Fairness in Machine Learning
University of Pennsylvania, Spring 2025
Instructor: Nikita Bezrukov
Time: TR 10:15am–11:45am
Place: Bennett 222
This course explores the theme of fairness in machine learning, focusing on how algorithmic systems can perpetuate or mitigate societal biases. It delves into the ethical, technical, and social implications of these systems, examining key concepts such as individual and group fairness, bias detection, and the trade-offs involved in achieving equitable outcomes. In parallel, the course emphasizes academic writing, guiding students in effectively communicating complex ideas, constructing rigorous arguments, and engaging critically with scholarly literature. The course aims to develop both a deep understanding of fairness in ML and strong academic writing skills.
Syllabus: Tentative syllabus
Sample portfolios: Midterm Portfolio PDF, LaTeX file (10%), Final Portfolio (45%).
Tentative schedule
Please read the assigned materials and submit your work before class. Slides and other materials from our discussions are posted under Topics.
January 16
Getting acquainted
Read:
Syllabus:
1. Course policies
2. What to expect
3. How we learn to write
4. Academic ableism
5. White paper topic clusters
Submit:
HW1 (~2.5%):
1. Mini bio
2. How we learn
3. Baseline doc + Reflection
4. Resume
5. Writing experience survey
6. Reading strategies survey
January 21
Book/Logic I
Submit:
Ch. 1 Logical Structure
Resubmit the baseline doc if needed
January 23
Book/Logic II
Read:
Testing and evaluating a proposition
Logical Coherence
The Vocab of Informal Logic: Outlining
Barocas et al. 2023: Ch. 2
Submit:
Ch. 2 Logical Structure
January 28
Book/Logic III
Submit:
Ch. 7 Logical Structure
Topics:
Ch. 7 slides
January 30
Book/Logic IV
Submit:
Ch. 8 Logical Structure
Topics:
February 04
Book/Logic V
Read:
Barocas et al. 2023: Ch. 9
Submit:
Ch. 9 Logical Structure
Book summary
Topics:
February 06
Rhetoric
Read:
Intro to Rhetoric
February 11
White Paper I
Read:
Intro to Genres
The White Paper
Submit:
Reflection journal 1
Topics:
Genre analysis collab exercise: the White Paper
Writing Fellow visit
February 13
White Paper II: Topic selection
Read:
Submit:
PowerNotes Articles 1-2
White Paper Proposal and Pre-Outline
February 18
White Paper III: Group presentations
Read:
Admissions
1. Matz et al. 2023
Crime
1. Wang et al. 2023
Mental
1. Xu et al. 2024
War
1. Duncan et al. 2023
Submit:
Pitch
Topics:
February 20
White Paper IV: Individual meetings
Read:
Submit:
PowerNotes Articles 3-4
Topics:
February 25
White Paper V: Peer review preparations
Read:
Submit:
PowerNotes Article 5
Topics:
February 27
White Paper VI
Read:
Submit:
White paper draft 1 and post-Outline
Topics:
Peer review session 1
March 04
White Paper VII
Read:
Citation as a community
Citation styles
The rhetoric of quotation and paraphrase
Submit:
Revision plan for draft 2
Topics:
Coming to terms: reading and exercise
March 06
White Paper VIII
Read:
Submit:
White paper draft 2 and post-outline
Submit late work for this module
Topics:
Peer review session 2
March 11
Spring break
March 13
Spring break
March 18
Reflection Letter
Read:
Submit:
Revision plans for the next draft
Topics:
March 20
Midterm Portfolio
Read:
Submit:
Submit Midterm Portfolio by March 21
Topics:
Lecture slides
March 25
Dialect
Read:
MicroRhetoric: Overview
Intro to MicroRhetoric: Style
Submit:
Linguistic Insecurity and Discrimination in the US
Topics:
Languaging discussion
March 27
Workplace genres
Read:
Intro to Workplace Genres
Genre and Style
Submit:
Resume (redone)
Cover letter
Reflection journal 2
Topics:
Genre analysis collab exercise: the Cover Letter
April 01
Op-Ed I
Read:
Overview of justificatory reasoning
Genre: The Op-Ed
Submit:
Three propositions, audience, and expertise
Venue checkpoint
Topics:
Genre analysis collab exercise: the Op-Ed
April 03
Op-Ed II
Read:
Tips on visual rhetoric and design
Submit:
Individual genre analysis
Pre-outline
Topics:
Lecture slides
April 08
Op-Ed III
Read:
Submit:
Op-Ed Draft 1
Topics:
Peer review session 1
April 10
Op-Ed IV
Read:
Submit:
TBA
Topics:
TBA
April 15
Op-Ed V
Read:
Overview: Spoken vs written rhetoric
Submit:
Op-Ed Draft 2
Topics:
Peer review session 2
April 17
Presentations
Read:
Overview: Spoken vs written rhetoric
Submit:
Revision plans Op-Ed
Topics:
Collab genre analysis
April 22
Presentations
Read:
Intro to PowerPoint
Submit:
Presentation
Topics:
Presentation: Group 1
Presentation: Group 2
April 24
Presentations
Read:
Submit:
Presentation
White paper final draft
Topics:
Presentation: Group 3
April 29
Final portfolio
Read:
Submit:
Submit Final Portfolio by April 30
Topics:
Office hours