Evolutionary theory

Assignment 3

Two parts. Read Chapter 2, and watch video and answer the following questions(create a new thread in the discussion forum and deposit answers in “Assignment 2”. No quick answers! Apply the text to your thoughts and writing, don’t just regurgitate the text!

Part 1.

1. Based upon the characteristics of science you learned about in Module 1, explain why any of the following would be considered to be a theory in the scientific definition of the word: Catastrophism, Uniformitarianism, and Larmarkian/transformational evolution? Explain, whether any of these are accepted by the scientific community today. Why is Evolutionary theory as proposed by Charles Darwin largely accepted by the scientific community?

Part 2. Please watch the following video and answer the following question(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsHEAnPX59Y (cut and paste)

Select an animal depicted in the film and state how Transformation evolution (Lamarck) and Evolutionary Theory (Darwin) explains these animals adaptation(s) and or exaptation(s). If you DO NOT explain this, you will lose points!!! Just don’t write about how cool a certain animal is. Please be detailed.

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Assignment 4

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Do the following: Read Chapter 6, then answer question (#1).

Watch the video (address below), then answer question (#2).

1. Explain in your own words what the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is and why it is important? Is there a reason you can think of where this law is counterproductive, why? Does this law go far enough, why?

2. Watch this video http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cultural-appropriation-video_us_571f8033e4b0b49df6a8fb9d. Have you appropriated or appreciated or both? Define cultural appropriation (you may have to venture outside the text to obtain a definition – please give me the specific source) and the give an example of cultural appropriation and explain why it is appropriation?

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Assignment 5

Read the following article. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/05/opinion/in-zimbabwe-we-dont-cry-for-lions.html?referrer=&_r=1

This op-ed fits into several chapters in this book reflecting everything from anthropromorphism to ethnocentrism. Answer the following questions.

Do you agree or disagree with the author and why?

Zimbabwe has a distinctive history, recently defined by British, then self-rule. Knowing that this part of Africa and Africa as a whole has had enormous challenges in terms of economic development, where does this particular case fall within the list of challenges Africa faces? And what does the West’s outrage say about how it views Africa in a global context?