Robert Dale: Teaching Activities: ITEC810: Assessment: Ethics Essay

You are here: Robert Dale's Home Page > Teaching > ITEC 810 > Assessment > Ethics Essay

ITEC810 Ethics Essay

This page outlines the requirements for your Ethics Essay, which is due by 3pm on Friday 2nd October.

1 Submission Requirements

No later than 3pm on Friday 2nd October, you should submit via the class Moodle website a 3--5 page essay that addresses the scenario presented in class in Week 7. This scenario is summarised below.

2 The Aims of this Assignment

This assignment has the following aims.

It allows you to demonstrate your ability in applying your reasoning skills to a situation that may pose an ethical dilemma.
It ensures that you have carefully read and considered the content of the Australian Computer Society's Code of Ethics.

3 The Scenario

You are faced with the following scenario.

You work for a large software company. You are involved in preparing a tender for a project which is essential for the company's survival: if you don't win the contract, you will have to fire two employees who report to you.
The software you would be developing is intended to track consumer buying habits in order to predict where advertising will be most successful.
Over a coffee, a friend suggests to you that one of the client's key market objectives is to determine the most effective way of reaching school children in the 16-18 years age-range with cigarette advertising.

4 The Assignment

Consider the scenario carefully, and then write around a page explaining what you would do and why.
Read the ACS Code of Ethics.
Discuss what course of action the ACS Code of Ethics supports in this situation.
If your chosen course of action is different from that which the Code of Ethics supports, is the Code of Ethics wrong or incomplete? Should it be changed to cover your case?

Your essay should be between three and five pages in length. It is essential that you carry out the steps above in the order specified. Steps 1, 3 and 4 should each be presented in a separate section in the document.

5 Submission Format

Ensure your essay is submitted with a filename that has the following format:

‹FamilyName_Givenname›_EthicsEssay.‹filetype›

So, for example, if I was submitting my essay as a PDF file, it would have the following filename:

Dale_Robert_EthicsEssay.pdf

6 Assessment

Your final presentation is worth 5 marks, and will be assessed according to the following rubric. It should be stressed that you will not be assessed on the basis of the particular ethical position you take, but on the basis of your demonstrating that your position is a well-reasoned and thought-through position, and demonstrating that you have read and understood the ACM Code of Ethics.

Assessment
Attribute Levels of Attainment

Unsatisfactory Functional Proficient

Quality of Reasoning Does not argue for a position, but instead makes bald statements without any application of reasoning. Argues and justifies a position, although there are arguably minor aspects of the argument which need to be handled better. Very clear argument, well-justified position.

Consideration of ACS Code No evidence of having read or understood how the Code of Ethics applies to this situation. A generally clear exposition of how the Code applies to the situation, but some minor aspects of this are not fleshed out as carefully as they should be. Very good discussion of how the Code relates, exhibiting a considered and thoughtful response.

Assessment Attribute	Levels of Attainment
Unsatisfactory	Functional	Proficient
Quality of Reasoning	Does not argue for a position, but instead makes bald statements without any application of reasoning.	Argues and justifies a position, although there are arguably minor aspects of the argument which need to be handled better.	Very clear argument, well-justified position.
Consideration of ACS Code	No evidence of having read or understood how the Code of Ethics applies to this situation.	A generally clear exposition of how the Code applies to the situation, but some minor aspects of this are not fleshed out as carefully as they should be.	Very good discussion of how the Code relates, exhibiting a considered and thoughtful response.