Essay #3 Assignment

Class Schedule (11/17/11-12/15/11) 

Theme #3: Miscellaneous Human-Animal Relationships

So far this semester we have focused on animals as pets and animals as food. There are many other ways in which animals interact with humans, and we are going to use this opportunity to explore your personal interests in human-animal relations by doing individual research topics.

In “All Animals are Equal,” Peter Singer explores the capacities for experiencing both suffering and joy as the bases on which animals should enjoy the same rights as humans. Choose one specific subject from one of the general categories below to research. Based on your research, does this particular human-animal relationship provide the equality that Singer argues that animals deserve?  

[If you believe that Singer’s standard should not be used, you must first argue why it should not be used, provide an alternative (and, in your opinion, superior) standard to use, and then use that alternative standard to evaluate your chosen human-animal relationship.]

Possible Subjects:

Animals as test subjects (medicines, makeup)
Animals as clothing (fur, leather, wool)
Animals as religious objects (animal sacrifice, snake handling)
Animals as entertainment (circus, zoo, Central Park horse and carriage)
Animals as sport (cock fighting, dog fighting, hunting)
Animals as therapy (dolphin therapy for autism, dogs and cats in nursing homes)
Animals as workers (guide dogs, cadaver dogs, drug-sniffing dogs)

Requirements:

(Please note that there is no rough draft for this paper; instead, I will be asking for smaller assignments along the way.)

The final draft must be at least 850 words, in MLA format, and include a “Works Cited” page.

It should include at least three sources, one of which is “All Animals Are Equal.” The other two sources should be from the library databases or books, not from the general internet.   

Make sure you answer the question!

Schedule:

Th, November 17^th: Brainstorming possible topics

T, November 22^nd: Bring in three possible sources (hard copies) and five questions you have about your topic; discuss “All Animals Are Equal”

Th, November 24^th: No Class: Thanksgiving

T, November 29^th: Thesis statement due  

Th, December 1^st: Outline due

T, December 6^th: Essay #3 Final Draft Due

Th, December 8^th: Final Exam

T, December 13^th: No Class: Reading Day

Th, December 15^th: Individual Meetings (re: final, Essay #3, final grade, etc.)

*Subject to Change