Assignment Instructions: Throughout the course, we have examined numerous environmental ethic perspectives, which has helped each individual to better understand how to rationalize different relationships between humans and nature. As we close out the course, you will take these perspectives and consider how they serve as a basis for the collective environmental ethic that guides our society and country.
For the final paper, you will complete a broad survey of U.S. government agencies to determine if the U.S. government has an underlying environmental ethic. Your survey should consist of a review agency mission statements, major statutes or laws, and major policies of several U.S. government agencies. Given that the paper is focused on environmental ethics, I recommend you select government agencies responsible for managing natural resource or environmental issues.
In your paper, you should explain the general environmental philosophy and ethic embodied by the U.S. government. Maybe you think there is none, and you would explain your basis for that. Present your thesis in the beginning of the paper and then discuss your supporting arguments for that position. You need to use agency mission statements and statutes as a primary source of information for your paper. Beyond those sources, you can use any other sources to help frame and develop your thesis.
Your paper should not exceed 10-12 pages of double-spaced text with 12 point Times New Roman font. Please use plain language and avoid rhetoric and jargon to the extent possible; however, I do expect you to use terminology that we covered in class to compare and contrast to your thesis. The paper must be have proper citations and references per APA guidelines. To access an example of a final paper, click on:
https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/science-and-technology-common/EVSP/EVSP508/Assignment%20Documents/2013%20Example%20Final%20Ethics%20Paper.pdf