Katrina2

Due 20 April - Real life situation and central Knowledge Issue
 * 1) ======What is the real life situation under consideration? **Abortion**======
 * 2) ======What is the TOK knowledge issue that will be the focus of your presentation? (This must be expressed as a question.) **What role does emotion play in affecting our moral decision making on abortion?**======

Due 10 May - Knowledge issues and different perspectives a. To what extend do the use of emotive language (e.g. pro-life, prochoice, persuasive expert’s words, logical fallacy), religion (e.g. Christian) and fetal images: § evoke our emotional response? § shape our perception towards abortion? § affect our moral decision making on abortion? b. Is emotion intuition (gut feeling) a good/valuable source for moral decision making on abortion? (Some might argue that it is culturally programmed so it’s not reliable)  The knowledge issues discuss how and why emotion affects people’s moral decision making on abortion.
 * 1. ****Identify (sub) knowledge issues related to the KI which is the focus of your presentation. **
 * 2. ****Explain how the knowledge issue(s) relate to the topic you have chosen. **


 * 3. ****Identify at least two perspectives of different knowers. **

__First Perspective__  – the use of fetal images and emotive language is a correct way to persuade us because we are emotional people and it brings reality e.g. organization ‘life’ showing babies life size a. ‘Why abortion is Genocide’, Flame, summer, 2002 The use of emotive images helps to trigger a larger emotional response than emotive language and therefore always plays an important role in convincing us that abortion is wrong. b. Daniel W. Kucera, "Abortion and the Unraveling of American Society," Priests for Life. The biased use of emotive terms such as “pro-life” (anti-abortion) and “pro-choice” (supports abortion) in the media has a great impact in affecting our decision making on abortion and thus resulted in ‘ dramatists, reporters, editors, talk show hosts and even comedians are solidly in the " pro - choice " camp’.

__Second perspective__ : the use of pictures to evoke emotional response and hence affect our perception towards abortion is wrong, as it is manipulative and not based on logic. We are simply persuaded by emotion, which might cause problems (e.g. mothers regret, children not going to have good life, mother not loving the child as she was persuaded by emotion at first place but not love). Therefore, we should step back and not exploit the use of emotive images and languages. __Third perspective__  (religion): different religions hold different beliefs toward abortion and this also plays an important role in shaping people’s perception towards abortion. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Perspective 1 (First Source): § <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTimes; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Visual depictions of abortion are indispensable to the restoration of that meaning because words fail us when we attempt to describe its horror. § <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTimes; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Pictures make it impossible to maintain the pretence that ‘‘it’s not a baby’’ and ‘‘abortion is not an act of violence’’. § <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTimes; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Abortion is an evil whose magnitude is comparable to that of any crime against humanity. Educators invariably use shocking imagery to teach about genocide, and we insist on the right to do the same. Indeed, the article continued that the use of emotionally shocking visual imagery in relation to education about genocide is necessary <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> //<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">http://www.prochoiceforum.org.uk/download/abortionimagerySSandM2005.pdf // <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Perspective 1 (Second Source): § A ... study conducted by journalists themselves concluded that, by and large the news media are indeed biased in their reporting on the abortion issue. § Supposedly objective reports of meetings, debates and demonstrations are frequently slanted toward the " pro - choice " side. § Even the vocabulary of journalists reveals this bias. Those who favor present abortion policies are usually called " pro - choice " while there is a consistent refusal to call their opponents " pro -life." Admittedly, using the terms " pro -abortion" and " pro -life" would indicate the opposite bias, but fairness would dictate that both groups be called by the name they themselves use.
 * 4. ****<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Illustrate your points with supporting quotes. **

// Kucera, Daniel W. "Abortion Harms American Society." Opposing Viewpoints: Abortion. Ed. David Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Dulwich College Shanghai. 3 May. 2010 <http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010102414&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=dulwichc&version=1.0>. // <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Perspective 2: § <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">As they see it, politicians who prioritize images over issues may not be unethical, but they are certainly irresponsible. § <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We must rethink any critique that suggests individuals ought to decide on the basis of reason instead of emotion, as healthy individuals ought to decide on the basis of reason only with the help of emotion. //<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=CKQJA2RgS8sC&pg=PA193&lpg=PA193&dq=emotional+images+is+manipulative&source=bl&ots=kBzvjGoGIH&sig=q30YZF1070-coVkYAUmHf-PIOqU&hl=en&ei=X37nS8KgA4-gkQWWm_jCBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CCcQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=emotional%20images%20is%20manipulative&f=false //<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">

Perspective 3 (Religion): 1. **<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Islam **<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">: Though there are different opinions among Islamic scholars about when life begins and when abortion is permissible, most agree that the termination of a pregnancy after four months - the point at which, in Islam, a fetus is thought to become a living soul is not permissible 2. **<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Christianit **<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">y: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The intersection of Christianity and abortion has a long and complex history though there is no mention of abortion in the Christian Bible. At different times, early Christians held different beliefs about abortion, and most contemporary Christian denominations have nuanced positions, thoughts and teachings about abortion. More generally, some Christian denominations can be considered pro-life while others may be considered pro-choice. Additionally, there are sizable minorities in all denominations that disagree with their denomination's stance on abortion. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> //<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_abortion //

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It is most often the exploitation or inappropriate use of emotive words and images that affect one’s moral decision making regarding to abortion.
 * 5. ****<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">What is YOUR perspective on the topic? **

Due 17 May - Format of presentation and outline b. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Several definitions of abortion – leading different perspectives c. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Introduce knowledge issues ( What role does emotion play in affecting our moral decision making on abortion?) d. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Emotion plays an important role in affecting our perception towards abortion, which can be affected by the use of emotive images and language. However, people argue about the reliability and effectiveness of using images and language as a way to gain knowledge about abortion. e. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Perspective 1 – emotion is a good and reliable tool when knowing abortion f. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Perspective 2 – emotion is unreliable and wrong as a way to gain knowledge about abortion g. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Our own personal view towards the argument h. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Implications (how does it impact on future/ understanding of abortion /laws created for abortion/how emotion also affects other issues) – only using rational/emotion
 * 1) Explain the format of your presentation (such as lectures, skits, simulations, games, dramatized readings, interviews or debates.) Lectures
 * 2) What supporting materials will you use? (videos, PowerPoint, posters, questionnaires, recordings of songs or interviews, costumes, or props) Powerpoint
 * 3) Write a summary in note form (for example, a bullet point list), of the way you plan to deal with knowledge issues during your presentation). a. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Introduce real life situation
 * 1) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Provide a clear bibliography for your presentation.

31 May - Begin presenting!!!