Version vom 27. Februar 2014, 16:55 Uhr

Homework

To write a good comment/ essay you need

1. A clear understanding of the topic/question (Mark key phrases and look up terms if you are not sure!)
2. A good collection of ideas and examples (mindmap, list, ... → use colours or numbers to structure your collection; write it in English!)
3. A quick and effective introduction (See here)!
4. Well-constructed and well-linked arguments/paragraphs (thesis/introduction - supporting point - example - conclusion) (See here)
5. 5. Vocabulary! → e.g. vocab sheet on plastic surgery →

Work through steps 1 to 3 for the following topic!

Obesity is much more than a problem of people being overweight! It is a national crisis that the United states is responsible for and must solve! Comment on this thesis!

Now write out the first paragraph/argumnent!

• Look at this cartoon and prepare an oral presentation including a description and analysis! Cf.
• See here for help on analysing cartoons!

Plastic surgery performed on teens in the USA:

• What motives, views and attitudes for plastic surgery are there?
• What are the effects and problems of plastic surgery covered by this video clip?

Prepare a three-minute-talk:

Short introduction, clear structure, effective phrases!

• What are the effects on our society, if Dr Verma is right with her opinion on the cause of the differences in male and female brain structure? What does it imply if she is wrong - and society and education are the causes?
• Find examples for both alternatives and explain what you think to be right!

Analyse and comment on the cartoon you find here!

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Basic Skills & Information

• Information on homework and oral grades
• Reading and Marking technique - SQ3R Method A useful method to read, mark and annotate texts.

• A good speech/speaker ...
• Aspects of Analysing texts (style, irony, tone/mood, ...)
• Answering questions on the text
• Starting an Essay/Comment
• Starting a paragraph
• Building an Argument
• Mediation
• Translation (E→G)
• Characterization
• Diary
• Writing an interview
• Working with Cartoons

William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

The Cult of Youth: Plastic Surgery and Gyms ...

Plastic surgery performed on teens in the USA:

• What motives, views and attitudes for plastic surgery are there?
• What are the effects and problems of plastic surgery covered by this video clip?

Reasons for plastic surgery

Vocabulary

Vocab sheet on plastic surgery / youth cult:

Obesity

• Write out facts about and reasons for obesity from the video! Take readable notes!

* Pupils whose last names begin with letters from A - L do this for minutes 0:00 - 3:55!

* * Pupils whose last names begin with letters from M - Z do this for minutes 3:55 - 7:55)

Science

Science vs. Humanities

Science vs. Humanities - Text-Summary

Summary for Text "Science vs. Humanities"

• only scientists make real contributions to humanity!
• division into sciences and humanities makes solving world's problems difficult
• many educated people have no understanding of basic concepts and the projects in modern physics
• contrasting positions:

humanities give us understanding of history → learn from history → culture VS.

poetry doesn't save lives etc. like e.g. medicine

→ true that humanities can't solve e.g. medical or technical problems, but they provide what science can't do: answers to moral/ethical questions (not necessarily in shape of organized religion!)

• philiosophy in the original sense included looking for answers to all questions (incl. natural. philosophy)
• science and humanities give different answers to different questions, but both help us master our lives

Robots

Numbers and uses of robots are increasing in the military sector and in households

Advantages of using robots:

Military robots:

• advantage in war
• unlimited supply of robots
• fewer in human lives lost
• more effective use of weapons than human soldiers
• arms race in robotics has begun → US a must keep advantage in this field
• Machines: no negative or strong emotions
• better at quick, rational decision-making
• more rational/calm and ethical decisions (no anger, revenge) is

Household robots

• save time/work/do boring and dirty jobs ⇒ useful helpers
• can be used to control home/house remotely

Problems/dangers of using robots:

Military robots

• Sufficient ability to identify proper targets/combatants?
• right to decide about acceptable human collateral damage?
• inability to show mercy/give pardon
• who is responsible if robot kills wrongly
• technical ability to kill and destroy is more easily developed than more role/ethical control-mechanisms
• dangerous, 100% obedient tool in the hands of dictators etc.

Household robots if hacked, they could be illegally used to

• control our homes
• spy on us
• attack us

Text: Programmed for Love

• The original text on the problematic relations between people and robots can be read here!

• Answers to questions 1 and 2 on Worksheet(click several times!):

Answers to questions 1 and 3 on worksheet:

1. Headline makes reader wonder:

• programmed (technology) ⇐⇒ love (emotion)?
• programmed: no choice, no free will ...
• who is programmed for love? (Assumption: a robot/computer/machine?)

• Reader curious to answer the question/find connection between technology - emotion

After reading that human beings, and not machines, here are programmed in such a way that they fall in love with robots ⇒ surprise ⇒ interest ... How can that be - "to have" to love a robot due to being programmed to do so?

3. Change in author's attitude to robots:

first/before

• enthusiastic about new technologies (MIT)
• believed in benefits of creating alternative identities in virtual life
• studied human interactions with computers

then / after (encounter in which she realized she wanted the robot's attention, reacted to simple signals of communication) against man - robot relations on an emotional basis as:

• Robots can malfunction
• afraid that machines play role that only humans should play
• it damages our sense of humanity
• robots don't love you back, even if the promise
• people give up establishing and having relationships with real people

• Outlook: Will robots change us?

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The Hobbit

The original idea was that of a "reading-diary". That meant

• keeping a simple log-/scrapbook while reading the novel
• stopping from time (at least after each chapter) to time to think about what you have read!
• thinking about questions like: "Is there anything that puzzles you?" and noting down questions or striking quotations!
• asking yourself if you like or dislike a character + what makes you feel so?
• making notes that you can add to (e.g. one page per character for characterization)!

The scrap book that you have to hand in is part of the coursework (marked!)

These are the minimum reqirements, that is the questions you need to have readable and reasonable NOTES on:

Chapters 1 and 2:

• Characterize Bilbo and one other character (round or flat, relation to each other?)!
• What kind of story and hero do you expect at the end of chapter one?
• Compare your impressions of Bilbo and the dwarves at the end of chapter II with those at the end of chapter I.

Chapters 4 + 5:

• p. 65-70: What rhetorical devices (e.g. symbols, style) and narrative tricks are used to create the special mood, tension and expectations?
• Collect all important information about goblins/orks in a "what travellers ought to know about goblins" profile!
• What are the similarities and differences between Bilbo and Gollum? (NOTES)

Chapters 7 + 8:

• Characterize Beorn!
• How does the mood / atmosphere develop from page 158 – 162 … How is this effect achieved?

• Explain how chapter 8 reveals Bilbo's heroic qualities!
• Compare the different dwarves' (Bombur - Thorin - Kili&Fili) and Bilbo's roles/function in the story in chapter 8! Who are the flat and who the round characters?

Chapters 9 + 10: Compare the endings of chapters 8, 9 and ten.

Chapters 11 + 12:

• Characterize Smaug (NOTES!)

Chapters 14 + 15:

• Characterize Bard
• How can Thorin's reaction to Bard's requests be explained?

Chapters 16 + 17:

• Bilbo fully turns into a modern, everyman anti-hero - very different from an epic hero like Thorin.

• Compare the two types of heroes!
• How do they feel abot the treasure / fighting?
• What does "honour" mean for them?

Chapters 18 + 19:

• Sum up what Bilbo has lost and gained in the end!
• What do you think of Bilbo's development throughout the book and what does it tell the reader?