Examining [issue] through the lens of [ethical theory] reveals … .

II. Body Section

When writing the body of an ethics paper or essay, students should use a thesis statement as a reference point. In other words, they should use a thesis statement to come up with several ideas or arguments in defense of their stand on an assigned ethical or moral issue identified in the introduction part (Deaton, 2019). Basically, rules of academic writing dictate that students should begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence, whose purpose is to introduce a claim or idea they intend to elaborate on in the section. Then, it is advisable that, when writing the body section, learners should use different paragraphs to separate arguments logically. Moreover, students should follow a sandwich rule when writing every body paragraph of an ethics paper or essay. In turn, such a paragraph structure means providing a claim, supporting it with evidence, explaining its relevance to the paper’s thesis, and ending with a transition sentence to be connected with the next paragraph logically.

III. Conclusion

The conclusion part is the last section of an ethics paper. In particular, an ethics essay should capture several themes in this section. Firstly, writers should restate a thesis statement. Secondly, they should summarize the main points made in body paragraphs. Further on, this aspect means summarizing the writer’s arguments for their stands toward an issue with moral implications (Baines, 2009). In turn, authors should reiterate the paper’s topic and state why it was essential to address an ethical or moral issue. Besides, students need to avoid providing new information in this section.

Example of an Ethics Paper

Topic – Euthanasia: Is It Ethical?

I. Introduction Sample

Terminal illness is a condition of profound pain and suffering for those affected, including the patients and their families. Today, some scientists support euthanasia, the aspect of assisting terminally ill patients in ending their lives. While health professionals should do everything to help their patients to avoid suffering, assisting them in ending their lives is unethical and immoral.

II. Examples of Body Paragraphs

A. Argument

Life is a sacred thing, and no human being has any justification for ending it, regardless of whose it is. For example, the premise of a debate about euthanasia, which refers to assisted suicide, is the prevalence of terminal illnesses that subject individuals to a life of pain, suffering, and dependence. Without any hope of recovery, some individuals have opted to end their lives with the help of their loved ones or health professionals. While there is every reason to empathize with these individuals’ fate, there is no basis for supporting their desire to end their lives. In turn, the sanctity of life does not allow human beings to end life, no matter the circumstances.

B. Counterargument

If there seems to be no hope of recovery, ending life is counterproductive in an age of significant scientific and technological advancements. Basically, scientists are working round the clock to find cures for incurable diseases that have proven to be a threat to humanity. For example, today, smallpox is no longer a threat because a cure is found (Persson, 2010). Therefore, the fact that there may be no cure for a disease today does not mean that there will not be a cure tomorrow. Naturally, human beings rely on hope to overcome moments of darkness, such as a terminal illness diagnosis. Nonetheless, it is the effort of the scientific community that has always brought hope to humanity. In this light, there is no ethical or moral justification for euthanasia.

C. Rebuttal

Euthanasia is not only a solution to terminal illness but also a sign of hopelessness and despair. When patients take the root of assisted suicide, it means that they give up on looking for alternatives in dealing with a problem. In this case, the fact that a terminal illness does not have a cure does not imply that it cannot be managed. Moreover, individuals who love a terminally ill person, such as family members and friends, hope to spend more time with them before an inevitable time happens. As such, terminally ill patients should use their families and health professionals to live longer. In essence, this aspect reflects true humanity – standing firm and determining amid of insurmountable odds. On that truth alone, euthanasia is an idea that deserves no thought or attention.

III. Conclusion Sample

There is nothing more devastating than a terminal illness diagnosis. Basically, such news punctures the hope of many individuals, families, and communities. Nonetheless, patients should not lose hope and despair to the point of wanting to end their lives because of being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Because life is sacred and there is always a higher probability of medical breakthroughs in an age of scientific and technological advancement, euthanasia is an unethical and immoral solution to a terminal illness.

Reference

Persson, S. (2010). Smallpox, syphilis, and salvation: Medical breakthroughs that changed the world. East Gosford, New South Wales: Exisle Publishing.

ethics-essay-sample.pdf

Summing Up

Essay writing is an essential academic exercise that enables students to develop writing skills. When writing an ethics paper or essay, students focus on taking a stand on an issue with ethical or moral implications. In this case, writers create a thesis statement that expresses their perspective on a moral issue, which can be an ethical dilemma. In the main text, authors provide arguments that defend their thesis statements. Hence, when writing an ethics paper or essay, students should master the following tips:

Develop the introduction-body-conclusion paper outline.
Introduce an assigned topic briefly and concisely in the introduction section.
Write a strong thesis statement covering a moral problem.
Use separate body paragraphs to introduce and defend arguments.
Ensure to provide a counterargument and a rebuttal.
Restate a central thesis statement in the conclusion section, including a summary of the main points (arguments that defend the paper’s thesis).

References

Baines, B. K. (2009). Ethical wills: Putting your values on paper. Da Capo Press.

Baron, P., Poxon, B., & Jones, L. (2014). How to write ethics and philosophy essays. PushMe Press.

Deaton, M. (2019). Ethics in a nutshell: The philosopher’s approach to morality in 100 pages. Notaed Press.

Gorichanaz, T. (2023). A compass for what matters: Applying virtue ethics to information behavior. Open Information Science, 7(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1515/opis-2022-0151

Jansen, M., & Ellerton, P. (2018). How to read an ethics paper. Journal of Medical Ethics, 44(12), 810–813. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2018-104997

Stichler, J. F. (2014). The ethics of research, writing, and publication. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 8(1), 15–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/193758671400800103