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Lesson 1

What is ethics? We will discuss the Central Question of the unit: How do we determine the right thing to do? We will determine what we need to know and be able to do to be successful on the Culminating Task. We will begin our exploration of ethics by analyzing a contemporary ethical dilemma.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I express an accurate understanding of a specific ethical dilemma?

  • Can I recognize and interpret important relationships among key details and ideas within and across texts related to ethics?

Texts

Core

  • Digital Access
    • “The Ethical Dilemma of Self-Driving Cars,” Patrick Lin, Ted Ed

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will learn about this unit and how it relates to the rest of the year.

The Foundation Unit prepares you for the rest of the year. Review the Course Overview to understand what you will do and learn this year.

Activity 2: Read

We will review the Unit Text List to familiarize ourselves with the texts we will analyze and discuss throughout the unit.

Step 1

Access and review the Unit Text List. Note the information that is included about each text. These texts are also listed in the activities in which they appear, under the Materials tab. You will notice that each text has an icon by it. These indicate where the text is located, which corresponds to the Location column in the Unit Text List.

Text locations:

  • Tradebook: These texts are full-length novels or nonfiction books you will most likely have copies of.

  • Digital Access: You can find these texts online. Use the information provided in the Unit Text List or on the Materials tab for the activity to conduct a web search for the resource. Digital Access resources include online articles, videos, podcasts, and other web sources.

  • Unit Reader: These texts can be found in the Unit Reader.

  • CD/DVD: These materials are available on CD or DVD and might also be available through online content providers.

Step 2

Review the Independent Reading Text Options. Here, you will find suggested options for independent reading related to the unit.

Activity 3: Discuss – Write

We will discuss the unit’s Central Question and reflect on its significance by completing a quick-write in our Learning Logs.

Step 1

Review the Central Question of the unit:

How do we determine the right thing to do?

Use the following questions to guide a discussion with a partner or small group:

  1. What is the Central Question asking?

  2. What might you already know in relation to the Central Question?

  3. What about the question piques your curiosity?

  4. How do you think this question relates to the texts or topic of the unit?

  5. If you were to provide an answer to the Central Question today, what would it be?

Step 2

In your Learning Log, write a response to Question 5. You will return to this initial response in later lessons to examine how your understanding of the Central Question has evolved.

Activity 4: Read – Discuss

We will read and analyze the Culminating Task. We will identify specific knowledge that we are expected to gain throughout the unit and specific skills that we will need in order to succeed on the Culminating Task.

Step 1

In a small group, read and discuss Part 1 of the Culminating Task Checklist. Determine what skills and knowledge you will need in order to succeed on the Culminating Task. Respond to the following questions:

  1. What do I need to know to succeed on Part 1 of the Culminating Task?

  2. What do I need to do to succeed on Part 1 of the Culminating Task?

Discuss with your whole group. Create a checklist in your Learning Log or use the Culminating Task Progress Tracker to list the knowledge and skills you need to succeed on Part 1 of the Culminating Task.

For each knowledge and skill identified, assess how prepared you are right now.

Step 2

In a small group, read and discuss Part 2 of the Culminating Task Checklist. Determine what skills and knowledge you will need to succeed on the Culminating Task. Respond to the following questions:

  1. What do I need to know to succeed on Part 2 of the Culminating Task?

  2. What do I need to do to succeed on Part 2 of the Culminating Task?

Discuss with your whole group. Create a checklist or use the Culminating Task Progress Tracker to list the knowledge and skills you need to succeed on Part 2 of the Culminating Task.

For each knowledge and skill identified, assess how prepared you are right now.

Activity 5: View – Discuss

We will determine the meaning of the word dilemma, and we will begin this unit by watching a video about self-driving cars to introduce the concept of an ethical dilemma.

Step 1

As a class, discuss the meaning of the word dilemma. Construct a joint definition and write down the word and definition in your Vocabulary Journal. You will maintain a Vocabulary Journal throughout the school year. Be sure to write down new or interesting words you encounter in texts or discussions in your Vocabulary Journal.

Step 2

Watch the video, "The Ethical Dilemma of Self-Driving Cars," a TED Talk by Patrick Lin,and with a partner, respond to the following questions:

  1. What potential problems do self-driving cars present?

  2. How are the decisions made by humans and self-driving cars different?

  3. According to reports from 2015, self-driving cars could prevent 300,000 deaths per decade from traffic accidents. Other benefits include more productivity, less traffic, and environmental improvements. Considering the ethical dilemma the video names and these potential benefits, are self-driving cars worth it? Why or why not?

Share with a partner before engaging in a whole-class discussion.

Activity 6: Discuss

We will discuss various perspectives on the ethical dilemma of self-driving cars.

Read this statement:

Self-driving cars are worth the ethical risks they present, given their potential benefits to humanity.

There are four places to stand in the room: strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. Move to the space in the room that best reflects your level of agreement. Come to a consensus with your classmates about why you chose your corner, and respond to the following question:

  1. Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with this statement?

Elect a speaker in your group to share your positions. Share your perspectives, group by group. Listen carefully to each group’s rationale.

After each group has shared, individually write down the central claims of each position, using evidence presented by each group to form a summation sentence as following:

Self-driving cars are worth the ethical risks they present because _____, but they are not worth the risks because _____.