Freshman Engineering Seminar Mid-Term Ethics Report This report will be due at the start of class on Wednesday, 14 October 2015 This report will be worth 100 points (See the Rubric for the grade breakdown) 1) Pick any of the following topics to write an ethics report 2) Use the NSPE Code of Ethics (and other engineering ethics guidelines) as a guide in your ethical discussions 3) In this report: a) You will briefly introduce the topic and why you chose it; b) You will discuss the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of the topic with regards to engineering ethics (see statement 2 above) [the pros and cons should be focused on possible design flaws & possible harm to ecological health (including water quality & quantity), human economy, human health, etc.]; c) If the topic is not already a specific example (such as the Fukushima “Ice Wall”), then provide (a) specific example(s) and/or (a) case study(ies); d) Is there any engineering and/or scientific uncertainty? – if so, then what is it?; e) Are there any whistleblowers? – if so, then what is their position?; f) What is your ethical view of the topic based on the research that you have performed? (use NSPE Code of Ethics in your response); g) You should use the following resources for information (journal articles, newspaper articles, science magazine articles, academic/government Web sites, books, NSPE Code of Ethics, other scientific/engineering society code of ethics) 4) The report should be a minimum of 2 pages typed single-spaced with margins of 0.79” (top, bottom, left, right) in a 12 point Serif font (liberation serif, freeserif, freemono, linux libertine, Gentium, Doulos SIL, Charis SIL, Nimbus Mono L, Nimbus Roman No 9 L, Liberation Mono, Times, palatino, or Times New Roman) Use this format: Introduction The topic Why you chose it Body 1 of 5 Advantages (Pros) and Disadvantages (Cons) Specific examples and/or case studies (if not already a specific example) Uncertainty Whistleblowers Conclusion Your ethical view on the topic Bibliography 5) Use the references and bibliography format as appropriate in the report (see the last pages) Topics: Military Research & Design (R&D) Bribery Corruption Nepotism Kickbacks Whistleblowing Protecting the public (Canon 1) versus protecting your client or employer (Canon 4) Materials selection (economic cost versus protecting the public) Precautionary Principle Clean-up after the British Petroleum (BP) petroleum rig explosion and leakage in the Gulf of Mexico region Fukushima “Ice Wall” Hydraulic Fracturing (sinkholes, earthquakes, etc.) The Addition of Fluoride Compounds to Drinking Water The Addition of Disinfectants to both Drinking Water and Wastewater Centralized Water/Wastewater Treatment and Distribution Geoengineering Drones 2 of 5 Weather modification Petrochemical-based industrial agriculture (heavy equipment, petrochemical-based fertilizers & pesticides, etc.) Genetic Engineer.

1. Freshman Engineering Seminar Mid-Term Ethics Report
This report will be due at the start of class on Wednesday, 14
October 2015
This report will be worth 100 points (See the Rubric for the
grade breakdown)
1) Pick any of the following topics to write an ethics report
2) Use the NSPE Code of Ethics (and other engineering ethics
guidelines) as a guide in your ethical
discussions
3) In this report:
a) You will briefly introduce the topic and why you chose it;
b) You will discuss the advantages (pros) and disadvantages
(cons) of the topic with regards to
engineering ethics (see statement 2 above) [the pros and cons
should be focused on possible design
flaws & possible harm to ecological health (including water
quality & quantity), human economy,
human health, etc.];
c) If the topic is not already a specific example (such as the
Fukushima “Ice Wall”), then provide (a)
specific example(s) and/or (a) case study(ies);
d) Is there any engineering and/or scientific uncertainty? – if
so, then what is it?;

2. e) Are there any whistleblowers? – if so, then what is their
position?;
f) What is your ethical view of the topic based on the research
that you have performed? (use NSPE
Code of Ethics in your response);
g) You should use the following resources for information
(journal articles, newspaper articles, science
magazine articles, academic/government Web sites, books,
NSPE Code of Ethics, other
scientific/engineering society code of ethics)
4) The report should be a minimum of 2 pages typed single-
spaced with margins of 0.79” (top,
bottom, left, right) in a 12 point Serif font (liberation serif,
freeserif, freemono, linux libertine,
Gentium, Doulos SIL, Charis SIL, Nimbus Mono L, Nimbus
Roman No 9 L, Liberation Mono, Times,
palatino, or Times New Roman)
Use this format:
Introduction
The topic
Why you chose it
Body
1 of 5
Advantages (Pros) and Disadvantages (Cons)
Specific examples and/or case studies (if not already a specific

3. example)
Uncertainty
Whistleblowers
Conclusion
Your ethical view on the topic
Bibliography
5) Use the references and bibliography format as appropriate in
the report (see the last pages)
Topics:
Military Research & Design (R&D)
Bribery
Corruption
Nepotism
Kickbacks
Whistleblowing
Protecting the public (Canon 1) versus protecting your client or
employer (Canon 4)
Materials selection (economic cost versus protecting the public)
Precautionary Principle
Clean-up after the British Petroleum (BP) petroleum rig
explosion and leakage in the Gulf of Mexico
region
Fukushima “Ice Wall”

4. Hydraulic Fracturing (sinkholes, earthquakes, etc.)
The Addition of Fluoride Compounds to Drinking Water
The Addition of Disinfectants to both Drinking Water and
Wastewater
Centralized Water/Wastewater Treatment and Distribution
Geoengineering
Drones
2 of 5
Weather modification
Petrochemical-based industrial agriculture (heavy equipment,
petrochemical-based fertilizers &
pesticides, etc.)
Genetic Engineering & Synthetic Biology
Software Patents
Artificial electricity (“Dirty” Electricity)
Alternating Current (AC) versus Direct Current (DC)
Centralized Electricity Production and Distribution
Electronic devices

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Virtual Reality
Designing and using technology for mass surveillance and
spying
Robot-Human interactions
Light Bulbs (Compact Fluorescent, Fluorescent, Incandescent,
LED, etc.)
“Smart” Technology (Appliances, Cars, Energy/Electricity Grid,
Houses, Glasses, Meters, Phones, etc.)
Renewable energy systems (hydropower, geothermal, solar,
wind, etc.)
Energy Efficiency (including of buildings)
Energy Efficiency versus “Energy Effectiveness”
Nanotechnology
Design for obsolescence
Recycling/Downcycling (plastics, cardboard, paper, metals,
glass, etc.)
Petrochemical-based automotive industry (review history of
automobiles from Henry Ford to present-
day looking at fuels, products used in the manufacturing of the
vehicles, etc.)
Bridges, dams, highways, and other large scale civil engineering
projects

6. Impervious surfaces (rooftops, roadways, parking lots, turf
grass, planning/zoning, etc.)
3 of 5
Conventional Engineering Design versus “Green Engineering”
or “Eco-Effective” Engineering Design
Web sites
Organization, Government Agency, Corporation. Title of Web
page, <URL> (Accessed date).
Example:
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). Code of
Ethics (Revised July 2007),
<http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics> (Accessed
31 August 2015).
References - Sources used for any verbatim facts, information,
or concepts contained in the
assignment. References are numbered according to where the
citation is made in the writer’s text.
1. Wills, J., Advanced Chemistry, 4th ed., New York: Hayes,
Grimes and
Company, 1980, p. 36 (Book).
2. "Space Age Chemistry", Springfield, Mass. Mirror, August
21, 1971, p.18, col.
3. (Newspaper articles).
3. Wills, op. cit., p. 44. (Same as reference 1, but different

7. page).
4. Ibid., p. 46 (Same as reference 3, but different page. Ibid. is
used because Will's
book has just a different page number)
5. Murray, R. L., ed., New Horizons in Chemistry, Eaton,
Calif.: Easton
Publishing Company, 1969, pp. 202-204. (Book edited by
Murray.)
6. Wills, J., et al., Chemistry for Tomorrow, New York: Hayes,
Grimes, and
Company, 1968, p. 53. (Book written by many authors. Wills')
7. Murray, loc. cit. (Same as reference 5.)
8. V. Table 2, p. 3. (The reader is referred to a table, which
was presented and
discussed on a previous page in this report).
9. Wills, Advanced Chemistry, p. 39. (Op. city. cannot be used
because two works
by this author have been cited.)
10. Ibid. (exactly the same as reference 9.)
11. Zirn, G.B. and L. N. Harris, "Potable Water from
Desalination," Water
Resources Journal, February 16, 1971, pp. 99-103. (Magazine
article by two
authors.)
4 of 5
http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics

8. 12. Allerton, J.D. Professor of Chemical Engineering, Eastern
State University, in a
personal interview, November 11, 1971.
13. Chicago Journal-Times, October 18, 1971, p. 40, col. 1.
(Newspaper article
without title.)
14. "Desalination." National Encyclopedia, 7th ed., vol. IV, p.
61. (Encyclopedia
article with author's name not shown.)
Source: Modified version of the TSU College of Engineering
Capstone Design/Technical Project
Manual, page 19
Bibliography
Sources used for general information or concepts, which do not
appear verbatim in the
paper. The bibliography is presented in alphabetical order,
by the first letter of the
author’s or editor’s last name. Second line of bibliography
citation must be indented
five spaces. If there is no author or editor, then the first letter
of the title is used. See
examples listed below:
Chicago Journal-Times, October 18, 1971.
"Desalination," National Encyclopedia, 7th ed., vol. IV. P. 61.
Murray, Roger L., ed. New Horizons in Chemistry. Eaton,
Calif., Eaton Publishing
Company, 1969.

9. "Space Age Chemistry," Springfield, Mass., Mirror, August 21,
1971.
Wills, John, Advanced Chemistry, 4th ed., New York: Hayes,
Grimes and Company,
1968.
Wills, John, et. al. Chemistry for Tomorrow. York: Hayes,
Grimes and Company, 1968.
Zirn, G. B. and L. N. Harris. "Potable Water from
Desalination." Water Resources
Journal, February 16, 1971.
Source: Modified version of the TSU College of Engineering
Capstone Design/Technical Project
Manual, page 20
5 of 5
2
TYPE ABBREVIATED TITLE HERE
Title of the Paper in Full Goes Here
Student Name Here
College
Running head: TYPE ABBREVIATED TITLE HERE 1

10. Abstract
This is the abstract, which is typed in block format with no
indentation. The abstract briefly summarizes your paper in 120
words or less. Through your abstract, your readers should be
able to fully understand the content and the implications of the
paper. Also, note that writing this section after the paper itself
may be helpful. See section 2.04 APA for tips and more
information on writing abstracts.

11. Title of the Paper
Do not add any extra spaces between the heading and the text
(you may want to check Spacing under Format, Paragraph in
your word processor, and make sure that it is set to 0”). Instead,
just double space as usual, indent a full ½ inch (preferably
using the tab button), and start typing. The introduction should
receive no specific heading because readers assume that the first
section functions as your paper’s introduction.
After considering these formatting issues, you will need to
construct a thesis statement, which lets readers know how you
synthesized the literature into a treatise that is capable of
advancing a new point of view. This statement provides readers
with a lens for understanding the forthcoming research
presented in the body of your essay (after all, each piece of
literature should support and apply to this thesis statement).
Once you have established your thesis, begin constructing
the introduction. An easy template for writing an introduction
follows:
1. Start with what has been said or done regarding the topic.
2. Explain the problem with what has been said or done.
3. Offer a solution in a concise thesis statement that can be
supported by the literature.
4. Explain how the thesis brings about social change.
Level 1 Heading
This text will be the beginning of the body of the essay. Even
though this section has a new heading, make sure to connect
this section to the previous one so readers can follow along with
the ideas and research presented. The first sentence in each
paragraph should transition from the previous paragraph and
summarize the main point in the paragraph. Make sure each
paragraph contains only one topic, and when you see yourself
drifting to another idea, make sure you break into a new
paragraph. Also, avoid long paragraphs (more than three-fourths
of a page) to help hold readers’ attention—many shorter
paragraphs are better than a few long ones. In short, think: new

12. idea, new paragraph.
Another Level 1 Heading
Here is another Level 1 heading. Again, the topic sentence of
this section should explain how this paragraph is related or a
result of what you discussed in the previous section. Consider
using transitions between sentences to help readers see the
connections between ideas. Below are a few examples of how to
transition from one statement to another (or in some cases, one
piece of literature to another):
1. Many music teachers at Olson Junior High are concerned
about losing their jobs (J. Thompson, personal communication,
July 3, 2004), largely due to the state’s recent financial
cutbacks of fine arts programs (Pennsylvania Educational
System, 2004).
2. Obesity affects as much as 17% of the total population of
children, an increase which may lead to other chronic health
problems (Johnson & Hammer, 2003; Christianson, 2004).
For more examples, see some of the transitions handouts on the
Writing Center’s website.
Level 2 Heading
The Level 2 heading designates a subsection of the previous
section. Using headings is a great way to organize a paper and
increase its readability, so be sure to review heading rules on
APA 3.02 and 3.03 in order to format them correctly. For
shorter papers, using one or two levels is all that is needed. You
would use Level 1 (centered, bold font with both uppercase and
lowercase) and Level 2 (left aligned, bold, both uppercase and
lowercase). This template provides examples of APA’s four
heading levels, but remember that at least two headings on the
same level are needed before the next heading level. For
example, a paper must have at least two level 3 headings before
a level 4 heading.
Level 3 heading.Note that you should write Level 3 and 4
headings in sentence case, meaning that only the first word and
any proper nouns are capitalized. The number of headings
needed in a particular paper is not set, but longer papers may

13. benefit from another heading level, such as this Level 3 heading
(which is an indented, bold, lowercase paragraph heading).
Level 4 heading. One crucial area in APA is learning how to
cite in academic work. Make sure to cite source information
throughout your paper to avoid plagiarism. This practice is
critical: you need to give credit to your sources and avoid
copying others’ work at all costs. Look at APA starting at 6.01
for guidelines on citing source information in your text.
Level 4 heading.You will want to include at least two of each
kind of heading in your paper, hence this additional paragraph
modeling effective heading usage. See below for further tips on
using headings effectively.
Level 3 heading.Again, if you choose to use Level 3 or 4
headings, at least two of each heading level should appear in the
paper. Otherwise, if only one heading appears, your readers may
question the need for a heading at all. If you find yourself
questioning whether or how to use headings, consider
consulting your instructor or committee chair for his or her
input.
Level 1 Heading
APA can seem difficult to master, but following the general
rules becomes easier with use. The Writing Center also offers
numerous resources on its website and by email to help.
And so forth until the conclusion…..
Level 1 Heading
The conclusion section should recap the major points of your
paper. However, perhaps more importantly, the conclusion
should also interpret what you have written and what it means
in the bigger picture. To help write your concluding remarks,
consider asking yourself these questions: What do you want to
happen with the information you have provided? What do you
want to change? What is your ultimate goal in using this
information? What would it mean if the suggestions in your
paper were taken and used?
References

14. (Please note that the following references are intended as
examples only.)
Alexander, G., & Bonaparte, N. (2008). My way or the highway
that I built. Ancient Dictators, 25(7), 14-31.
doi:10.8220/CTCE.52.1.23-91
Babar, E. (2007). The art of being a French elephant.
Adventurous Cartoon Animals,19, 4319-4392. Retrieved from
http://www.elephants104.ace.org
Bumstead, D. (2009). The essentials: Sandwiches and sleep.
Journals of Famous Loafers, 5, 565-582.
doi:12.2847/CEDG.39.2.51-71
Hansel, G., & Gretel, D. (1973). Candied houses and unfriendly
occupants. Thousand Oaks, CA: Fairy Tale Publishing.
Hera, J. (2008). Why Paris was wrong. Journal of Greek
Goddess Sore Spots, 20(4), 19-21. doi: 15.555/GGE.64.1.76-82
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2007). How to cite a
video: The city is always Baltimore [DVD]. Baltimore, MD:
Author.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Name of program
[Video webcast]. Retrieved from http://www.courseurl.com
Sinatra, F. (2008). Zing! Went the strings of my heart. Making
Good Songs Great, 18(3), 31-22. Retrieved from
http://articlesextollingrecordingsofyore.192/fs.com
Smasfaldi, H., Wareumph, I., Aeoli, Q., Rickies, F., Furoush,
P., Aaegrade, V., … Fiiel, B. (2005). The art of correcting
surname mispronunciation. New York, NY: Supportive
Publisher Press. Retrieved from
http://www.onewaytociteelectronicbooksperAPA7.02.com
White, S., & Red, R. (2001). Stop and smell the what now?
Floral arranging for beginners (Research Report No. 40-921).
Retrieved from University of Wooded Glen, Center for
Aesthetic Improvements in Fairy Tales website:
http://www.uwg.caift/~40_921.pdf