This week we continued with our science fiction unit and our argumentative essays.

On Wednesday, we looked into the subject of artificial intelligence (AI).  We began with a quickwrite:

1. What do you currently know about artificial intelligence?

     2. What movies, TV shows, or books have you seen or read that involve artificial intelligence?

     3. Do you think developing advanced artificial intelligence is a good idea?  Why, or why not?

After discussing these questions, we watched a video on recent advances in AI.  Here is the link:
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After the video, I handed out some questions to answer and discuss.  They are as follows:

1. Are you more excited or fearful of future developments in AI?
2. What are some reasons we might welcome AI?
3. What are some reasons we might fear AI?
4. As far as the development of robot/computer consciousness is concerned, is there a certain line that you feel we should not cross?  What does that boundary consist of?
5. How far do you think AI will advance in the next 20 - 30 years?
6. What effects do you think robots with advanced AI could have on the economy?  Do you think they could even change the structure of our society itself?  How?
7. What would you most like a robot to be able to do for you?

There was no additional homework from this class.  See the post from last week for the homework due Friday.

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​On Friday, I collected the homework for chapter 2 of I, Robot.  Then, we had a peer critique session on the rough drafts of the argumentative essays.

Your Homework for next week (meeting week) is to complete the final draft of your argumentative essay and to read to page 111 in I, Robot.

This week, we began our class novel, I Robot, and we continued working on the argumentative essays.

The homework from the first class this week was to read chapter 1 of I, Robot and complete the response questions for the chapter (attached below).

In the second class of this week, I went over some important aspects of argumentative essay writing (resources attached below).  Then I went over your homework.

Homework 4/14 - 4/15

If you are a Chula Vista student:
By the time you return to classes (May 3rd), complete the rough draft of your argumentative essay.  Also, read to page 111 in I, Robot, and complete one of the book projects from the list attached below.

If you are a La Mesa student:
By next Friday, read chapter 2 of I, Robot, and complete the attached response questions.  Also, complete your rough draft of your argumentative essay by next Friday.

This week, we began working on argumentative essays.

First, we went over the remaining pages of the "ethos, pathos, and logos" packet (handed out before meeting week).

Next, I gave out the assignment sheet and grading rubric for the argumentative essay.  I also gave out an outline template to be completed before beginning the rough draft.

Over the course of this week, we completed steps 1-5 according to the assignment sheet.

All resources are attached below.