Synthesis: Driverless Cars

Question 1

Essay
A driverless car (sometimes called a "self-driving car" or an "autonomous car") is a robotic vehicle designed to travel between destinations without a human operator.  in recent years, driverless cars have steadily increased their presence on American and international roadways.  

Supporters of driverless cars cite a number of potential benefits to their widespread adoption.  Driverless cars would potentially offer a drastic reduction in human-driver error--costly in both lost lives and money--as well as increased efficiency in traffic patterns, commuting time, and general road safety.  Despite these merits, critics of driverless cars question the reliability of driverless software, the startup costs of adjusting roads to meet the needs of autonomous vehicles, and the current lack of regulation regarding their use.

Neither side, however, has found easy resolution to the ethical dilemmas raised by driverless cars; that is, how should an autonomous car's software be programmed to "decide" between multiple harmful courses of action in the event of an unavoidable crash?

Carefully read the following sources, including the introductory information for each source.  Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops a position that argues what "ethics setting" a driverless car should be programmed to follow. 

Source A (MIT)
Source B (Lin)
Source C (Mill)
Source D (Millar)
Source E (Schwitzgebel)
Source F (Cartoon)
Source G (Chart)

In your response, you should do the following:
1. Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position.
2. Select and use evidence from at least 3 of the provided sources to support your line of reasoning.  Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.  Sources may be cited as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parenthesis.
3. Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
4. Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.  
Source A
Source B
Source C
Source D
Source E
Source F
Source G

Teach with AI superpowers

Why teachers love Class Companion

Import assignments to get started in no time.

Create your own rubric to customize the AI feedback to your liking.

Overrule the AI feedback if a student disputes.

Other English Language Assignments

11/21 "A Black Student was Suspended for his Hairstyle..." Rhetorical Analysis2008 AP® English Language and Composition Free-Response Question on Corporate Sponsorship in Schools2008 AP English Language & Composition Rhetorical Analysis Prompt2009 Q3 Adversity2010 Q3 Humor2011B Q3 Freedom and Safety2013 Monument Synthesis2014 Q3 Creativity2017 Synthesis Essay - The Potential Role of Libraries in Our Future2018 AP Language Argument Prompt2019 Rhetorical Analysis2023 Favorite Memories2. Is Taylor Swift Overrated? An Analysis of Her Impact and CriticismAbigail Adams letter analysisAbigail Adams RA FRQAbsent Students Only: Analyzing Krakauer's Perspective on Chris McCandlessAI TechnologiesAnalysis 2.0 of Paul Bogard's Argument on Preserving Natural DarknessAnalysis of Lahiri's Argument on Food, Traditions, and CultureAnalysis of Li Bai's 'Quiet Night Thought'Analysis of Madeleine Albright's Commencement SpeechAnalyzing Krakauer's Perspective on Chris McCandlessAnalyzing Rhetorical Choices in Rice's Advocacy for Economic FreedomAnalyzing the Rhetoric of Economic ForecastsAnimal Farm Choice #5Animal Farm Essay #2Animal Farm Essay #3Animal Farm Essay #6Animal Farm Essay Choice #1Animal Farm Essay choice #4Animal Farm Literary AnalysisAnnotated Bibliography AssignmentAOW "How Many Transgendered and Intersex People Live in the US?"AP Argument Essay (Overrated Prompt)AP English Lang Research PaperAP English Language FRQ #3 (Argument) - Purpose of EducationAP Full Length Test FRQ 1A pirate or love storyAP Lang: Argument: The Validity of Eleanor Roosevelt's Claim on True PatriotismAP Lang. Q3: Involuntary LiesAP Language Essay: Columbus DayAP Language Mock Exam Argument EssayAP Language Rhetorical Analysis Rubric MAHSAP Success - AP English Language: "Ain't I a Woman?"AP Success - AP English Language: E-Learning in the COVID PandemicAP Success - AP English Language: English and Its UsageAP Success - AP English Language: Fiction and Non-Fiction are Equally ImportantAP Success - AP English Language: Fighting Digital AddictionAP Success - AP English Language: Medico-Legal InvestigationsAP Success - AP English Language: Medieval Spain in the Contemporary Mind