Animals and Humanss;

Drawing on independent research, class readings, and viewings, write a 4-5-page essay

answering one of the following questions. Essays must be typed and double-spaced. They should

be typed in a standard font (12-point, Times New Roman) with standard margins (1 inch on the

top and bottom, 1.25 or 1 inch on the sides). The assignment is due on February 27th by

midnight by email. Assignments that are handed in after February 27th will be considered late.

Late work is accepted after the deadline for a reduction of one grade for each day the essay is

late. For example, if the deadline is Wednesday, the highest grade a paper handed in on Thursday

can receive is an 14/15 , Friday a 13/15, and so forth. With the exception of those essays handed

in late, all essays may be re-written for a higher grade. Late essays may be re-submitted for

comment, but not a higher grade.

Assume that your audience has not read this assignment and will read your essay because your

title caught their interest. Your introduction should explain the problem-at-hand before

presenting your thesis. Because this is an academic paper you must use a recognized style guide.

Please use the Chicago Manual of Style.

Please cite at least 3-4 scholarly sources from your own research as well as any appropriate

sources from our class readings or primary sources.

Note: This essay is an opportunity for you to begin to explore the animal or issue that you plan to

write about for your final research project. While you’re not required to remain focused on the

topic you chose for this essay, this is a good opportunity to develop a familiarity with a

topic/issue of interest to you. This will make the process of designing a research question and

prospectus easier for you.

Topics

1. In his approach to Ape (2009), John Sorenson explores human/animal relationships by

focusing specifically on our engagement with apes. He ultimately argued that apes fascinate us

because “they are like us but not us” (Sorenson 2009, 125). Consider an animal that may figure

prominently in your final research project or an animal that has always fascinated you. How

would you characterize humans’ interaction with it?

2. Many critical animal studies scholars have argued that the human/animal relationship is

characterized by disparities or inequalities in power. Many of the scholars that we have read so

far this semester have adopted this approach (Franklin 2007; Tuan 2007; Sorenson 2009). In this

essay, analyze the nature of power in the human/animal relationship by focusing on a particular

animal and its relationship with humans. Is this relationship characterized by dominance? Have

critical animal studies scholars been overly pessimistic in their analyses? Is there another

interpretation? You can draw on an animal that figures prominently in your final project or

simply chose an animal that fascinates you.

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3. Propose your own question. If you chose to do this, you must discuss it with the instructor and

receive her approval.

Grading Rubric

Criteria Measures Points Comments

Introduction/Thesis

Statement

-explains problem to

be addressed

-provides necessary

background

-strong thesis

statement

3

Quality of Ideas and

Argument

-strong insights

-remained focused on

question

-strong reasoning

3

Use of Evidence -excellent use of

different sources

-relevant examples

and case studies

-contextualizes and

introduces sources

3

Organization and

Clarity

-well-organized paper

-includes topic

sentences related to

thesis that are fully

developed in the

paragraph

-flows logically

3

Editing and

Manuscript Form

-avoids grammatical

and syntactical errors

-citations and format

follow assigned style

guide

-includes academic

title

3