Human/Nature

Final Synthesis Paper

Due: Monday, Dec. 9
th
by 5:00 p.m.


In an effort to help you pull all the different ideas that we have been
exploring this term together, you are to write a final 4 page paper (double
spaced) that addresses the following question:

Now that you have had a chance to look at human nature more closely
in terms of human biological evolution, brain development, language
and culture, how do each of these lenses contribute to what it means to
be human? For you, which of these areas seem most critical to our
development of humans and why? Please use specific evidence from the
readings and your journals to support the construction of your ideas.

In order to tackle this paper, I recommend that you reread your journals from
this term as well as look over the readings again and construct a diagram that
articulates how you see these four lenses interacting. This diagram should
lead you to your initial thesis. You can include this diagram in your paper if
you would like but you will need to explain it clearly. Then, look back
through the readings in each of these specific areas to find quotes and
supporting ideas to help build your conclusions and construct and sketch
outline of how you intend to lay out your thoughts. The kind of writing
expected for this paper is similar to your educational philosophy paper.
While your personal voice needs to be in the paper, it still needs to academic
not conversational in its presentation. This is a tough subject to get your
head around so I would begin working on it immediately.

An A paper will present a well articulated and plausible thesis which is
developed throughout the paper and well supported both with personal
insights and evidence from the readings. Please make sure you address the
weaknesses in your education papercoherence, clarity, idea development,
organization etc. Also, make sure that your thesis reveals your unique
understanding of this topic. This paper is NOT to be merely a summation
of the material of the course. Instead, you are to present your
particular understanding as to how these four lenses developed in
relation to each other and which lens or lenses is most salient in terms of
human development. This paper is worth 15% of your overall grade.