All written assignments are to be turned in. Your papers will be graded as essays.

H-1. You will work in groups of five students. Each group should select a group leader and a group recorder. Your first group assignment is to do library research and prepare a written paper on the subject, "What is Ethics?" In this paper, develop a working definition of ethics in its general context. Do not merely give a dictionary or text book definition. DO NOT use any definitions from the text book and reference book listed for this course. DO NOT write on applied ethics, including engineering ethics (engineering ethics is part of another assignment.) Cite references used. There is no one correct answer, and it is quite common for different groups to report on different aspects and interpretations of ethics. Grading will be on the basis of contents and your presentation. You may structure your presentation as an informal lecture using standard English (informal does not mean unprepared). You may use an outline, note cards, or speak from memory, but you should not read your report verbatim. You should rehearse your presentation to polish it.

This assignment is due (oral presentation and submitted written report) on period 3, at which time two spokespersons for each group will each give two-minute oral presentations, one person on your group's working definition of ethics and the second person on the group dynamics (describe the process that your group went through to come to its final position.) Your group's grade will be based on the contents of the two oral presentations, the quality of the oral presentations, and the quality of the written report on "What is Ethics?". For your first presentation, first state your group's final working definition of ethics; then describe the information you uncovered in your research; then repeat your working definition. The second presenter then describes the group dynamics, including the opinions of individuals at the beginning of discussion, how they may have remained the same or changed as conclusions were drawn, and how easy or difficult it was for the group to reach a consensus opinion.

H-2. Each group is to collect at least six articles that address current ethical issues, three each of the following two categories: (1) articles which address ethical issues for which the group has a firm opinion of right and wrong, and (2) articles which address issues that are not clear cut to the group (articles which have strong arguments for both sides). At least three articles must come from newspapers and weekly news magazines; the rest may be obtained from the Web. Articles from regularly appearing ethics columns may be submitted.

Articles which do not address an ethical issue but instead talk about ethics as a concept, ethics and its importance to society, ethics and government, and other nonissue ethics articles will give you extra credit.

For each article, write a short description of the article, including the title, the author, the source, the category, and the issue. Also trim your articles and affix them to 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. Be sure to describe the issue, i.e., the point of contention. Articles, particularly those that fall in category 2, should describe a controversy. Articles should be dated no earlier than Jan. 1, 1998. Articles are due at the beginning of period six (this due date might be extended if articles are sparse). Articles beyond the six required may help your grade. Do not submit more than 9 articles. The quality of the issue will be considered in assigning grades. Later in the semester (assignment H-5), your group will select an article from those collected by members in your group for a group presentation. Save photo copies of all articles submitted.

H-3/H-8. Prior to class, each person should write a paragraph his or her interpretation of the textbook's description of engineering ethics. This paragraph (guidelines: 200 words) should be typed or word processes, but neatly hand written papers are acceptable. In class, your group will collaborate to write a paragraph that describes your groups consensus description of engineering ethics (H-3). This can be hand written in pencil or ink as long as it is readable. Attach all individually prepared contributions to your report, as these will also be graded as individual written assignments (H-8). A spokesperson other than the one who delivered your group's report on H-1 will make a short report to the class during the remainder of the period from a seated position. For this assignment, the oral report will be graded on a contents basis only basis because of the short preparation time. Do not write about normative, factual, and conceptual inquiries.

H-4. Each group will discuss an engineering dilemma during this class period and prepare a short written report that is to be submitted next period. A spokesperson who has not previously given a group report should