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Thinking Critically: Defining Terms and Concepts
Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau, John O’Hara
Activity Objective: Provide the information for the topic of genetically engineered salmon.
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Respond to the questions below for the topic of genetically engineered salmon.
Definition: Categories, Descriptions, Definitions, Explanations
Questions: What is it?
Sample answer to "What is it?" for Davis: “The Kim Davis case involves one woman’s dissent against the Supreme Court decision of 2015 legalizing gay marriage. The law says X, but Davis draws upon Y.”
Sample answer to "What is it?" for Cavanaugh: “The RLUIPA requires state prisons to provide religious accommodations under the First Amendment, which says X. Cavanaugh asserted his ‘right’ to …”
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Respond to the questions below for the topic of genetically engineered salmon.
Comparison: Similarities, Differences, Analogies, Applications
Questions: What is it like or unlike?
Sample answer to “What is it like or unlike?” for Davis: “Other cases in which individuals defied the law because of conscience include X, Y, and Z. The Davis case is similar/different because …”
Sample answer to “What is it like or unlike?” for Cavanaugh: “This case is like other challenges made by the FSM Church; however, since he is a prisoner asking for XYZ, Cavanaugh’s case is different because …”
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Respond to the questions below for the topic of genetically engineered salmon.
Relationship: Antecedents, Precedents, Consequences, Outcomes
Questions: What caused it, and what will it cause?
Sample answer to “What caused it, and what will it cause?” for Davis: “The issue of gay marriage had been a state’s rights issue but was unevenly applied across states. When the Court legalized it at the federal level, it required all public officials including judges and clerks to abide by the law, yet the result is …”
Sample answer to “What caused it, and what will it cause?” for Cavanaugh: “Prisoners deserve to exercise their religious freedom, but for most of U.S. history Christianity was the only available option, which violated the establishment clause …”
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Respond to the questions below for the topic of genetically engineered salmon.
Testimony: Statistics, Maxims, Laws, Quotations
Questions: What is known or said about it, especially by experts?
Sample answer to “What is known or said about it, especially by experts?” for Davis: “Supreme Court Justice Kennedy asserted in his opinion that the Constitution guarantees X, though Justice Scalia in his dissent said …”
Sample answer to “What is known or said about it, especially by experts?” for Cavanaugh: “In American prisons, there are over X number of recognized religious groups, including Satanists and Wiccans. If they can have their rights, then …”