First Assignment: Introductory Concerns
Those in this topic group will be divided into two smaller groups to discuss questions related to human and animal characteristics and rights: whether humans and (some?) animals are the same in any or all respects. For those who miss the group discussion, the questions can be found at this link; those who missed the day this assignment was made can make up the work by doing it by themselves and submitting it the day after they return or enter class.
Discussion of human and animal characteristics and rights.
(This assignment is worth 20 points.)
Three Videos: What Is Being Human?
These three videos alternating in sequence together with videos from the other four topics will be seen on Fridays during the winter semester. This work is considered extra credit. Questions and/or considerations of each video will be handed out before the video and must be handed in at the end of the video. No one who misses the Friday showing can recover extra credit by viewing the video elsewhere and submitting answers. Answers to the questions will be available after all classes have viewed and submitted their answers.
"Measure of a Man" –– Answers to questions
"Captive Pursuit" —— Answers to questions
For a background of "Captive Pursuit," the more enterprising might want to read the following link http://fiction.eserver.org/short/the_most_dangerous_game.html whch is the basis for the video episode.
"Cogenitor"
Following each video, considerations about human/animal are due.
(These assignments are worth 10 points each.)
Second Assignment: Internet Search
When the class has been divided into topics and titles have been assigned, students will search the internet for the three parts of this assignment.
1 - All assigned to Human will read at least three of the following links and write a short essay (150-200 words) with at least 3 citations summarizing what has been read.
(This assignment is worth 15 points.)
1 http://www.offline.org.uk/harights.php
2 http://www.anstendig.org/Euthanasia.html
3 http://khuram.wordpress.com/2006/12/29/some-differences-of-human-animal-mind/
4 http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview/3450011.html
5 http://www.yankeepotroast.org/archives/2005/10/human_brain_and.html
6 http://www.fbresearch.org/AnimalActivism/WelfareVRights2.htm
7 http://www.grandin.com/inc/animals.in.translation.ch3.html
8 http://www.ivu.org/books/reviews/animal-minds.html
9 http://www.caare101.org/AR_or_AW.htm
10 http://www.furcommission.com/debate/
11 http://freedomforanimals.org/companionanimals.htm
12 http://www.fbresearch.org/Education/AR101_06.htm
13 http://khuram.wordpress.com/2006/12/26/desires-as-one-of-most-basic-differences-of-human-and-animal-mind/
14 http://www.ncraoa.com/animalrights.html
15 http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/505
2 - All will research their author and write a brief biography showing the author is respected, has written other works, and is recognized as an authority on the topic.
(This assignment is worth 15 points.)
3 - Everyone will read four reviews of the book they will read. One review must be a professional review the other three may be by non-professional people. You must create one summary for both review assignments. One summary will be generated from reviews that are favorable; the second, from reviews that are unfavorable. Following are the links for reviews found on Amazon.com. You may look elsewhere for reviews. Each review summary should be more than 100 words.
(Each review summary is worth 10 points.)
Are We Unique?
http://www.amazon.com/Are-Unique-Scientist-Unparalleled-Intelligence/dp/0471249467/ref=sr_1_1/103-2336650-4207011?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183149660&sr=8-1
The Monkey in the Mirror
http://www.amazon.com/Monkey-Mirror-Essays-Science-Makes/dp/0156027062/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2336650-4207011?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183149952&sr=1-1
Things That Make Us Smart
http://www.amazon.com/Things-That-Make-Smart-Attributes/dp/0201626950/ref=sr_1_1/103-2336650-4207011?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183150012&sr=1-1
Third Assignment: Books—Review Summaries
Each book will be divided in five parts, determined by the reader (division by total pages may work, but dividing by chapters might be better for understanding). For each part: CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. ADDITIONS ARE UNDERLINED AND IN CAPS.
BEGINNING WITH THE THIRD READING SECTION (10/14/08) A LIST OF TOPIC SENTENCES WILL BE DUE ON THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE ASSIGNED READING. A TOPIC SENTENCE WILL BE WRITTEN FOR EVERY PARAGRAPH IN THE READING. THE SUMMMARY HAS BEEN CHANGED IN WORD LENGTH—NOTE THE CHANGE—AND WILL BE DUE ON TUESDAY.
1 - For each reading section a summary of 350-400 words will be required from each reader and each reader must develop one important question based on the reading; the reader's answer to the question must be given. This part is NOT collaborative.
(The TOPIC SENTENCE LIST WILL BE WORTH 20 POINTS AND THE SUMMARY & QUESTION/ANSWER WILL BE WORTH 25 points.)
2 - Everyone reading this topic will create a collaborative essay (400-500 words) for each reading section. The group—comprised of a reader of each book in the topic—must find a common thread in each section of their reading and weave those threads together in their essay NOT MERELY STITCHING THE INDIVIDUAL SUMMARIES TOGETHER. THE COLLABORATION IS NOT OPTIONAL AND MEMBERS WILL NOT OFFER THEIR SUMMARY AS THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ESSAY NOR IS A PIECE OF WRITING TO REPLACE THEIR PHYSICAL PRESENCE OR PARTICIPATION.
(These assignments are worth 100 points.)
Fourth Assignment: Introductory Revisited
All those reading Human will form one group and will re-answer the introductory considerations.
You will compare what you thought before reading the books with what you think about the same considerations after reading the books. You must explain your reasons for changing your views or not changing them about each consideration.
(This group assignment is worth
30 points.)
Fifth Assignment: Oral Presentation of Topic
Each person will present the ideas of his/her book to the class. Each will include in the speech ideas from internet assignments and reviews as well as his/her own understanding of what the author was writing about. Speakers may use notes; they may NOT read a written paper. Points will be lost if the presenter is off topic, too brief, or does not use the time well. The presentation must be at least 10 minutes. Areas to be dealt with are the following:
The author
The book's purpose
The book's main ideas
The book's meaning for society
Recommendation
(This assignment is worth
110 points.)
Handout for this assignment will be available here after the assignment is announced.
Sixth Assignment: Topic Project
The handout assignment sheet can be viewed here after the assignment has been made.
(This group assignment is worth 250 points.)