Section 4 Web Assignment
OPTION Method
The moral dilemma I will be dealing with is doing, or not doing homework.
Options: Listing all the options on each separate sheet of paper is the first step. Some options would be: (a) doing all my homework, little by little, thoroughly (b) not doing homework at all, relaxing instead (c) writing down things that look like they apply, just to get it done for a homework check (d) copying someone else�s homework. Then the next step is listing all of the motives for these options. Motives like really learning and understanding, and then being prepared for a test (�a� motives) or just to be lazy; it�s easier to do nothing then to bust your butt for something you may not ever need again (�b� motives) or wanting to get it done so I don�t get in trouble but being too lazy to work to get it right (�c� motives) or even wanting to get it right for future reference but being too lazy to do it my self so I can learn something. The laziness is a motive I am ashamed of, as well as forcing me upon someone else because I�m too lazy, but it does make things easier.
Prayer: The next step is to present the options to God and pray for him to point me in the direction best suited for me and my goals. Maybe in this stage I would feel a pull in a certain direction, and that would be a good choice. Or maybe I�ll just realize one is completely out like not doing the homework at all, because it seems to hinder my goal for an �A�, but not realize anything about the other choices.
Testing: Testing each option against my values also puts different weights on each option, some better, and some worse. All but choice �a� seems to contradict my personal value to never give up on something; I want to at least try. Cheating also goes against my religious value of honesty. Making it look like I did work when I actually did not does as well.
Information: The next step is to consider the facts and advice of others, especially those who have faced this kind of decision before. There are some people I know who just slop things down and can get by on a homework check, and even pull of good test scores, sometimes better ones than me. These people would probably tell me how great this system works if I asked them. There are also many who do the home work and so they don�t have to study as much for tests, making it seem like less work. This provides another good argument for option �a.� Still others cheat on whatever they can and could argue that they�re decent grades for almost no work is easily worth it. Yet there are consequences against that which can be severe.
Obligations: Will any of these options conflict with things I�m obliged to, even those to God? By now it is evident that cheating is morally wrong, and against what God would want me to do. Not doing any work will bring down my grade, and right now I need a good grade (A average) to keep my good grade discount for car insurance, so �b� is knocked out too.
New Options: At this point if any new options have surfaced, such as going to school the next day and saying I don�t understand it, even though I haven�t really tried, or I do, just so I�m not expected to have it done, then the option should be put back at step one and put through the hole process before I can make my educated decision. (Laziness, lying, and you�ll probably still have to do the work eventually).
There�s nothing left to do but make the choice to do my
homework thoroughly, and really try to learn it. Any bad consequences of the action I should be able to live with, because they don't seem to be bad.