Table of Contents
Directions
Your professor is teaching a class on Business. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response, you should:
- express and support your personal opinion
make a contribution to the discussion in your own words - An effective response will contain at least 100 words. You have ten minutes to write.
Class Discussion
Today, we are debating a sensitive issue in business ethics and customer rights. Assuming that legal protections are in place to prevent discrimination, should businesses be allowed to refuse service to customers based on the owner’s moral beliefs? Consider how this might impact society and business fairness.
Jessica: I believe businesses should not refuse service based on personal moral beliefs because it harms customers and limits equality. If one business refuses service, it creates unfair treatment and could encourage other businesses to do the same, which damages society’s trust.
Michael: I think it’s important to respect a business owner’s moral beliefs because businesses reflect their values. Refusing service may be a way for owners to maintain their integrity, and customers can choose to support other businesses instead.
Sample Answers & Evaluation
🏆 Perfect Score – The Sniper Approach (30/30)
While Michael argues that business owners should have the autonomy to refuse service based on moral beliefs, he overlooks the fundamental societal role that businesses play in ensuring fairness and discrimination-free environments. The core issue lies in balancing personal values against public responsibility. History shows the damaging effects when businesses refuse service on moral grounds, such as during the American Civil Rights Movement when segregationist policies were challenged. These practices not only harmed individuals but obstructed social progress and economic participation. Refusing service on moral beliefs risks repeating these injustices by allowing subjective standards to override equal access. Therefore, protecting customer rights and promoting inclusivity in commerce facilitates a more cohesive society and stable economy. Businesses must operate within legal frameworks that prioritize nondiscrimination to avoid fragmenting social trust and market fairness.
Teacher’s Feedback
Score: 30/30
Logic: This answer identifies a precise flaw in the opposing view regarding autonomy without public responsibility. It uses a strong real-world example from the American Civil Rights Movement, making the argument credible and insightful.
Golden Vocabulary: autonomy, facilitate, nondiscrimination
🏆 High Score – The Standard Approach (25/30)
I think businesses should not refuse service to customers because of the owner’s moral beliefs. This is because it can create unfair treatment and harm people who just want to buy or use a service. For example, if a restaurant owner does not serve certain customers due to their personal opinions, those customers will feel excluded and unhappy. Instead, businesses should welcome all customers and treat them equally. This way, the business gets more customers and builds a good reputation. It is important to keep the market fair and friendly for everyone.
Teacher’s Feedback
Score: 25/30
Logic: This essay has clear logic and is easy to understand, using a simple example of a restaurant. However, it lacks specific real-world evidence and deeper critical analysis compared to the 30-point response.
Golden Vocabulary: unfair treatment, exclude