Analyzing ICT Ethical Issues Using Ethical Theories - [Course Name]

This essay analyzes an ICT-related ethical issue by applying at least two classical ethical theories, with a requirement for Deontological ethics. The essay involves selecting a media article or case study provided by the lecturer and conducting further research to analyze it. The analysis should present well-reasoned arguments for assessments and recommendations, culminating in a conclusion that justifies the recommendations. The essay follows a structured format, including headings, citations, and references in APA style. The rationale emphasizes the application of ethical principles to ICT dilemmas, covering areas like professionalism, privacy, security, cybercrime, intellectual property, and regulation. The marking criteria assesses the application of ethical theories, writing quality, structure, the conclusion's coherence, and the accuracy of referencing. The essay aims to improve the student's ability to identify ethical issues, apply ethical theory, derive conclusions, and use proper academic referencing.

Applying Ethical Theory
Value: 25%
Due date: 18-Sep-2016
Return date: 14-Oct-2016
Length: 1000 words
Submission method options
Alternative submission method
Task
Your lecturer will place several links in Interact to a number of relevant articles and/or case studies.
These will be available to you just after your second assignment has been submitted.
1. Choose one of the media articles or case studies listed by the lecturer in your Interact 2
subject site.
2. Use the title of the article/case study provided in interact 2 as the title of your essay, so that
the lecturer knows which article you are analysing.
3. Undertake further research about your chosen case, to assist you in analysing and discussing
it in your essay.
You are required to complete the following:
Write an essay:
 The word limit for the essay is 1,000 words ± 10%. Headings, citations and references do
not count towards the word limit, but quotations do.
 Analyse the article/case study from the perspective of at least two different classical ethical
theories, one of which must be that of "Deontological". Present well reasoned arguments for
your assessments and recommendations.
 Write an overall conclusion that justifies your recommendations made in your essay.
 Include a Reference list at the end of your work, in the correct APA referencing style,
corresponding to in-text citations.
Rationale
This assessment extends the skills practiced in Assessment item 1 and 2, to help you to achieve all
the learning objectives.
In addition to identifying a contentious situation in ICT and dissecting the argument(s) about it, you
must also now demonstrate the ability to evaluate the elements of the argument by introducing
classical ethical principles where appropriate.
Since Assessment item 1 and 2, your knowledge will have grown, and you will now realise that almost
all ICT ethical dilemmas can be classified under one of the main ICT ethical issues that are discussed
in this subject; for instance, surveillance is a sub-issue of privacy, harmful software is a sub-issue of
ICT professionalism, and piracy is a sub-issue of intellectual property.
In ICT, the main ethical issues are taken to be:
 ICT professionalism
 Privacy
 Security
 Cyber-crime
 Intellectual property
 Regulation on the internet
 Social inclusion
 Community and identity
 Pervasive and convergent computing.

The assessment item is designed to help you to build skills towards achieving the learning objectives,
by requiring you to:
 identify an ICT-related ethical issue from a media article or case study;
 apply classical ethical theory to the analysis of an ethically questionable situation to determine
the rightness or wrongness of actions/decisions made therein;
 derive logical and justifiable conclusions to resolve the ethical issue(s);and,
 apply proper academic referencing.
Marking criteria
The following marking sheet will be used to assess students' submissions.
Please check that you have met all the criteria before you submit your assignment.
Criteria
Standards
High Distinction
(HD) Distinction (DI) Credit (CR) Pass (PS) Fail (FL)
Classical
Ethical
Theory
Demonstrates an
excellent ability at
applying ethical
theories to the ethical
issues.
Demonstrates a
good ability at
applying ethical
theories to the
ethical issues.
Makes a genuine
attempt at
applying the
ethical theories to
the ethical issues.
The ethical theories do not
link well with the ethical
issues.
The ethical
theories are
not properly
applied to the
ethical issues.
Writing &
structure
Language features and
structures are used to
convey meaning
effectively, concisely,
unambiguously, and in
a tone appropriate to
the audience and
purpose with no
spelling, grammatical,
or punctuation errors.
Well developed
skills in
expression &
presentation of
ideas.
Fluent writing
style appropriate
to assessment
task/document
type.
Grammar &
spelling accurate.
Good skills in
expression &
clear presentation
of ideas.
Mostly fluent
writing style
appropriate to
assessment
task/document
type.
Grammar &
spelling contains a
few minor errors.
The text contains frequent
errors in spelling,
grammar, word choice,
and structure, lacks
clarity, and is not concise,
but the meaning is
apparent to the reader with
some effort.
Rudimentary
skills in
expression &
presentation of
ideas.
Not all
material is
relevant &/or
is presented in
a disorganised
manner.
Meaning
apparent, but
writing style
not fluent or
well organised.
Grammar &
spelling
contains many
errors.
Conclusion Superior conclusion
that ties the results of
the analysis together
into a coherent,
logically valid &
convincing argument.
Very high
standard
conclusion that
ties the results of
the analysis
together into a
coherent, logically
valid &
convincing
argument.
High standard
conclusion that
ties the results of
the analysis
together into a
coherent, logically
valid &
convincing
argument.
Rudimentary conclusion
that provides a convincing
argument.
Sub-standard
(or no)
conclusion.
Referencing Referencing is
comprehensive,
demonstrates
Very good
referencing,
including
Good referencing,
including
reference list and
Referencing is
comprehensive, mostly
accurate according to
Sub-standard
(or no)
referencing.

Criteria
Standards
High Distinction
(HD) Distinction (DI) Credit (CR) Pass (PS) Fail (FL)
academic integrity,
and conforms exactly
to APA style
conventions.
reference list and
citations.
Evidence of high
quality references.
citations.
Evidence of good
quality references.
APA style conventions,
and demonstrates
academic integrity. Some
minor errors or omissions
in style and formatting
choices (e.g. italics,
punctuation, etc) don’t
impact on the
transparency and
traceability of the source,
or demonstration of
academic integrity.
Poor quality
(or no)
references.