A substantial part of the course grade is based on an essay that examines an ethical computing and technology issue. This essay will be divided into three major components, due at different times throughout the term.

Survey Paper

The first component is a survey paper outlining the field of inquiry. The survey paper should not be just a summary of common knowledge. It should assume the reader has a basic level of knowledge and build upon that. It is a summary of your research. Analysis is not necessary in the survey paper. You should think of it as a proposal for your final paper.

Start with a clear description of what the paper is about. Describe any relevant literature. State how you intend to proceed with your final paper. Make sure to list the various questions that you intend to address, but the answers to the questions are not expected until the final version of the paper.

Length: 4 - 5 pages, double-spaced, not including references or appendices.

Draft

The second component is a complete draft of the final version of the paper. The draft should approach the quality of the finished paper. Light feedback will be provided for each draft; therefore, the more polished your submitted draft, the more useful the feedback that will be provided.

Finished Paper

The last component is a finished paper. The final paper should be based on the previous research you have compiled. It should clearly stake out a position on the issue, and in addition, you must support your point of view with evidence. You should also anticipate the arguments someone who disagrees with you would present and refute those opposing points.

Length: 10 - 15 pages, double-spaced, not including references or appendices.

Getting Help

Early in the course a writing expert from the Academic Skills Office and a librarian will visit the course. They will present a session describing research methods and where to find help. You are expected to attend this session. Their presentation will be posted on the course web page so you can go back and review their advice.

Topic

There is one broad topic mandatory for your paper. This topic should be addressed within the context of a specific ethical computing and technology issue, which you will choose from two options.

Your paper must address this question: "What responsibility should information technologists and computer scientists take for the impacts, both positive and negative, that result from the development of technology?" Your paper should examine the ethical decisions made by computing professionals. How might their decisions influence other individuals, the computing profession, and society as a whole? For example, should computer scientists consider local or international laws when making ethical decisions? What is the relationship between computer scientists and ethical decisions regarding information technology? Throughout the paper you should consider the kinds of knowledge and viewpoints you think computer science professionals can bring to the discussion.

Ethical Issue

There are two ethical computing and technology issues from which to choose for your paper.

Each issue is listed with background readings.

Issue 1

Use of drones and robots specifically in war or policing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robots_in_warfare

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/weekinreview/15MAZZETTI.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/opinion/sunday/the-cia-and-drone-strikes.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/magazine/the-year-in-ideas-robotic-warfare.html

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.03/robots_pr.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17516156

Issue 2

The use of electronic stock trading. Algorithmic trading.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_trading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithmic_trading

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/h/high_frequency_algorithmic_trading/index.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/business/02speed.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/business/economy/07trade.html

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/12/ff_ai_flashtrading/

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/high-speed-trading/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16677606

These background readings are not exhaustive. Rather, they are intended to introduce you to each issue. They do not constitute scholarly research. You are not being asked to paraphrase or summarize the background material. You will need to do additional library research. News sources are usually only acceptable as background material. You must think critically about these issues.

Upon completing the background readings, you should develop a set of questions that, in your opinion, encompasses the ethical issue at hand. These questions should then guide your research and be included in the submission of your survey paper.

Submission Due Dates

Oct. 7 - Survey paper

Nov. 4 - Draft paper

Nov. 25 - Final paper

Submissions are due, on hardcopy, at the beginning of tutorial (1310 EST on the respective Friday in IB320). Late submissions will be penalized at a rate of 5% per day. This penalty is applied to the entire essay mark.

Your job is to argue for a particular conclusion. Argue for your thesis. Your conclusions may or may not reflect your own opinions, but you must have evidence to support them. Evidence takes various forms: it can be experimental, philosophical, psychological, and so on. Different evidence results in different conclusions of different strengths; make sure your research properly supports your conclusions. If not, you may need to find further support or new conclusions. It is important that you consider potential replies and opposing arguments. You should present them so that you can refute them and strengthen your own argument.

Citations

No particular formatting style is required. Pick one system and be consistent. If you don't know how to do citations refer to the presentation by the Skills Centre and the Library. Anytime you include somebody else's ideas or include a quotation, you must put a citation in the paper, making clear exactly what part of your writing is theirs. Once your paper is complete, compile a reference list.

Marking

The essay assignment makes up 35% of the course mark. The marking is subdivided as indicated below. The survey paper is 20% of the mark. The draft is also 20%. The final paper constitutes the remaining 60% of the mark.

Survey paper (20%)

Sources are well-chosen, diverse, credible, properly cited - 5%

Research is comprehensive, balanced, considers multiple perspectives - 5%

Questions are well-formulated, thought out, interesting, and indicate future direction for final paper - 5%

Writing quality: spelling, grammar, style - 5%

Draft Paper (20%)

Content: research is effectively incorporated, paper is informative - 5%

Style is appropriate for an academic paper, clear and easy to understand - 10%

Organization: clearly and logically structured - 5%

Writing quality: spelling, grammar, style, references - 5%

Final Paper (60%)

Research is comprehensive, balanced, considers multiple perspectives - 10%

Arguments are persuasive, clear, grounded in evidence, and free from logical fallacies - 10%

Counter-arguments and opposing perspectives are considered and addressed - 10%

Organization: clearly and logically structured, effective introduction and conclusion, clearly expressed thesis statement - 10%

Style is appropriate for an academic paper, clear and easy to understand, interesting to read - 10%

Writing quality: spelling, grammar, diction - 5%

Sources are well-chosen, credible, properly cited - 5%

The marking breakdown and the expectations for each assignment component will be further detailed and explained in tutorials.

Note: You must hand in all parts of the assignment to receive credit for the assignment.

Submission Details

All submissions should be double-spaced and single-sided, size 11 or 12 in a standard font (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Times New Roman, etc.). Submissions should be bound effectively and simply. At a minimum, this means a strong staple in the top-left corner.

Any figures or tables should be included as appendices at the end of the paper. A cover page should be included with each submission, clearly showing your name, student number, date of submission, and information for this course.

You can hand in multiple drafts for comments. Your draft mark can not change after the first draft. Draft submissions for feedback will not be accepted after November 17.

We will use Turnitin. More information regarding submission will be provided later. The survey paper should be 4 to 5 pages. The final papers should be 10 to 15 pages each (or 3500-5000 words). The length does not include references or appendices.

Hints

Start early. Attend the writing session early in the course. Discuss your ideas with friends and colleagues. Develop multiple drafts. Don't plagiarize.

Thanks

Much of the idea for this assignment and the layout and distribution of marks are based on the previous assignments by Phil Serchuk. Additional thanks go out to Brian Law for his work refining the assignment details and specifications.