Writing Course Review Form (9/10)
I. General Education Review – Writing Course
Dept/Program
Course # (i.e. ENEX CSCI 216E
Computer Science
Subject
200)
Course Title
Technology, Ethics, and Society
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office.
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Instructor
Alden Wright
Phone / Email
Alden.wright@umontan
a.edu
Program Chair
Yolanda Reimer
Dean
Chris Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Reason for new course, change or deletion
Change
X
Remove
The course currently satisfies the
requirements for a lower-division writing
course, but the students are not getting credit
for this requirement. This form requests that
the course be approved as a lower division
writing course.
IV Overview of the Course Purpose/ Description: Provides an introduction to the subject
matter and explains course content and learning goals.
Following is the catalog description:
“Technology, Ethics, and Society 3 cr. New technologies expand possibilities for the
individual and society, but also generate new ethical questions, debates, and dilemmas. This
course will examine these ethical issues in the context of ethical theory in the western secular
tradition. After a rigorous introduction to the central concepts, principles, and problems of
ethical theory, the course will focus on applying these theories to particular area of technology.
Some examples of the areas of technology that might be covered are artificial intelligence and
robotics, social networks, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, and privacy in a digital age.”
Progress in digital technology (as measured by quantities such as the number of transistors that
can be placed on a chip) has been exponential for over 45 years. For example, there are now
over 5 billion cell phones in the world out of a world population of 7 billion. New technologies
are having a major impact on our society and on societies all over the world. This rapid
technological change is raising many ethical questions that require us to apply traditional ethics
in new ways and to new situations.
Writing is an integral part of the course as it is now being offered. Assignments include a mini
research paper, a research paper, two ethical case study analyses, and a position paper. The
mini research paper is a short research paper on a specified topic where the emphasis is on
clear, organized writing, citations, and references. The research paper is done in three phases,
namely a topic and outline, a first draft, and a second draft. Students will get instructor
feedback on each phase before turning in the next phase. The ethical case study analyses will
be short writing assignments where the emphasis is on presenting a logical argument on a
specified case study. The position paper will be on an ethical issue of the student’s choice.
In addition, for every class period except when there is a major assignment due, there is a
reading assignment and students are expected to use a wiki to answer questions on the reading.
These answers are not graded for content, but help the student get used to writing and help
them prepare for in-class discussion.
V Learning Outcomes: Explain how each of the following learning outcomes will be achieved.
The technology topics and the ethical concepts
Student learning outcomes :
are new to most students. The research paper
Use writing to learn and synthesize new
emphasizes learning about the social or ethical
concepts
aspects of a specific new technology topic.
When writing the ethical case study analyses,
the students will synthesize their understanding
of ethical concepts.
The position paper assignment explicitly
Formulate and express opinions and ideas in
requires the student express their opinions and
writing
ideas. Students get a lot of practice in
expressing their ideas and opinions in the daily
wiki assignments.
Compose written documents that are
appropriate for a given audience or purpose
Revise written work based on constructive
comments from the instructor
The major assignments have different purposes.
There are four phases of research paper
assignments, and the students will get feedback
after each of these phases. Students will get
feedback on the first ethical case study analysis
before turning in the second.
Find, evaluate, and use information effectively Students need to find information on their
(see http://www.lib.umt.edu/informationliteracy/) chosen topics for the research paper and the
position paper. Then there is a major emphasis
on using high quality references.
The research paper is an example of scientific
Begin to use discipline-specific writing
writing.
conventions
All assignments are graded on English usage.
Demonstrate appropriate English language
usage
VI. Writing Course Requirements Check list
X Yes  No
Is enrollment capped at 25 students?
If not, list maximum course enrollment.
Explain how outcomes will be adequately met
for this number of students. Justify the request
for variance.
X Yes  No
Are outcomes listed in the course syllabus? If
not, how will students be informed of course
expectations?
Are expectations for Information Literacy listed in
 Yes X No
the course syllabus? If not, how will students be
Expectation for information literacy are
informed of course expectations?
included in the relevant assignments.
Resources for information literacy are
provided on Moodle.
Are detailed requirements for all written
 Yes X No
assignments included in the course syllabus? If not Detailed requirements for the writing
how and when will students be informed of written assignments are posted both on Moodle and
assignments? Please attach one example of
on the Wiki at least a week and a half before
instructions for written assignment.
the first due date.
What instructional methods will be used to teach
Mini-lecture, class discussion,
students to write for specific audiences, purposes,
assignments.
and genres?
Which written assignments will include revision in Research paper, ethics case study
response to instructor’s feedback?
analyses.
VII. Writing Assignments: Please describe course assignments. Students should be required to
individually compose at least 16 pages of writing for assessment. At least 50% of the course grade
should be based on students’ performance on writing assignments. Clear expression, quality, and
accuracy of content are considered an integral part of the grade on any writing assignment.
Formal Graded Assignments
1. Mini-research paper on a specified
topic.
2. Topic and outline for research
paper.
3.
4.
5.
6.
First draft research paper.
Second draft research paper.
First ethical case study analysis.
Second ethical case study
analysis.
7. Position paper.
These assignments count for 40% of the
grade.
Informal Ungraded Assignments
Written answers to questions about the
reading assignment due most class
periods.
These assignments plus class discussion
count for 20% of the course grade. Half
of the grade is for the writing, and half is
for the class participation.
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus preparation
see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Paste syllabus here.
CSCI 216 Technology, Ethics, and Society
Syllabus
Class meeting time and place
The class will meet in Social Science 362 from 2:10 to 3:00 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Instructor Information
Name:
Office:
Telephone:
Email:
CAS Webpage:
CS Webpage:
Office Hours:
Alden Wright
407 Social Science
(406) 243-4790
alden.wright@umontana.edu
http://www.cas.umt.edu/casweb/for_faculty/FacultyDetails.cfm?id=545
http://www.cs.umt.edu/~wright/wright.htm
3:10 pm to 4:00 pm Mon, Wed, Fri. Feel free to stop in at other times if my
door is open---although I may be busy right before class.
Textbook
Title:
Authors:
Edition:
Publisher:
The Elements of Moral Philosophy'
James Rachels and Stuart Rachels
Sixth Edition
McGraw Hill 2009
Online Resources
There is a Moodle supplement for this course. If you are registered, go to
http://umonline.umt.edu to login to Moodle.
Daily written assignments are done on a wiki at http://wiki.umt.edu/cscs216. In the first 2 weeks
of the class, students need to create an account on this wiki using a username which contains
their last name.
Course Objectives
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Students should acquire knowledge of these basic approaches to moral theory:
cultural relativism, utilitarianism, deontology, social contract theory.
Students should acquire knowledge of current and possible future developments in
technology.
Students should be able to do written ethical analysis of realistic cases that involve
technology.
Students should develop critical thinking skills such as: clarity, careful analysis,
critical reflection, rational argument, evaluation of references, and application of the
scientific method.
Students should develop their skills in critical and analytical writing.
Tentative Schedule
A tentative schedule is available on Moodle and at
http://www.cs.umt.edu/~wright/216E/schedule.pdf.
Tentative Grading Breakdown



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Class participation, including daily writing exercises: 20%
Preliminary writing exercise: 5%
Research paper topic/outline: 1%
Research paper first draft: 5%
Research paper final draft: 5%
Written case study analysis exercises: 14%
Presentation or Ethics bowl participation: 10%
Position paper: 10%
Midterm exam: 10%
Final Exam: 20%
Grading Scale
Letter grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
D-
Numerical range
93-100
90-92.9
87-89.9
83-86.9
80-82.9
77-79.9
73-76.9
70-72.9
67-69.9
63-66.9
60-62.9
Flexibility of Grading Breakdown
I reserve the right to make changes to the grading policy that will be favorable to students grades.
Pass Fail
Students taking the course pass/no pass are required to earn a grade of C- or better in order to
pass.
Attendance Policy
You can’t participate in classroom discussion if you are not present, and classroom participation
is part of your grade. If you know in advance that you will need to miss class, I encourage you
speak to me or e-mail me.
Late Assignments
I will accept late papers with a penalty which will be specified for each assignment.
Academic Integrity
As a student of the University of Montana, you are responsible for upholding all rules in the
student conduct code. There are aspects of that code that are of particular importance in
Computer Science courses. The electronic nature of the many assignments facilitates their
dissemination. To be clear, from the student conduct code:
1. Plagiarism: Representing another person's words, ideas, data, or materials as one's
own.
2. Submitting work previously presented in another course: Knowingly making such
submission in violation of stated course requirements.
Of course, all other aspects of the student conduct code will be enforced as well. These are just
the two that are commonly violated.
I will interpret these guidelines to the letter. Students found in violation will be penalized with
the maximum punishment permitted in the student conduct code. That is to say, the matter will
be handed over to the Academic Dean and academic misconduct proceedings will take place. In
order to reconcile encouraged interaction between students and the academic misconduct
policies, you must credit other students in your work. If, for example, you worked with others to
do a homework problem, specifically mention those that you have worked with in the assignment
that is handed in. Similarly, you must properly document and credit any online resources that
you use.
The web page http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml (Plagiarism: What It is
and How to Recognize and Avoid It) gives excellent guidelines as to what is and is not
acceptable. In addition, if you quote long sections of your sources, you will lose points.
If you collaborate with others, the instructor has the right to question you about the material
turned in. If it is evident that your understanding of what you turn in is weak, your grade will be
lowered.
Acceptable Conduct
Students are to uphold a level of conduct becoming of adults. The use of profanity and abusive
speech is not permitted under the student conduct code, and will not be tolerated in this course.
All of the participants in this class need to be respectful and tolerant of the views and opinions of
other participants.
Disabilities
Students with disabilities are encouraged to meet with me at the beginning of the semester to
discuss any accommodations they require. Please let me know early.
Late Drops and Incompletes
I will follow University policies on late drops and incompletes.
Other Issues
Turn off your cell phone, or set it to vibrate in class. If you absolutely must take a call, take it
outside the classroom.
Do not talk in the classroom during lecture.