Ethics & Professional

Communication
Professional Communications

Ethical?

I. The Importance of Ethics

A. Ethics is the branch of philosophy
that deals with issues of right and
wrong.
B. Questions of ethics arise when we
debate whether an action is
fair/unfair or honest/dishonest.

C. Ethical decisions are made by weighing

actions against a set of standards.

D. Speaking is a form of power and

carries heavy responsibilities, i.e. to be
truthful & devoted to the good of
society.

II. Guidelines for Ethical

Speaking
A. Make Sure Your Goals are Ethically
Sound~ Ask yourself:
1. What is the goal of this speech?
2. Am I compromising my beliefs?

B. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5nJnsJ3jS8&feature=relate
Be
Fully
Prepared
for
Each
d
Speech

1. Dont waste time!

2. Analyze the audience, prepare
visual aids, organize your ideas and
practice!

3. Your speech will impact your

audience; make sure you dont
misquote information.

4. Learn the whole story and present all

sides.

C. Be Honest in What You

Say

1. You have a duty to be accurate &

fair in presenting information.

2. Do not present other peoples

words as your own.

D. Avoid Name-Calling & Sexist

Language
1. Name-calling & using sexist
language undermines a groups
right to be fairly heard.

2. Respect the dignity of the diverse

groups in our society.

E. Put Ethical Principles into

Practice
1. Take your ethical responsibilities
seriously!
2. Ask yourself: Have I made a
conscious effort to put my principles
into practice?

III. Plagiarism

http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=TzV8GAtK0A0

Types of Plagiarism:
1. Global Plagiarism- stealing an
entire speech from a single source
and passing it off as ones own.

2. Patchwork Plagiarism- stealing ideas

from two or three sources and
passing them off as ones own.

3. Incremental Plagiarism- failing to

give credit for particular parts of a
speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NvA4hCOfjU

4. How to Avoid Plagiarism:

a. Start early and give yourself
enough time.
b. Consult a large number of sources
and come up with your own point of
view.

c. Cite your sources!

d. When you paraphrase information
or use direct quotes, give the author
credit.

IV. Guidelines for Ethical

Listening
A. Be Courteous & Attentiveclassmates need encouraging &
sympathetic listeners.

B. Avoid Prejudging the Speaker- strive

to understand & respect the speaker
before evaluating their message.

C. Maintain the Free & Open Expression

of Ideas- speakers have the 1st
Amendment Right to freely express
themselves, we must honor that.

Appearances Can
Deceive
What is she best known for?

http://www.youtube.
com/watch?
v=X9whxWNI7bE

Overcoming Stereotypes
List some stereotypes that are
commonly associated with the
following groups of people.

Teachers

Senior Citizens

Wealthy People

Challenge Yourself!
List some groups.
Brainstorm a list of stereotypes
associated with that group.
Think of a person, IN THE GROUP,
who does NOT fit the stereotype.

Asian Americans

Skateboarders

Blondes

Cheerleaders

Police Officers

Athletes

Texans/Southerners

Moms

African Americans

Hispanics