HU 260 Grantham University Civility on the Internet Discussion Paper
1.The Hierarchy of ValueThe most basic moral obligation that we have is to pursue what is good and avoid what is evil. But what counts as “good” and “evil”? How do we rank the various things that are good or evil? Friendship is a good thing, but is more important than (say) honesty? Cheating is generally a bad thing, but is it worse than (say) hypocrisy?This assignment will require a bit of thinking. You will attempt to rank moral values and vices on a hierarchy.Begin by listing the top five moral values or obligations that you think are definitive of a life well-lived.For each value or obligation, give a (minimum) one-paragraph description of what it is and why you have ranked it that way.You should not simply give a list – you should explain and justify the hierarchy you have put together. Make sure you organize them by order of importance. If you’re not quite confident in your ranking, give it your best attempt.You will then do the same thing for moral vices.In order of heinousness, list five vices that you consider to be among the worst.Make sure that you include at least a one-paragraph description of each vice along with an explanation of why you have ranked that vice in the way you did.Make sure that you are specific. Do not simply say “be good” or “avoid harming people” – you should be referencing specific virtues or vices.The goal of this assignment is to organize your thoughts on morality. Not all good things are equally good, and not all bad things are equally bad. We often prioritize certain things when making moral decisions, so it is good to develop a framework for a hierarchy of virtues and vices.As a tip, you might look at some of the lists of virtues and vices that have been assembled by philosophers and theologians throughout history. Two examples are the four cardinal virtues and Dante's seven deadly vices. But avoid copying them – this assignment should be your own work and reflect your own thinking.View your assignment rubric.W3 QuizTo access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.W3 Midterm ExamTo access your Midterm Exam, click on the link above. This exam consists of 20 questions: 15 Multiple Choice and 5 Short Answer. The exam will not be timed, but will allow only one attempt.Misleading StatisticsStatistics are powerful and convincing when used properly. This feature of statistical reasoning, however, also makes them liable to misuse. In this week’s assignment, you will find a legitimate statistic and explain how it might be used to mislead an audience.Start by searching the internet for a reliable statistic. Make sure the statistic you find comes from an original or primary source – whether it be a peer-reviewed article, think-tank, or other organization. Do not use news articles that report the findings of a study; use the original study itself. Please remember to cite your source.After you locate your statistic, explain how it might be used to mislead an audience into embracing conclusions that the statistic does not support by playing the role of someone who is trying to lie with statistics.Design a fake advertisement or news story in which you will try to use the statistic in question to make a persuasive point.oYour advertisement or story can consist of a written document, graphic, or video.oWhatever you decide to do, you should feature a depiction or description of the statistic and an explanation of how it might be used to support a misleading agenda.After creating your fake advertisement or news story, include a short one paragraph statement on why it is misleading and what can be done to avoid being misled by it.Please utilize this tutorial to assist you with this assignment.View your assignment rubric.W5 QuizTo access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 8 Multiple Choice and 2 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.Overcoming Cognitive BiasesIt is easy to be taken in by cognitive biases, especially given that they operate at a subconscious or non-rational level. It is therefore important that we be aware of them. Accordingly, this week’s assignment will be a poster project in which you design warning posters. You will be creating three warning posters for three different cognitive biases. A warning poster might look something like this:Here is a direct link to the image.Begin by selecting three cognitive biases covered in this week’s reading or lectures. Using an online tool or application such as Microsoft Word, create three warning posters that explain the dangers behind the three cognitive biases you have selected. Each warning poster should contain the name of the cognitive bias, a very brief explanation of what it is, a message on how to avoid falling into it, and at least one image. All three posters should be different.Feel free to be creative!View your assignment rubric.W6 QuizTo access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.Analyzing the NewsNews reporting is done by journalists, who are charged with the important responsibility of curating information in ways that are fair and honest.This week you will assume the role of a news editor or executive. Using the knowledge gained from this week’s readings and lectures, write a mock job posting for a journalist. Your job posting should include:A description of what the journalist will do (feel free to be creative, given that there are many different kinds of journalists)A list of qualities necessary for being a good journalistA list of expectations that the journalist will fulfill. Make sure to include required skills that address reliability and validity in reporting.Make your mock job posting look as realistic as possible. If you are unsure about how to write a job posting, look for examples online.View your assignment rubric.W7 QuizTo access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.Civility on the InternetThe internet offers anonymity, and anonymity changes the way in which we present ourselves. Many individuals, acting behind the veil of a screen, say things and do things that they would otherwise not do in a face-to-face environment. This has led to an online phenomenon known as “trolling,” wherein individuals deliberately act to incite anger or resentment. Add to this the ways in which online discussions can get heated very quickly, and it is clear that civility is becoming a lost art.You will be writing a five-paragraph essay in which you explain the nature of civility, why it is important in an online setting, and what can be done to recover civility in the context of news media and cyber-culture.1.Your first paragraph should contain a definition of civility and an explanation of what it means to be civil.2.Your second paragraph should contain an explanation of what it means to be civil in an online setting. Why do we need civility online? Why do you think the internet tends to foster incivility?3.Your third paragraph should contain a discussion of what can be done to recover civility. How can we promote civility online? What are some ways in which we avoid heated discussions and debates?4.Your fourth paragraph should apply what you have said about civility to a specific contentious issue in today’s culture (e.g. healthcare, gun control, capital punishment, abortion, war, economic policy). What does it mean to have a civil discussion about said issue? How can being civil advance our understanding of this issue?5.Your final paragraph will summarize what you have said and make concluding remarks about civility going forward. What advice would you give to internet users about developing and maintaining a sense of civility in the way they approach online interactions?Your completed assignment should be approximately 1000 words. Submit your paper, written in APA style, including a title page, reference page, and appropriate citations, to the dropbox for grading.View your assignment rubric.W8 QuizTo access this week's quiz, click on the link above. This quiz consists of 10 questions: 5 Multiple Choice and 5 True/False. It will not be timed, but will only allow for a single attempt.W8 Final ExamTo access your Final Exam, click on the link above. This exam consists of 12 questions: 5 Multiple Choice, 5 Short Answer, and 2 Essay. The exam will not be timed, but will allow only one attempt.