The goal of this exercise is to help you learn how to address ethical topics in workplace writing.

The Exercise

You have been working for Newlook Cosmetics in the Product Development Lab for 15 years. One of your jobs is to test various products on animals to determine whether such products might be irritable or harmful to humans. While you used to conduct these tests without really ever thinking of them as potentially "cruel," lately you've come to have some second thoughts. It all started a few years ago when you read a book on animal consciousness that challenged traditional assumptions that since animals were non-human, human ethics did not apply to them.

You've even broached the topic with one of your colleagues in the lab, Beth Carlton.

"Yes," she says, "I know what you mean, Frank. I've had the same kinds of doubts about the ethics of what we do in this room, especially about the Draize Eye Irritancy Test."

You respond right away. "Really? I'm so glad to hear you say that. I wasn't sure how you'd respond."

"But what can we do?" Beth says. "Our work is important--if we start complaining we'll probably be fired and replaced by people who won't complain."

You pause for a moment and then decide to tell Beth what you've been thinking about. "I have an idea," you say. "I've been doing some research on my own lately, and you might be surprised at what I've discovered."

"Oh really? Like what?" says Beth.

"Well, there are alternatives to the kind of testing we do here," you say. "For one thing, we could simply lower the concentration of chemicals in the Draize Eye Test so that animals don't suffer so much."

"Yes," Beth interrupts, "but is it as effective?"

"Well," you respond "almost. It still tells us what is an irritant and what isn't, but it doesn't tell us how severely the animal would react."

"Interesting," Beth says. "Tell me more."

You continue. "I've also been reading about in vitro cell culture tests, which is an effective and accurate method of determining dermal and ocular irritations. Because isolated human cells are used to determine the irritancy, reactions can be observed in a short period of time."

"This sounds good," says Beth, "but we don't use either of those methods now."

"Well here's what I was thinking," you say. "I'd like to propose to Bob [the Lab Director] that we investigate the feasibility of adopting these two alternative testing methods, and perhaps other ones as well. They're certainly less cruel to the animals, and they may prove to be just as effective."

"Are you really willing to do that?" Beth asks. "What if he doesn't like your idea?"

"Well, it's a chance I'm willing to take," you say.

Your Assignment

Imagining you are Frank, write a memo to Bob proposing that he consider alternative testing methods. Consider the following guidelines and advice from Chapter 5 when drafting your memo:

• Identify the stakeholders: On whom would your proposal, if adopted, have an impact? Think not only in terms of the lab director, but management as well. What are the goals, needs, concerns, and values of your audiences?
• Emphasize benefits for your readers: Remember that your readers are not likely to take action that might hurt their position or their company's position. Your proposal certainly has ethical merit. But in the real rough-and-tumble business world, what other kinds of merit does your proposal have?
• Address your readers' concerns and counterarguments: What will worry your readers when they consider your report? What arguments might they make against your positions?
• Show that your reasoning is sound: In other words, your audience want to know not only that your conclusions make sense, but that they were arrived at in a sensible and reasonable manner.
• Don't mislead your readers: Be careful not to overstate the potential harm caused to animals under the current testing system.