Writing 1E: Approaches to University Writing for Engineers
Index:
Assignment Help Links
The links below can help you with your Writing 1E class assignments. They are organized by assignment number/letter. Please share! If you find other on-line resources that are useful to you, forward them to me so that I can list them here for your classmates.
*Assignments will be explained during Weeks 0 and 1. Help materials will then be added.
*Assignments will be explained during Weeks 0 and 1. Help materials will then be added.
Paper #3 Writing Prompts
*These are the writing prompts from Fall quarter, 2018, and are presented here as examples for Fall 2019. Students will generate and vote on this year's topics.
Our selected readings give both profound and everyday insights into how artificial intelligence impacts our lives and brings us closer or further from our own humanity. Using references from any two of these readings, plus one or more outside sources and/or examples, pick one (1) of the prompts below and write a 5-page (double-spaced) argumentative essay. Your argument should take a firm position that your reader can disagree with, and your reasoning and conclusion(s) should be supported with cited sources and examples.
“Disruptive Technologies and Moral Responsibility”
Before we introduce new, particularly disruptive, technologies, should someone evaluate the moral, environmental and political problems that may result? If yes, who is morally responsible? The engineer(s) who develop the idea? The manufacturer? The seller? The government? If no evaluation is necessary, where should we draw the line for legal liability due to technical failure or catastrophe? Support your view with one or two examples of emerging, disruptive technologies and commentary from experts (as well as your own).
“Rules” for A.I.
If artificial intelligence ever replaces humans, what laws should be in place to secure human safety and moral integrity? If Isaac Asimov’s Three Rules (fr. “I, Robot”) are insufficient for guaranteeing human safety and morals, what would you propose as a better set of rules? Should any rules be imposed at all? Using sources and examples, outline your solution and explain why it offers a superior alternative to Asimov’s “three laws.”
“Artificial Morality?”
Does the evolution of artificial intelligence a priori imply an evolution of morals? Or is it possible for an artificial system to be both ‘intelligent’ and yet immoral? Does morality demand only intelligence, or is some other human faculty required? If yes, what is the required faculty and how might you artificially include it?
Other Helpful Links for Engineers
Resumes
Refer to reserve materials at the UCSB Davidson Library for help with resumes. They contain plenty of helpful examples and tips. Be sure to write down the call numbers for each to help the library staff locate them.
101 Best Resumes for Grads [HF5383. B5342. 2003. #8981]
Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads [HF5383. K87. 2003. #8999]
If you are also interested in writing a curriculum vita (CV), see also:
Curriculum
Vitae Guide, by TheBalancecareers.com (formerly "JobSearch, Inc.")
A great guide to writing CVs, with templates and samples. This web page also
features links to other helpful sites.
Cover letters
How
to Write A Winning Cover Letter, by Ruth Glover and Taunee Besson
Excellent advice on writing cover letters, but with no examples! Even so, the
tips offered here are well worth the time it takes to read them.
How
to write a cover letter?, by Houston Job Search
This is a nice little website, with excellent advice on writing letters and
useful links to other job-hunting tips.
How to
write a great letter, by William S. Frank
Tips on writing all kinds of business letters.
Salary Surveys
Company Directories (use to locate a company's website)
Yahoo.com
Business Directory
This is a huge list of business directories and is kept up-to-date. If you can't
find a business here, it probably doesn't exist!
Google.com
Business Directory
If you thought Yahoo had a big business directory, wait until you see this one!
It is marvelously organized by business type, which should help you find that
particular job you've been interested in.
Government Data and Research
US Bureau of Labor and Statistics
US Census Bureau
American FactFinder
US Department of Commerce
FedWorld.gov
US Bureau of Economic Analysis
FedStats
University
of Maryland EconData
Commercial Marketing Data and Research Reports
KnowThis.com (marketing
virtual library)
USA Marketing Data on Demand
Internet Retailer: E-business strategies
for merchants and catalogers
NetRatings Inc. (internet media and
marketing research)
Nielsen Ratings
PJ Marketing Research: International
Case Studies, Reports, Essays and Quotes
Business Research
Strategies (Rutgers University)
Writing Help Links (general writing assistance):
Guide to Grammar and Writing, by Capital Community College Foundation
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KU Writing Center, by the University of Kansas
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CAD shareware
The links below access free CAD (computer aided design) shareware that you may find useful for generating drawings of your ideas. Please note that all of these require time to learn; thus, you should first generate hand-drawn paper sketches while you are learning the software.