Social Responsibility
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Author(s): Vanda Bazdan
Students engage in a structured in-class debate centered on Milton Friedman's essay, “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits" (The New York Times Magazine, 13 September 1970). They critically analyze the text, identifying the author’s thesis, argument structure, and rhetorical strategies. Students are divided into debate teams and judges, with each group preparing arguments, rebuttals, and evaluations based on a grading rubric. The exercise emphasizes critical thinking, persuasive communication, and ethical reasoning.
Outcome: Critical Thinking: Analyze or construct arguments considering their premises, assumptions, contexts, conclusions, and anticipating counterarguments, Communication: Express oneself effectively in common college-level written forms Method: Debate Characteristics: Collaborative, Reflection, Writing Intensive Download Assignment for Social Responsibility
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Stem Cell Policy
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Author(s): Lyndsey McGrath
In this final exam assignment, students analyze a current news article on stem cell policy and assess its impact on two sectors—economy, healthcare, research and development, or education. They then construct a causal loop diagram to illustrate the systemic relationships involved, identifying variables, feedback types, and explaining the dynamics of the loop. The task integrates policy analysis with systems thinking and visual modeling.
Outcome: Social: Analyze similarities and differences in human social experiences and evaluate the consequences Method: Problem Set Characteristics: Experiential, Reflection Download Assignment for Stem Cell Policy
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Still Life Analysis
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Author(s): Sarah Thompson
Students write an analytical essay on a seventeenth-century still life painting, applying insights from class discussions and Charlotte Houghton’s article. The essay explores how a contemporary viewer of the time might interpret the painting, identifying symbolic elements and their social significance. Students are also asked to reflect on the nature of still life as a genre and propose a modern reinterpretation for a twenty-first-century audience.
Outcome: Artistic: Interpret and evaluate artistic expression considering the cultural context in which it was created, Communication: Express oneself effectively in common college-level written forms Method: Essay Characteristics: Reflection, Writing Intensive Download Assignment for Still Life Analysis
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The Practice and Products of Philosophy
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Author(s): Colin Mathers
This workbook-based assignment engages students in the practice of philosophy through a series of detailed, reflective, and analytical problems. Students construct and critique arguments on ethical issues such as physician-assisted suicide, affirmative action, and cloning, using philosophical frameworks like Utilitarianism, Kantianism, and Rawlsian theory. The assignment emphasizes original thinking, application of moral principles, and the development of well-supported philosophical reasoning, preparing students for active class participation and exams.
Outcome: Ethical: Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant positions, Communication: Express oneself effectively in common college-level written forms Method: Problem Set Characteristics: Reflection, Writing Intensive Download Assignment for The Practice and Products of Philosophy
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Visiting Paris
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Author(s): Sarah Thompson
Students write an essay responding to a question about the distinction between pre- and post-1848 art, using examples from class to explain what defines “modern” art. The essay explores how modern artists approached subject matter, technique, and medium differently from earlier artists, particularly in their representation of contemporary life and the concept of modernity. Students are encouraged to reflect on how these shifts mark a turning point in art history.
Outcome: Communication: Express oneself effectively in common college-level written forms, Global: Examine connections among the world’s populations, Artistic: Interpret and evaluate artistic expression considering the cultural context in which it was created Method: Essay Characteristics: Reflection, Writing Intensive Download Assignment for Visiting Paris
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Wicked Problems- Water Sustainability
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Author(s): Sarah Brownell
In this two-part team project, students investigate a "Wicked Problem" (a complex water sustainability issue) and present their findings through an Assertion-Evidence presentation and a research poster. The first phase focuses on understanding the problem’s scope, stakeholders, and root causes using systems thinking tools like mess maps and causal analysis. The second phase introduces a proposed solution, supported by a Theory of Change, stakeholder analysis, and interview data. Students are assessed on research depth, clarity of communication, and collaborative engagement.
Outcome: Communication: Express oneself effectively in presentations, either in American English or American Sign Language Method: Case Study, Presentation, Project Characteristics: Experiential, Reflection, Writing Intensive Download Assignment for Wicked Problems- Water Sustainability
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Writing a Cover Letter
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Author(s): Linda Ziberi
Students write a tailored cover letter in response to a real job or internship posting, aligning their skills, experiences, and values with the position’s requirements. The assignment includes drafting, participating in a peer workshop with a guest speaker, receiving instructor feedback, and submitting a revised final version. Emphasis is placed on clarity, professionalism, and customization for each application.
Outcome: Communication: Express oneself effectively in common college-level written forms, Communication: Revise and improve written products Method: Project Characteristics: Experiential, Reflection, Writing Intensive Download Assignment for Writing a Cover Letter
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