What is the difference between an essay and a case study?
A critical essay is a sustained discussion of a general controversy or topic, in this case in professional ethics. As such, it should contain arguments that apply to more than one situation, unlike a case study, which looks at a single event or circumstance. In writing an essay, selecting a good topic is important. Since the point of an essay is to demonstrate your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments (this is the ‘critical’ part), you should choose a topic that is controversial. Writing about a topic in which there is little disagreement will not allow you to show much skill nor serve the intended purpose of the essay (i.e., to allow you to defend and convince your audience to accept your controversial position through argumentation). In constructing an essay around a given topic or controversy, it is important to identify the current range of reasonable opinions, as well as to discuss both reasons for and against your point of view. See pages 100-102 of your Study Guide for more
