Entry Point:

https://gothamist.com/news/engineer-arrested-for-lying-about-inspection-of-crumbling-
facade-that-killed-2-year-old

Texts (to be read for homework):

1. Textbook:
   Chapter 3, Open Technical Communication (OTC)
   https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/PySpCEBQodADFZ/html or
   https://alg.manifoldapp.org/read/open-technical-communication/section/8b530f4b-5942-
   4071-845a-0a138601da10
2. Article:
   “An Engineer’s Eureka Moment with a GM Flaw” by Bill Vlasic
   https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/business/a-florida-engineer-unlocked-the-mystery-
   of-gms-ignition-flaw.html

Homework Assignment

Read Chapter 3. Take note of the vocabulary (utility, rights, justice, and care) used to
discuss ethics.

1. Read “An Engineer’s Eureka Moment with a GM Flaw” by Bill Vlasic.
2. Then, write a 100-word response.
   o You can respond to any of a number of ethical dilemmas discussed in the
   article. Use the vocabulary of ethics as introduced in Chapter 3 to discuss the
   events described in the here are some ideas:
   o What is the “eureka moment” mentioned in the title?
   o Who is responsible for this situation? Why?
   o Who acted ethically? Who did not?
   o How could this situation have been handled better?
   o Who is responsible for Brooke Melton’s death?
   o Did anyone at GM take responsibility for the flaw or its handling?
   o How does this story depict an ethical dilemma? Is there more than
   one?

In-Class:

1. In groups: Present one section of the chapter. Split the class into 6 groups. Each
   group will present the main points of its section.
   • 10 minutes of group work
   • 20 minutes of presentations
2. Discussion of responses to Bill Vlasic’s article.
3. Group work below.
   • 10 minutes of group discussion, 10 minutes of discussion

In-Class Group Work (Post-NYT article discussion)

With your group, answer the question at the end of each case study.
Case Studies/Readings on Ethics for In-Class Discussion:

1. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more-focus-areas/engineering-
   ethics/engineering-ethics-cases/unintended-effects/
2. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more-focus-areas/engineering-
   ethics/engineering-ethics-cases/giving-in-or-giving-up/
3. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more-focus-areas/engineering-
   ethics/engineering-ethics-cases/this-land-is-your-land/
4. https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/more-focus-areas/engineering-
   ethics/engineering-ethics-cases/to-ship-or-not-to-ship/