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ASSIGNMENT 1
Reading
Note taking
Discussion
Argumentative Writing
120 minutes
Vivisection: for or against?
An issue that continues to enrage people throughout the world is vivisection, or medical research performed on live animals. The article related to this topic in the September issue of Alquin actually describes the issue as a war! How much do you know about medical research on animals? What is your opinion on the issue?
The purpose of this activity is to find out more about the issue in general, and to use the information to have a discussion/debate in class or to write a brief argumentative essay.
Start off by jotting down your opinion on the issue, as well as the reasons why you feel the way you do. Remember that a good argument addresses both sides of an issue, so you need to be informed about the arguments both for and against vivisection.
Have a look at the following web sites:
http://www.ampef.org (Americans for Medical Progress Educational Foundation).
Click on 'articles'. Select one or two that sound interesting. Write down the author, the date and the title of these articles before you read them. This makes it easier to find the articles again if you need to. Make notes about the most important/relevant information as you read.
http://www.peta-online.org (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
Click on 'campaigns' and then 'cruel science' (at the top of the screen). You can find information regarding the anti-vivisection movement. Again, make notes as you read.
You can also use your favourite search engine to find more information, as there are plenty of articles available on-line.
If you come across unfamiliar words, especially medical terminology, you can look them up in the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary: http://www.m-w.com
Now, look back at the notes you made about your opinion on the issue before starting the assignment. Do you still feel the same way? Why/why not?
For those of you completing the assignment in class:
Make a thorough list of your reasons for supporting or not supporting vivisection. You need to be able to explain why you feel a certain way, and also be able to refer to evidence from the articles you have read. This will make you more convincing. Bring your list to class and use it in a class discussion. Be prepared to defend your opinion!
For those of you completing the assignment outside class:
Use your notes as a basis for an argumentative essay. You should state your opinion in your introduction and discuss it in more detail in the main body of your essay. Remember to address the other side of the issue; you can do this and then explain why the arguments are not relevant or relatively important. This shows that you are well-informed, rather than just opinionated. Try to incorporate some of the new vocabulary you have encountered on the Internet. When you hand your essay in, include a list of the web sites and articles you read when preparing for the essay. Use between 150 and 250 words.
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