The considerations below are intended to guide you in deciding on your
report's content. They are not intended to convey the actual
structure, from top to bottom, of your report. You can decide on a
structure that fits your topic; just be sure to consider these points,
as their inclusion strengthens your report.
- Describe the issue by fully stating the problem and/or conflict that is
central to it.
- Describe all related concepts, and define any terms, especially
technical terms, that are necessary to understand the
problem.
- Provide any historical, socio-cultural, or legal background and context in
which to understand the problem.
- Provide any technical background needed to understand the
problem.
- Describe what makes the issue an ethical one, drawing from the ethical
theory presented in chapter 2 of the text by Quinn.
- Describe the role that computers or software play, as well as your view on
whether computers make the problem unique or it is a traditional ethical
problem with a new cyber-twist.
- Give examples of real-world events relating to the issue: court rulings, news
coverage, anecdotal data.
- Where there are opposing sides to the issue, describe their constituents.
Give both perspectives and complete arguments supporting their
positions.
- Give your judgment on the issue: Is it appropriately resolved? If not how
do you think it should be resolved?
- What is the outlook for the future? Must anything change—underlying
technology? Society itself?
- State your conclusions.
Although you will use MS Office or OpenOffice to create your
presentation (.
ppt or .
odp) and report (.
doc or
.
odt), use the tool's
export function to
produce a Portable Document Format (.
pdf) document for submission.
- The presentation file is due by 8:00
p.m. the day of your presentation. At the same time, you will
submit two exam questions from your presentation (see menu at left)
- The report is due by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, although
earlier submissions are encouraged.
- The presentation file and the report should be submitted to: