What I've Learned This Semester...

So much can be taken from our class this semester. We have learned and read much information about a variety of technical documents that will certainly be useful in the future. We have discussed such documents as resumes, cover letters, and emails. We discussed the importance of any type of informative writing, no matter the level of formality. We also investigated many ethical cases and considerations. It could be seen that many crises involving business affairs and technical writing samples could have been avoided by simply following ethical principles. The project was also a very beneficial experience. It was refreshing to work on a project for an entire semester and see an impressive final product. I learned many useful skills involving website creation and multimedia applications. I also learned about myself as a leader and how to better work with others. It was also interesting to listen to the input of so many intelligent people in class twice a week!

Ethics 5: Dombrowski pp 152-233

Tobacco and Death: When is a Cause Not a Cause?
- millions of people have died from diseases specifically caused by smoking
- think about differences between this incident and the accidental death of seven astronauts
- both technical and scientific information are specialized, usually quantitative knowledge, that were used for personal and cooperate gain
Cause
- statistical causation- probability of what will happen in a population or group but says nothing about individual cases
- useful for health issues such as infectious diseases
- also public safety
sophists are known for eristics- arguing for the sake of defending the opponent, rather than for the sake of society
- relates to tobacco industry because the tobacco industry defended itself by going on the offensive using doctors and scientists who were willing to oppose the representation of the connection as casual
- documents outline struggle between tobacco industry and various public and private groups
1950s- tobacco industry wanted to assure public that there was "no proof that cigarette smoking was a cause of lung cancer"
- used misrepresentations- referred to reports linking smoking to cancer as theories or experiments
1960s- U.S. Surgeon General appointed an advisory committee to investigate the health effects of smoking
- nicotine was addictive
1970s- filtered cigarettes
- still using the term "perception"
1990s- public and private outcries, governmental inquiries
- "believe"
Aristotle- truth as a virtue- there is no doubt that smoking is harmful
Kant- act in such a manner that you wish your actions could become universal
utilitarian- cost vs. benefits
Star Wars
- claims made about the ability of the proposed software to operate the Star Wars system were exaggerated/selectively represented