Students who have chosen to study environmental science as a focus discipline should use print and/or electronic resources to find information on the following topics:
1. Recent changes in global climate
2. Recent changes in geographical patterns due to climate
3. The effects of a weather phenomenon known as El Nino
You should write three papers in which you describe and discuss each of these areas separately as follows:
In your first paper, describe recent changes in global climate. Have the predictions of scientists been correct? Has there been a gradual increase in global temperature over the past several years? Has there been an increase in storms and in unstable weather patterns?
In your second paper, describe recent changes in geographical patterns as a result of the changing global climate. Find information on beach and land erosion resulting from severe storms. How have storms, floods, and other natural disasters reshaped the coastlines and the appearance of the earth?
In your third paper, describe the weather phenomenon known as El Nino. What environmental changes result from this weather system? How often does El Nino occur? What causes El Nino? What are the effects of El Nino on global climate?
In a final research project, bring together all of the information you have gathered to discuss the effects of a changing climate on areas such as business and/or politics. Focus on one of these areas in your project, answering the following questions: What are the specific effects of climate changes on
Computer Science
Students who have chosen to study computer science as a focus discipline
should use print and/or electronic resources to find information on the following
topics:
1. New technologies and their effects
2. Educational applications of new technology
3. Artificial intelligence research
You should write three papers in which you describe and discuss each of these
three areas separately as follows:
In your first paper, describe 3 new technological developments of the past
10 years and discuss the impact of these 3 new technologies on our lives.
How have these new technologies changed, for example, our personal lives,
our professional lives, our social lives, our political lives.
In your second paper, describe how computer technology has changed education?
How specifically are/can computers be used in the classroom? Find information
on research projects on the "classrooms of tomorrow" and describe one of
these projects in detail.
In your third paper, describe recent research and developments in the field
of artificial intelligence. Can scientists build machines that match human
intelligence? How does artificial intelligence research help us to better
understand ourselves and our capabilities?
In a final research project, bring together all of the information you have
gathered to discuss the importance of the computer in history. Do you agree
with scientists who believe that the computer is the greatest invention in
all of history? How have computers changed the way we live, work, do business,
learn? Is each of these changes positive? What are the negative aspects of
our technological society? Be sure to include a bibliography in which you
cite each of the sources you have used to prepare your research project.
Business
Students who have chosen to study business and marketing as a focus discipline
should use print and/or electronic resources to find information on the following
topics:
1. Psychological factors involved in advertising
2. Television infomercials
3. Internet commerce
You should write three papers in which you describe and discuss each of these
areas separately as follows:
In your first paper, discuss the psychological factors involved in advertising.
How do advertisers use the basic determinants of consumer behavior, needs,
motives, perceptions, and attitudes (discussed in the first reading of this
unit), in designing product advertisements? What types of ads are most likely
to appeal to or change our needs, motives, perceptions, and attitudes?
In your second paper, discuss television infomercials. How and why are
infomercials effective in inducing consumers to buy advertised products?
How and why is product cost different on an infomercial versus in a retail
store? What psychological and/or sociological needs do infomercials appeal
to?
In your third paper, discuss the development of Internet commerce. How has
the Internet changed the face of sales and marketing? What are the
advantages/disadvantages of selling/buying products over the Internet?
In a final research project, bring together all of the information you have
gathered to discuss how sales and marketing strategies have changed as a
result of developing technology. Do a historical analysis of advertising,
beginning with the pre-television days of the early to mid-1900's. What
advertising strategies were used at that time? How effective were these
strategies? Then analyze how television changed advertising? What were businesses
able to do with television that they could not do before? What additional
changes occurred in advertising with the development of computer technology?
How has developing technology expanded the marketplace for both businesses
and consumers? Be sure to include a bibliography in which you cite each of
the sources you have used to prepare your research project.
Directions: You will research the agents of socialization describing the influences of family, school, peers, and the mass media.
In your first paper, you should compare and contrast the role of family and peer relationships in socialization. How do parents, siblings and grandparents influence how we view ourselves and how we relate to others? How do cultural beliefs impact the process of socialization? What influence do our peers have on the process of socialization?
In your second paper, you should describe the role of the mass media as an agent of socialization. How does the mass media influence developing self-concept? Is the influence of the mass media the same for teenagers and adults? If so, how is it similar? If not, how is it different?
In your third paper, you should consider this statement: Americans are socialized
to believe that "you can never be too rich nor too thin." How is this belief
supported by business through advertisements on TV, in magazines, and even
on the Internet?
In your first paper, you should research the Scopes Monkey Trial that took place in the US in the early 1900's. What were the main issues in the trial? Who was the defendant? What was he accused of? What was the outcome of the trial? How did religious beliefs clash with scientific theory in the Scopes Monkey Trial?
In your second paper, you will research theories about the evolution of the human race. There are two primary theories about how the human race evolved. These theories are (1) The Mitochondrial DNA theory and (2) The Multiregional theory. Research and explain each of these theories. Which of the two theories do you believe is a more probable explanation of the evolution of the human race? Why?
In your third paper, you will research the Neandertals and explore their
role in evolution. The Neandertals played a large role in the process of
human evolution. They inhabited vast portions of the earth for many years
and then suddenly seemed to vanish. There are several different theories
about what happened to the Neandertals. Research and explain these theories.
Which of them do you believe is the most probable? Why?
In your first paper, you will research the discovery of DNA by Watson and Crick, which revolutionized the field of biology. Research Watson and Crick's work on DNA and explain how and why it was so influential.
In your second paper you will research the discovery of PCR, or the Polymerase Chain Reaction, which was revolutionary in the field of DNA and genetics. What exactly is PCR? Who discovered it? Why has the discovery of PCR been so evolutionary? What has PCR been used for?
In your third paper, you will research the Human Genome Project. In the past several years a large project known as the Human Genome Project has been undertaken to try to determine the molecular details of the complete set of human genes. If this project is successful, it may be able to provide scientists with information about our inherent similarities and differences, as well as with some clues that will help scientists discover cures for many dangerous diseases. Research the Human Genome Project. What is the current state of this research? How has it affected the field of biology?
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