ETHICS PAPER
CSCI 3333 Data Structures
Due:
January 28th, 2009
Assignment:
Find an ethical
principle that you find especially interesting to you. Write a short paper (2
pages, single-spaced, Times New Roman, Size 12) documenting how, in your
opinion, this principle has been either violated or obeyed in the computer
industry. In other words, find some incident(s) in the computer industry (individuals or companies) where you
believe your chosen ethical principle was either ignored or well applied.
Some examples are when a company chooses to follow “best practices” or perhaps ruthlessly ignores them. But check all the principles in the IEEE and ACM, because not all deal explicitly with just programming. Others deal with interactions with the public (education, etc.).
This is a short paper
and I hope fun to write. Remember that you will be graded on the quality of
your writing, so be careful. Also, be ethical in writing this paper; please
do not copy it from some other source. Plagiarized work is subject to
disciplinary actions. Since this paper is very short, be very sparing in
your use of quotes. It’s your ideas and your writing that counts.
You must meet all the following requirements.
Requirements:
1. Read the following two professional codes of ethics:
2. Find an incident in the computer industry where you think that an ethics principle from one of the codes was either violated or obeyed. Look for a case that is particularly interesting to you that was documented in a newspaper, journal, magazine, or web site.
3. Write a short paper that explains in your opinion how the principle was either ignored or obeyed. Explain what your position would be if you were faced with a similar situation. The paper should be: 1–2 pages (not including the space at the end for references), single-spaced, Times New Roman 12.
4. Every quotation must have a reference to the source of your information, but be sparing in your use of quotations because this is a very short paper. You must have at least one reference, which must be a citation of the specific principle from the particular code of ethics that is appropriate for your paper.
5. Upload your paper along with a cover sheet with your name, the date, and the class and section number.
6. The important parts of this paper are your own opinion and ideas; so do not copy from some other source. Be ethical in writing this paper.
The grading criteria will be as follows:
5% Grammar and spelling
10% followed the assignment directions
15% cited an appropriate principle from one of the codes
10% adequate references are included
30% paper is well organized, with an Introduction, a Body that covers each point, and a Conclusion
30% explained the issue completely and concisely with a well justified position