This course is divided into units, each focused around an ethical question in science. Units last approximately two weeks. Topics will be chosen based on student interest, current events, and teacher caprices. They will not be announced in advance.
Unit Structure
Although changes may be made based on scheduling and available resources, units will typically include the following:
Documentary or film introduction
Background investigation
Group discussion
Position paper
Case study / further exploration
Project
Additional Course Requirements
Daily Journaling - Journal prompts will be provided in class on a daily basis. Students are expected to respond to all prompts thoroughly and thoughtfully in their journal. Journals will be collected periodically (announced or unannounced) for grading.
Book Reviews - By the end of each nine weeks, students will be expected to read and review one novel relating to a science ethics topic. A list of book choices is provided here, or students may bring alternate books to the teacher for approval. The book review template is linked here.