Final  Exam questions for CSC 300, Fall 2005
Clark S. Turner

Create a final exam cover sheet and put your name on this cover sheet only. Put the text of the question at the beginning of each answer (but not your name)! 
Staple or attach your answers securely to the cover sheet!

In general:  think at a high level, but bring in enough details to support any high level answers.  When appropriate, state facts known about the problem in an unbiased manner.  Notice that you must "set up" the problems for yourself before you begin to answer. Review the questions first, think about them, then create a brief outline of an "answer" to test for relative reasonability. When you see that you have a handle on the question and how to answer it, start to write your answer.  

• State any important facts important to resolution of the problem.
• Raise apparent issues in a list.  Keep the list short.
• List alternative arguments briefly (and their sources.)
• Analyze rationally, using ethical principles applied to the facts of the situation.
• Use examples in support of your analysis when applicable.
• I want to see your solution to the problem as you see it.
• Cite sources you use in your work.

Correctness of your solution is not the point, your ability to analyze and come to a rational conclusion is.  The citation of individual sections of the Software Engineering Code of Ethics (and other codes if helpful) with application to the details of your examples are almost always necessary to support your answers. Remember: a "report" with mere facts and others' interpretations is not good enough for a passing answer. Often a format similar to that of the paper will help organize your thoughts: facts (without comment or judgment) followed by a list of issues (tell me what is important about the story - the question(s) you will answer) followed by others' arguments (without your analysis yet) followed by YOUR analysis. Use the facts and others' analyses in combination with general ethical principles (cite them), law and ethical codes (cite them) - this last part, your analysis, is worth the majority of points in the answer.

I expect a minimum of two full pages, single spaced, per answer.  This is not a hard standard, but a good general guide to the minimum amount of material I expect for a passing answer.  (This says nothing about an excellent answer!) You need to convince me you have learned how to do ethical analysis of computing issues and show me why you deserve a good grade.   I will not assume you know things that you don't write about and clearly show me right there on the page.

1. You are working on a web-based software project which you know has serious problems in its accessibility for disabled users. You ask your manager about this oversight, and he responds by referencing this case: http://news.com.com/2100-1023-962761.html In this case, a judge ruled that the ADA does not apply to the web. How do you respond to your manager? Your response should be based on your lab experiences, and your understanding of the Software Engineering Code of Ethics.
   
   
2. Part A: Analyze the ethics of my memo to the IP Policy Committee (IPmemo.pdf).  Note that much of the background reasoning for the memo (and a hint at the big issue to resolve) is found in a Tech Report (TechReport.pdf).
   
   Part B: Using the information that you discussed and researched for the first part, outline a single aspect of the IP problem which would be useful for students to research in a laboratory setting, and describe how this could be accomplished.