Overview
The land ethics and indigengoues perperctives
In the first paragraph (150 words), summarize a debated claim from the reading.
Explain the claim in your own words and give a direct quote in quotation marks with the in-text citation (Callicott, 2001, p. __) or (Whitt et al., 2001, p. __). Describe the main arguments or examples used to support the claim in the reading, note whether the author endorses the claim or discusses it as someone else's view, and bring in at least one related term or concept from the lesson notes in Canvas.
- You can draw from J. Baird Callicott, "The land ethic," (Links to an external site.) pp. 204-217 or Laurie Anne Whitt, Mere Roberts, Waerete Norman, & Vicki Grieves, "Indigenous perspectives," (Links to an external site.) pp. 3-20.
In the second paragraph (150 words), give a critical response to the claim.
Your response can be (a) an additional argument that supports the claim (going beyond the reading), (b) an argument that opposes the claim (going beyond the reading), (c) a news story or scientific finding that relates to the claim, or (d) a set of questions that probe deeper into the claim.
- Your response should be mainly your own ideas. You can include ideas from an outside source (with citation), but this is only required for response option (c). Your response should be creative, well-reasoned, and show analysis going beyond the reading itself. It may help to ponder your chosen claim over several hours while doing something else to let your full reaction emerge.
- Religion and culture discussions
In the first paragraph (150 words), summarize a debated claim from the reading.
Explain the claim in your own words and give a direct quote in quotation marks with the in-text citation ([Author last name], 2001, p. __). Describe the main arguments or examples used to support the claim in the reading and note whether the author endorses the claim or discusses it as someone else's view.
Draw from the reading you chose for this lesson: Karyn L. Lai, "Classical China," (Links to an external site.) pp. 21-36, O. P. Dwivedi, "Classical India," (Links to an external site.) pp. 37-51, Christopher Key Chapple, "Jainism and Buddhism," (Links to an external site.) pp. 52-66, Eric Katz, "Judaism," (Links to an external site.) pp. 81-95, Robin Attfield, "Christianity," (Links to an external site.) pp. 96-110, S. Nomanul Haq, "Islam," (Links to an external site.) pp. 111-129, or Victoria Davion, "Ecofeminism," (Links to an external site.) pp. 233-247.
In the second paragraph (150 words), give a critical response to the claim.
- Your response can be (a) an additional argument that supports the claim (going beyond the reading), (b) an argument that opposes the claim (going beyond the reading), (c) a news story or scientific finding that relates to the claim, or (d) a set of questions that probe deeper into the claim.
Your response should be mainly your own ideas. You can include ideas from an outside source (with citation), but this is only required for response option (c). Your response should be creative, well-reasoned, and show analysis going beyond the reading itself. It may help to ponder your chosen claim over several hours while doing something else to let your full reaction emerge.
Climate change and international justice
- In the first paragraph (150 words), summarize a debated claim from the reading.
- Explain the claim in your own words and give a direct quote in quotation marks with the in-text citation (Williston, 2018, p. __). Describe the main arguments or examples used to support the claim in the reading, note whether the author endorses the claim or discusses it as someone else's view, and bring in at least one related term or concept from the lesson notes in Canvas.
- You can draw from Byron Williston, "The basic science," (Links to an external site.) pp. 6-26 (climate change) or Byron Williston, "International justice," (Links to an external site.) pp. 66-84.
In your post (150 words), describe the topic you have chosen for the research project, what it involves, and why it interests you.
- Your topic should be an environmental issue that gives rise to ethical debate. You can focus on how humans are affected by or responding to an environmental trend (ecosystems, food, pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, recreation, etc.) or how other species are affected by some human practice or impact.
The science presentation (6 to 8 minutes) will explore the science behind your topic and the research paper (8 to 10 pages, not counting title and references page) will defend an ethical thesis on how to properly address it.
Choose a topic that is narrow enough to deal with thoroughly. Topics like "climate change" or "animal rights" are too broad, but there are lots of narrower options within them. A good way to narrow your focus is to take a general topic and limit your attention to a specific region or country, ecosystem, group of people, business or technology, or plant or animal species.
- For example, your topic could be steps to prepare South Florida for climate change, invasive species in Hawaii, environmentally-responsible investing, the use of nuclear power, scientific testing on mice, bans on plastic bags, Joe Biden's 2022 climate legislation, environmental racism in New York City, natural gas fracking, climate refugees, bringing back the wooly mammoth from extinction, sustainable fashion, genetically modified organism (GMO) farming, ecotourism in Africa, whales and dolphins in marine mammal parks, the use of traditional Indigenous knowledge to protect endangered species, the youth climate strike movement, the Flint water crisis, should gorillas be recognized as legal persons, coral reefs and ocean acidification, regenerative cattle farming, electric cars, and many more. Be creative and choose something that interests you.
- In the second paragraph (150 words), give a critical response to the claim.
Your response can be (a) an additional argument that supports the claim (going beyond the reading), (b) an argument that opposes the claim (going beyond the reading), (c) a news story or scientific finding that relates to the claim, or (d) a set of questions that probe deeper into the claim.
Your response should be mainly your own ideas. You can include ideas from an outside source (with citation), but this is only required for response option (c). Your response should be creative, well-reasoned, and show analysis going beyond the reading itself. It may help to ponder your chosen claim over several hours while doing something else to let your full reaction emerge.
Prepare a 6 to 8 minute informative presentation that shares details from 3 recent peer-reviewed scientific studies on your research topic.Finding and analyzing peer-reviewed sources Select 3 peer-reviewed sources from the past 10 years. To find these, use the Lynn library search page (Links to an external site.) and check the box for “only return peer-reviewed articles.” After searching, there is a box on the left to limit results to "last 10 years."Give each study one or two slides on your slideshow. For each study, share the research methods used (observation, experiment, prediction model) and the main results. For at least two studies, include a chart, table, or image from the study and explain main ideas from it to the class.Do not quote or closely paraphrase your study (or its abstract), since that will be confusing for the student audience. Instead, assume the role of a science communicator and explain things in a way that is clearer and more accessible than the technical writing of the study. Focus especially on surprising, engaging, and real-world-applicable findings. Mention similarities and differences among the articles being presented.The presentation length is 6 to 8 minutes. Do not go over or under this time. You will not be summarizing all aspects of your chosen studies. Each study will get about 2 minutes, so you are sharing a very selective set of details to inform the audience about your topic. Presentation sections
Title slide
Introduction (1 slide) – Draw in the reader in an engaging way and introduce your topic. Give a thesis that gives a brief summary of the main findings you will present. Use the introduction elements shown on the formal outline template.
First study (1-2 slides) – Share and analyze main ideas from your first peer-reviewed study.
Second study (1-2 slides) – Share and analyze main ideas from your second peer-reviewed study.
Third study (1-2 slides) – Share and analyze main ideas from your third peer-reviewed study.
Conclusion (1 slide) – Signal the end of the presentation and review your thesis and main ideas. End with a memorable closing. Use the conclusion elements shown on the formal outline template.