LEARNING MODULE IN C.L. 9 S.Y.

2020-2021
MODULE 8
DECISION PARADIGMS
CONTENT STANDARD: PERFORMANCE STANDARD:
The learners understand different decision The learners are able to make a
paradigms and dilemmas contemplative decision about a given
situation.
FORMATION STANDARD:
Learners will learn to pray and follow the will of God.

LEARNING TARGETS:
1. Identify and explain the different moral paradigms and dilemmas
2. State willingness to apply the paradigms when confronted with moral dilemmas
3. Pray for strength to overcome moral dilemmas

TIME FRAME: 1 week

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Open your Bible and let us Pray.

Gospel of St. Mark 2:23-28

Opening Prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

DOCTRINE
: Situation Analysis
KC’s Case
KC is a Grade 9 high school student who has a difficult dilemma to solve. Her
best friend, Marsha, is failing in Christian Living. She was far behind in her
assignments, got very low scores in class standing and quarterly tests, and failed to
submit other academic requirements. If Marsha does not get her grades up, she will not
be able to graduate with her class. Her teacher does not give any make-up work, so

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ACADEMY JOSHUA D. OJENAL

Madrid Blvd., Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro Designer

1
LEARNING MODULE IN C.L. 9 S.Y. 2020-2021
Marsha’s only chance is to get a high score in the final exam. KC helped Marsha study
for 10 days, but Marsha just can’t remember all the concepts that they needed to
understand.
Marsha comes to KC and begs her to work out a way to share her answers
during the final examination. “KC, no one will know. I’ll sit next to you and you just go
slow and don’t cover up your answers slowly. If you don’t, I would have to attend
summer school. I need to go home to our province this summer. You know that
summer is only time I can be with my family. I need you! I’ve got to get at least a grade
of 94%.”

Guide Questions for Discussion:

1. What is KC’s problem?
2. What makes the situation difficult for KC?
3. How do you think can KC solve her problem?
4. If you were KC, what would you tell Marsha? How would you help her?
5. If you were to advise KC, what would you tell her?

Answer on a ½ Sheet of Paper (Cross Wise)

(To be submitted January 4)

DECISION PARADIGMS

The ability of the person to make moral decisions depends on how well-formed
his conscience is. There are difficult situations that require a person not only to know the
difference between right and wrong, but also to use his ability to identify moral
dilemmas in a given situation.

What is moral dilemma? Moral dilemmas occur when two or more deeply held
core values are pitted against another in a right-versus-right conflict. There are four
ways of classifying ethical dilemmas: Truth vs. Loyalty, Individual vs. Community,
Short Term vs. Long Term, and Justice vs. Mercy. We apply these four paradigms to
ethical dilemmas from everyday life. Classifying an ethical dilemma using one or more
of these paradigms is the first step in the decision-making process.

Source: http://www.globalethics.org

RIGHT VS RIGHT
TRUTH VS. LOYALTY SHORT TERM VS. LONG TERM
Choice: Being honest to another
person IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ACADEMY Choice: Best for the
JOSHUA moment
D. OJENAL
Choice: Being Loyal orMadrid Blvd., Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro Choice: Best for the future
Designer
responsible to another person
2
LEARNING MODULE IN C.L. 9 S.Y. 2020-2021

THE 4
DILEMMA
PARADIGMS
INDIVIDUAL VS. COMMUNITY TRUTH VS. LOYALTY
Choice: What’s right for one Choice: Obeying a rule because
person or a small group it’s just or fair
Choice: What’s right for a larger Choice: Bending a rule because
group of mercy or compassion

4 WAYS TO TELL RIGHT FROM WRONG

When we face situations in which we have to make a choice between right and
wrong, we often choose the right one. However, there are other times when we find it
difficult to fight the temptation to choose the wrong one, for the wrong one seems to be
more attractive at times. Here are some ways that could help us to choose right from
wrong.

1. Legal Test. This test asks us to check whether the choice we are about to make
goes against the rules or law. For instance, is it wrong to eat during class hours,
assault classmates and teachers, send SMS while attending classes, or violate
traffic rules? These kind of wrong doings involve breaking the law. You can
break the law by mistake or on purpose.
2. Gut Feeling Test. This test asks us to be conscious of how we feel about an
action we are going to make. If we are not comfortable in doing something, then
that thing might be wrong. Often our intuition can determine right from wrong
before our brains can think it through. Physical reactions such as gut feelings
often indicate a need for more thought before taking action.
3. Front-Page Test. This test asks us to imagine how significant persons in our life
would react upon knowing what we have done. It further asks us to imagine
whether or not we would feel good if our choice were on the front page of the
local newspaper and read by our parents, teachers, and friends. Would they be
proud of us or would they regret having been associated with us?
4. Role Model Test. This test asks us to look at the situation from the point of view
of someone we highly respect – a teacher, a parent, or a friend – and determine

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ACADEMY JOSHUA D. OJENAL

Madrid Blvd., Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro Designer

3
LEARNING MODULE IN C.L. 9 S.Y. 2020-2021
whether or not that person would make the same decision we are considering if
he or she would be in the same situation.

MORAL (Touching Hearts)

St. Basil the Great
Basil was on his way to becoming famous teacher when
he decided to begin a religious life of gospel poverty. After
studying various modes of religious life, he founded what was
probably the first monastery in Asia Minor. He is to monks of
the East what St. Benedict is to the West, and Basil’s principles
influence Eastern monasticism today.
He was ordained a priest, assisted the archbishop of
Caesarea (now south-eastern turkey), and ultimately became
archbishop himself, in spite of opposition from some of the bishops under him,
probably because they foresaw coming reforms.
One of the most damaging heresies in the history of the Church, Arianism,
which denied the divinity of Christ, was at its height. Emperor Valens persecuted
orthodox believers, and put great pressure on Basil to remain silent and admit the
heretics to communion. Basil remained firm, and Valens backed down. But trouble
remained. When the great St. Athanasius died, the mantle of defender of the faith
against Arianism fell upon Basil. He strove mightily to unite and rally his fellow
Catholics who were crushed by tyranny and torn by internal dissension. He was
misunderstood, misrepresented, accused of heresy and ambition. Even appeals to the
pope brought no response. “For my sins I seem to be unsuccessful in everything.”
He was tireless in pastoral care. He preached twice a day to huge crowds, built a
hospital that was called a wonder of the world (as a youth he had organized famine
relief and worked in a soup kitchen himself), and fought the prostitution business.”
Basil was best known as an orator. Though not recognized greatly in his
lifetime, his writings rightly place hi among the great teachers of the Church. Seventy-
two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon described him as “the great Basil,
minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.”
St. Basil said: “The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the
garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ACADEMY JOSHUA D. OJENAL

Madrid Blvd., Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro Designer

4
LEARNING MODULE IN C.L. 9 S.Y. 2020-2021
you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep
locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so
many injustices that you commit.”
Source: American Catholic, “St. Basil the Great,”
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/Saint.aspx?id=1248

Read and analyse the given situation.

An Older Brother’s Confidence

Tony has always looked up to his brother, Stephen.

But when they have a closer friendship for the first time,
Tony has to admit, however, that this friendship is mostly
the result of his agreeing to join Stephen in experimenting
with drugs. When Stephen goes back to college in the next
semester, Tony realizes he wants to continue with sports at
his high school and to keep his grades up. So for three or
four months, he stays away from drugs.
When Christmas vacation comes around, Stephen arrives home with a new
supply of drugs. Before he has even packed his bag, he tells Tony about it. As the
vacation wears on, he uses every opportunity to get high. In fact, he seems uninterested
in anything else, including his family.
Suddenly tony realizes that the drug use of the summer, that seemed so
innocent, represents a serious problem for his brother. Tony has a dilemma. One part of
him, wants to go to his parents and tell them all that he knows, in the hopes that his
brother will be able to get the help he needs. However, another part of him wants to stay
quiet and keep the close friendship he finally has with his brother.
Source: http://www.globalethics.org/dilemma

What kind of dilemma is this?

It is right, on the one hand, to

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ACADEMY JOSHUA D. OJENAL

Madrid Blvd., Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro Designer

5
LEARNING MODULE IN C.L. 9 S.Y. 2020-2021
because

On the other hand, it is right to

because

Then choose the dilemma paradigm that fits. Check the box of the best answer.

 Truth VS. Loyalty  Short Term VS Long Term

 Self VS. Community  Justice VS Mercy
If Tony reports his brother’s drug use this to his parents, what do you think will
happen?

On the other hand, if he doesn’t report this to his parents, what do you think will
happen?

Is there a third way out?

 Yes NO
If so, what is it?

If you were Tony, what would you do? Why?

Answer on a 1 Whole Sheet of Paper (Use the given Format)

(To be submitted on January 4)

he quality of our lives depends not on whether or not we have

conflicts, but on how we respond to them.
Tom Crum
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ACADEMY JOSHUA D. OJENAL
WORSHIP Designer
Madrid Blvd., Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro

6
LEARNING MODULE IN C.L. 9 S.Y. 2020-2021
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord our God, I beseech you, to ask for the gift we need. Steer the ship of our life
to yourself, the quiet harbour of all storm-stressed souls. Show us the course
which we are to take. Renew in us the spirit of docility. Let your Spirit curb our
fickleness; guide and strengthen us to perform what is for our own good, to keep
your commandments and ever to rejoice in your glorious and vivifying
Closing Prayer presence. Yours is the glory and praise for all eternity. Amen.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

REFERENCES:

 Paras, Raul L., Understanding Our Faith: Morality and Vocation, Quezon City:
Dane Publishing House, Inc., 2015, pp. 90-99.
 The images were borrowed from the internet

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ACADEMY JOSHUA D. OJENAL

Madrid Blvd., Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro Designer