Brenda Gaytan

Reflection Assignment (respond to all questions/prompts)

What was the ethical issue you wrote about for your signature assignment? Why did
you choose this ethical issue? What did you know about the issue before doing any
research? How did your research (including the evaluation of the viewpoints, evidence,
and logical fallacies) impact your thinking?
I wrote about the impact that genetic testing has on people and the two sides
people take when considering genetic testing. I chose this ethical issue because when
we discussed the issue in class, I was shocked to hear so many different opinions on
the matter that differed from mine. After the discussion, I realized my opinion, of
allowing anyone who wanted to get genetic testing should have access to it without the
required need of a doctor, would be considered an extreme when you compared it to
that of my fellow classmates. I already knew a bit of the subject and research didn't
really change my views. I found out I base my beliefs in concepts that i believe in and
match those up to see how they compare. So research didn't really change anything.
How might you apply the critical thinking and communicating about ethical issues skills
in other learning contexts (e.g. other courses, home, work, elections, Thanksgiving
dinner, etc.)? Offer and explain at least three specific examples of where and how you
used or might use the critical thinking and communicating skills (one example should be
from this course).
Using critical thinking allows me to figure out our activities we do in this class by
combining previously done research and communication with my group to solve each
station. I do that at work too, by using what I have available in notes to compare what I
am doing to see if what I am doing is right. I also mentioned in the first question that my
beliefs are made by evaluating things against my set of criteria to see what I think about
it. By noticing that I do this, it is critical thinking and I use it in everyday life, like when I
am going to vote I choose the best candidate that lines up with my ideas.
Hmm Moment: What content are you still perplexed about and why? Explain how you
will apply the skills used in the essay (e.g. research skills, writing skills, etc.) to grapple
with this content?
I am a little confused about lumpers and splitters. When I went to the museum
and tried to decipher whether the creator of the wall was a lumper or splitter I was
completely and still am completely lost. What I did is communicated with a fellow
classmate and compared notes. I still am confused so I am going to re-read the chapter
and see if the teacher talks about it in class so I know what I am doing.

Brenda Gaytan

AHA Moment: What specific AHA moment have you had in this course about human
evolution (broadly defined)? (This does not have to be the same as your Hmmmm
moment).
Human evolution has something I have always blindly believed in. Learning
about evolution answers some of the questions that those who do not know anything
about evolution ask. Learning things like what a theory actually means in science and
learning that we are not really evolved from chimps as so much we have a common
ancestor was refreshing an left me feeling like I am starting to learn more about
something I still believe in and now I can start to defend it.