Selecting a Book for M2A2 Writing Assignment

Identifying the Book

Book Is Attached. M2 A2 Book selection One of the tasks in this course is to write about a book that addresses a topic related computing, applying what you learn in the course to your reading of the book. This assignment is simply to identify the book, but you should approach this with consideration of what you’ll need to do with this book in a subsequent assignment. In addition to a writing general summary of the book and an explanation of the author’s conclusion, you’ll be taking a critical look at the author’s approach and exploring the topics raised by the author in the light of what you’ve learned in this course. Your selection should include a complete formal citation for the book, a paragraph describing the content of the book (if you get some of this information from reviews or the book itself, be sure to cite your sources properly), a paragraph that identifies at least one published/professional book review (preferably from an academic source) that you consulted, and preferably discusses how this book review helped you think about your choice (for example, how it helped you see connections to the course or how it signaled challenges you might need to be prepared for when reading the book) a paragraph about why it is relevant to the course, and a paragraph about why it interests you. For the final report, you’ll write a brief general review of the book and then discuss it from the perspective of this course, exploring the book’s treatment of stakeholders, including any you think were missed; the book’s ethical framework, and if the author had taken a different perspective, what that might have looked like; the book’s grounding in professional responsibilities, and whether or not those are mentioned explicitly; and all relevant topics, such as privacy, transparency, and reliability. For this section, the point is not to criticize the book; the point is to show that you can read with a critical eye, appreciating good thinking, but also recognizing biases and gaps. The book you select must be non-fiction and written/published within the past 3-5 years. It should not be a book that is assigned for another course. Some elements of this assignment can be a bit more challenging if you are using an anthology, but some anthologies will work well. If you want to use an anthology, discuss it with me at least week before this assignment is due. While you are welcome to select books that are specifically about ethics in topical areas, you’ll probably enjoy this assignment more if you select a book that focuses on a topic that interests you, such as autonomous vehicles or algorithms and connects to many social issues. So, for example, a book such as Samuel Schwartz’s No One At the Wheel would work well. The college’s library has a collection of ebooks and your local library might have suitable books, as well. If you have questions about this assignment, including whether a book is appropriate, contact your instructor before the assignment is due.