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The Prometheus Project:

 

 

 

What are the costs and benefits of change and progress?

A Classroom-Based Assessment and 10th grade Interdisciplinary Project

 

Why is this project called, “Prometheus?”

PROMETHEUS was an ancient Greek Titan, god of forethought, creativity and cleverness. It was Prometheus  who first molded and created mankind out of clay, and who stole fire itself from Olympus and gave it to humanity to better their lives. For this crime Zeus punished both Prometheus and humanity. As punishment for humans, Zeus created the woman Pandora, of Pandora’s Box fame, to bring both eternal misfortune and pain to humanity, as well as a measure of hope. Prometheus himself, for his punishment, was chained to a crag atop Mount Caucasus, where birds of prey like vultures or an eagle fed endlessly on his living bowels. The Prometheus story demonstrated that technological change can produce both benefits to humanity and unexpected consequences. Prometheus brought the gift of fire to the world, but the gift also resulted in the all the misery and suffering of history. For his generosity, Prometheus himself would have been tortured forever, had not Hercules eventually liberated him.

 

Important questions about the project: What you need to know:

I. What is a Classroom-Based Assessment?

§        Research paper

§        State-wide WASL standards and values

II. What will my CBA be about?

o    Technology: The Social, economic, political, cultural effects, positive and negative, of a new technology

o    Skills Development: Research, critical thinking, analysis, research-paper writing, presentations

 

III. What is the job?

You will develop a position on and write an evaluation of a technological change. You will:

1.                Examine why this change was socially, culturally, economically or politically significant;

2.                Evaluate the effects / consequences of this change, including costs and /or benefits;

3.                Explain how this change affected the skills, knowledge and experiences of human beings – the human capital.

 

IV. What format will my writing take?

 

This will be a well-argued and well-researched position paper of no fewer than 800 words. The essay will explain to the reader the full social, economic, cultural and political effects of the technology, and its costs and benefits. You will research and analyze its preconditions, genesis, development and effects, and evaluate its influence and significance.

 

 

V. What are some possible Topics?

 

Biotech

Cloning

Stem cells

Genetic engineering

DNA forensics

Health

Pasteurization

Birth Control Pill

Psychiatry/ psychology

antiseptics

Medicine

Antibiotics

Radiology

vaccines

 

Pain relievers

Transportation

Electric hybrid

Airplane

Steam engine

Internal combustion engine

War

Nuclear weapons

Machine Gun

Biological weapons

Chemical weapons

Communication

Internet

Cell phone

TV

radio

 

movies

Mass circulation newspapers

Mass Circulation Magazines

Cds

Arts/Literature/music

Romanticism

Realism

Impressionism

Surrealism

Economics

corporation

Credit card

Nafta  

WTO

Industrial

Bessemer process

Assembly line

Interchangeable parts

rubber

General Technology

Computer

Electric generator

plastics

Microwaves

Science

Periodic Table

Relativity

Microscope

Evolution

Sociology/ Ideologies

Communism

Anarchism

Fascism

Socialism

Recreation

Professional sports

X sports

The Olympics

Bicycle

 

 

What are the Written Requirements?

1.                No less than 800 words

2.                Meets all CBA rubric requirements for content, conventions, advocacy, etc.

3.                MLA in-text citations

4.                Annotated Bibliography

5.                Must produce/ turn in research notes, pre-writes, all drafts, final copy

6.                Typed, double-spaced, 12-point type

 

What about a Presentation?

 

Students who write CBAs from the same category – for example, transportation, science, ideologies, etc. – will produce a COMMON PRESENTATION in PHOTO STORY or POWER POINT.

 

 

Multimedia Values and Standards:

§        Originality; powerful images; distilled words; restraint with text; artful design.

§        Depth, complexity, continuity, organization, effect.

§        Rich with visual detail and evidence.

 

Presentations

§        Presenters all participate equitably

§        Consider audience

§        Varied, interesting delivery

§        Thoughtful, intentional use of voice, eye contact, body language, movement

§        Planning, organization, staging and rehearsal

 

Grading will be done via a rubric supplied by the State of Washington for this project. You will receive a copy of the rubric.