We welcome your participation in the Ethics Essay Competition organized by Rotary Districts 5950, Rotary District 5960 and the Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC).

 

Eligibility   

The essay competition is open to sophomore, junior and senior high school students within Rotary Districts 5950 and 5960. Children of Rotarians are eligible to enter the competition.

• District 5950 Club Directory - http://www.rotary5950.org/club_directory.asp 

• District 5960 Map - http://www.rotary5960.org/showMap.cfm

 

Essay Topic              

The topic for this essay competition has three components:

• First, describe a situation when someone you know behaved in a way which might not have been fair to all parties concerned. Your topic might relate to school (example: cheating), extra-curricular (example: not following the rules), standards (example: sharing confidential information or gossiping) or any other aspect of your life. (30% of Your Essay)

• Second, state clearly the ethical issue(s) that you believe are raised by the behavior in your example. (30% of Your Essay)

• Third, and most important, state and defend your position by applying the Rotary 4-Way Test. (40% of Your Essay)

In so far as it is possible, please draw on and share personal knowledge or experiences. Please do not use the real names of individuals as you describe situations or issues.

 

Resource Materials

• Rotary International Four-Way Test - http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/RotaryInternational/GuidingPrinciples/Pages/ridefault.aspx

"Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"*

*Source: Rotary International website - www.rotary.org.

 

Rules

• Only essays submitted electronically will be accepted.

• Each essay must represent the original work of the author.

• Limit of one essay entry per person.

• Essays are limited to 3 pages, not including the title page or bibliography.

• Paper format: word document; double spaced; 12 pt. font size; 1” margins; pages must be numbered; and, each page, except the title page, must have a footer with the title of the essay.

• Title page must include: title of essay; name of author; grade of author (sophomore, junior or senior); name of school; and, school address and telephone number.

• Essays, sent as a word document attachment, must be submitted via email to the Center for Ethical Business Cultures at mail@cebcglobal.org. Paper copies of essays will not be accepted.

• Essays must be received by January 31, 2009.

• Essays will not be returned.

• Essays become the property of the Center for Ethical Business Cultures. Essays will be used to promote and/or publicize the competition.

 

Prizes              

One grand prize winner and one second prize winner will be selected.* The monetary prizes are to be utilized to further a student’s education: 

• 1 Grand Prize of $2,000

• 1 Second Prize of $1,000

• 2 Third Prizes of $500 each

What is meant by “prizes are to be utilized to further a student’s education”? Given the vast range of educational opportunities, and their associated costs, competition winners are responsible for deciding how best to invest their prize monies. For example, funds could be applied towards the:

• purchase of a computer and related software and accessories

• cost of an exchange program such as the Rotary Youth Exchange

• cost of educational music camp, language camp, etc.

• purchase of text books

• cost of college application fees

• cost of college entrance exams

• cost of tuition

etc.

Applicable taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

*If in the opinion of the judges no acceptable essay is submitted, no awards will be given.      

 

Judging

Essays will be judged by a combination of Rotarians, business leaders and educators. 

Each essay will be judged according to the following criteria:

Criteria	Points
Understanding of subject matter. (i.e. ethical reasoning, application of Rotary Four-Way Test, etc.)	1 - 15 points
Structure of essay. (i.e. persuasive argument, conclusions)	1 to 7 points
Writing. (i.e. grammar, spelling, sentence structure, concise language, etc.)	1 to 3 points
A total of twenty-five (25) points is possible.

The judges' decisions are final.

 

Timeline

All entries must be received via email by CEBC no later than January 31, 2009.  

Awards will be announced in April / May 2009 at a Rotary meeting or conference. Travel expenses are the responsibility of essay winners.

 

About the Organizers

• Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC) assists business leaders in creating ethical and profitable business cultures at the enterprise, community, and global levels. CEBC's staff speak in numerous public settings and conduct public forums promoting ethical leadership; provide leadership and development services including board governance for corporate, non-profit and government organizations; and with its University of St. Thomas academic partner, facilitate research in ethical cultures and help to educate the next generation of business leaders. To learn more about CEBC, please visit www.cebcglobal.org. 

• Rotary District 5950 consists of 3,100+ Rotarians in 60 clubs serving the greater Minneapolis area as well as central and southwestern Minnesota. To learn more about Rotary District 5950, please visit www.rotary5950.org.

• Rotary District 5960 has 3,400 members consisting of 64 clubs and 4 Rotaract clubs serving communities in western Wisconsin and most of southeastern Minnesota. To learn more about Rotary District 5960, please visit www.rotary5960.org.