This document contains the agenda and notes from an academic interactions class. It discusses the past continuous tense and introduces the chapter on ancient civilizations from the Pathways textbook. Students engage in conversation starters on topics like when the international community battles countries, why oil companies use similar extraction methods, and whether the immune system can treat itself. Vocabulary from the chapter is then reviewed through drawing pictures and examples. Homework includes finalizing a PSU interview and reflections on tutoring sessions.
Topics and Questions Note To the right of the topics, you w.docxedwardmarivel
Topics and Questions
Note: To the right of the topics, you will find the weeks in which these topics are directly addressed.
Please go to those weeks and begin using the required and recommended resources in those weeks
to gather information for your papers. However, bear in mind that many of these topics will also
overlap with material from other weeks, so you will want to be thinking about how that other
material might bear on your chosen topic.
Just War/Military Ethics (Weeks Three and Four)
• What are some circumstances that would make a war just or unjust?
• What are some controversial reasons nations have gone to war, contemplated going to war,
or refrained from going to war? Were they justified?
• Are there ways of conducting a war that should be defended as just or opposed as unjust?
• Thinking of some specific technology such as drone weapons, nuclear weapons, or chemical
and biological weapons, is its use justified? When would it not be justified?
• Consider various methods of war such as carpet bombing, targeting of civilians or
intentionally killing non-combatants, using human shields, the use of blockades, sanctions,
and other means of preventing basic good from reaching the enemy civilians. When would
one of these be justified or unjustified?
• Are there forms of treatment of suspected enemy combatants, such as torture, imprisonment
without trial, warrantless surveillance, etc., that should never be done? Why or why not?
• Is it justified to violate the normal rights of one’s own citizens to ensure the safety of the
country?
• What kinds of virtues do persons in the military need?
• What sorts of behavior might those virtues require?
• What sorts of behavior would be contrary to those virtues?
• Are there times when a soldier’s virtues and/or duties may conflict?
• How should a soldier act in such circumstances?
• Should a soldier disobey an immoral or unjust command?
• What policies should the military have in place to respond to such conflicts?
Gender and Equality (Week Five)
• What does it mean to say that women and men are equal? What does it not mean?
• Are there ways in which women and men are treated differently that are unjust?
• Are there ways in which women and men are treated differently that are just?
• Are there social structures, cultural trends (such as in media or advertising), or other aspects of
our society that convey and sustain gender inequality?
• What should our response to them be as individuals?
• What should our response to them be as a society?
• Are there certain religious or cultural beliefs or practices that convey and sustain gender
inequalities?
• What should our response to them be as individuals?
• What should our response to them be as a society?
Relativism and Multiculturalism (Week One)
• What should our response be to behavior in other cultures that are disturbing or ...
Similar to 31. conversation starters, pathways 9, pathways 9 vocab (20)
4. Conversation Starter 130A
• In the International Law and Charter of the United
Nations, countries can not invade or battle another
country because there is a principle of sovereignty in
each country. However, sometimes the international
community can battle countries or armed groups. When
does the international community battle with countries or
armed groups?
(Mohammed ALBadi, Law, Class A
5. Conversation Starter 130A
• Many companies adopt similar systems
for digging and retrieving oil. Why do you
think that companies aren’t choosing a
variety of ways to retrieve oil? Also, why
aren't they creative when it comes to
tactics for digging?
(Petroleum Engineering, Yousff Alwazzan)
6. Conversation Starter 130A
• The immune system has many organs. All
of them have the same function, which is
protecting the body by defending it
against diseases. However, some people
have kinds of diseases that attack the
immune system itself. From your previous
knowledge, is it possible for this system to
treat itself ?
(Hala, microbiology- 130A)
7. Conversation Starter 130B
• There are many topics related to economics that are
very appealing to people because they like to know and
learn about economical concepts that help them to make
the right decisions in their lives. In your opinion, what are
some topics in economics that you think people love to
learn about and why?
( Ahmed Al Jashmi/Economics/130B)
•
8. Conversation Starter 130B
• Sometimes civil engineers unexpectedly find ruins at
construction sites. In such cases, the chief engineer
should decide whether to hide/destroy the ruins in order
to complete the construction or to stop the construction
until the ruins have been preserved. Which decision do
you think is better? Which decision do you think happens
more frequently in the real world?
Ananda, 130 B
9. Conversation Starter 130B
•Since the establishment of the United Nations, some
countries have invaded another country without any legal
argument and without facing the penalties that are
written in the UN Charter. However, the international
community has the right to use penalties such as
invading countries that do not obey the Charter.
•Do you agree with me that the law in these cases is
weak? What are the factors that affect the application of
the Charter?
•(Riyadh Alamri,Law,130B)
11. Past Continuous-Charades
• Tell us if your sentence is long + short or
long + long
• Tell us who your sentence is about.
• Act out the sentence.
12. Pathways 9 – The Legacy of
Ancient Civilizations
• What is anthropology?
– Anthropology is the scientific study of humans, past and present, that draws
and builds upon knowledge from the social sciences, life sciences,
and humanities. (Wikipedia)
• Anthropology is often divided into subcategories. Can you think of
any of these categories?
– Linguistic anthropology
– Sociocultural anthropology
– Physical anthropology
– Philosophical anthropology
– Theological anthropology
14. Ancient Civilizations
• Skim and scan the handout and discuss the following
questions:
• 1) What similarities do you see between these ancient
civilizations?
• 2) What differences do you see between these ancient
civilizations?
• 3) Which ancient civilization do you know the most
about? What interesting information do you know about
it?
• 4) What can we learn from ancient civilizations?
17. Vocabulary Activity
• 1. Discuss/review each word.
• 2. Draw pictures and write things (translations, parts of
speech, similar words, pronunciation hints) that help
each of your group members to remember the meaning
of the word on the blank side.
• 3. Shuffle the cards. Pick one and look at the
pictures/words. Guess which word is being described.
• 4. Shuffle the cards again. Pick one and look at the
actual word. Try to use it in a sentence.
18. HW
• PSU Interview, transcript, and transcript
analysis DUE 3/27 by midnight
• Tutoring and Conversation Partnership
recording and reflection due (3/22)
(Meeting 4)
