Class writing assignment: Using the short case format (200-500 words), write two scenarios that pose a problem in two different topic areas covered in this course. Each of your scenarios should adhere to the style used in the course (see end of chapter cases in the text). Your cases should be suitable for class discussion. Then, for each scenario, write a discussion of the case, presenting one or more solutions to the problem(s) being posed. Your discussion of the case can take any format you choose. For example, you may wish to "answer" the case by writing a focused narrative. Alternatively, you may wish to ask questions that emanate from the case and then provide an answer to each. Or you may wish to build your discussion using any of several formats for applying critical thinking to such problems. For example, you can frame your discussion around such criteria as: who are the interested parties?, what issues or points of conflict are found in the case?, what are the potential consequences?, what actions are needed to solve the case?, are such actions obligatory?, and what, if any, actions are forbidden? Consult the Primer on Case Discussion to gain further information. Additionally, please consult the guideline document for writing cases.

Requirements for this assignment are as follows:

• your cases may be the product of your imagination, or they may be based on your personal knowledge, or on published material. However, they must be written in fictional form. In other words, your final product should present a hypothetical problem, not one that describes any actual organization, or any person, living or dead.
• You may use any source material you want in preparing the assignment. However, you may not consult with students currently taking MICR510
• Format requirements:
  ---your entire writing assignment (2 cases and 2 discussions) should not exceed 5 single-spaced, typewritten pages.
  ---the heading at the beginning of each assignment should include your name, mailing address (where completed assignments and grade will be sent to you [preferably a VCU box number]) and the topic area of the case (e.g., conflict of interest, mentoring, etc.)
  ---please  type your name on at the end of the assignment following this Honor Code Pledge:  "I have neither given nor received inappropriate aid in the preparation of this assignment."
• your assignment is due on or before   
• Send your completed assignment as an email attachment to:  macrina@vcu.edu   The header of the messages should say:  Writing Assignment
• Note:  if you have no objection to my using your case in future courses or editions of our text, please include the following disclaimer at the end of your assignment:  "Copyright release:  Any or all of these cases may be used by F. L. Macrina in publication or class notes. I understand that my contribution  will be appropriately acknowledged"    Please type your name and the date under this disclaimer.   

Case discussion leaders and reading assignments:

THESE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE MADE BEFORE WEEK 2

The following assignments involve students selecting short cases for presentation and leading discussion in class period. The cases can be found by category under: Short Cases. Please look at the Primer on Short Cases in order to review guiding principles and tips on leading short case discussions.

THE VCU HONOR SYSTEM: Week 2

SELECT FROM Honor Code Cases  found on this WEB site

Discussion leaders: Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: the VCU Honor Code

SCIENTIFIC RECORD KEEPING : Week 3

SELECT FROM CASES 11.1 - 11.12 IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 11 in Scientific Integrity

OWNERSHIP OF DATA AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: Week 4

SELECT FROM CASES 9.1 -9.12 IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity  

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 9 in Scientific Integrity

MANAGING CONFLICTING INTERESTS: Week 5

SELECT FROM CASES 7.1 -7.12 IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity 

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 7 in Scientific Integrity

MENTORING: Week 6

SELECT FROM CASES 3.1 - 3.12 IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity   

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 3 in Scientific Integrity

THE USE OF ANIMALS IN BIOMEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION: Week 7

SELECT FROM CASES 6.1 - 6.12 IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity)

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 6 in Scientific Integrity

AUTHORSHIP AND PEER REVIEW: Week 8

SELECT FROM CASES 4.1 - 4.12 IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity  

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 4 in Scientific Integrity

USE OF HUMANS IN BIOMEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION: Week 9

SELECT FROM CASES 5.1 - 5.12 IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity   

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 5 in Scientific Integrity

GENETIC TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY: Week 10

SELECT FROM CASES 10.1 - 10.12  IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity   

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

Class reading assignment: Chapter 10 in Scientific Integrity

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH:  Week 11

Discussion leaders: see Section & case assignments

SELECT FROM CASES 8.1 - 8.12  IN TEXTBOOK, Scientific Integrity

Policy on Use of Student-Prepared Cases in Class

Students may prepare short cases for use in class.  These may be the cases they have written for the class assignment.  Permission from the instructor must be sought and obtained prior to class use.  An electronic copy of the approved case must be electronically distributed to the appropriate case discussion section no later than noon on the Monday before the scheduled class session.   The topic of the case must be in keeping with the subject matter of the scheduled class.

Course Grading:

The course final grade (A-F) will be determined as follows.

• 15% of the grade will be based on attendance:

There are 15 contact hours in the course with one percentage point allocated for each hour. If you miss a 1.5 hr. session, then you lose 1.5 points, etc.

• 25% of the grade will be based on class participation:

This part of the grade takes has two components.  The first is that each student receives a class assignment that ensures his or her participation (i.e., as a case discussion leader).  This participation counts 15 %.  You automatically receive this credit for leading case studies when you are assigned to do so.  The remaining 10% is based on participating in an on-line case discussion with students taking a scientific integrity course at the University of California, San Diego. 

• 60% of the grade will be based on the writing assignment:

See above explanation