PHYS 280 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2020 Extra Credit Essay Opportunity D (ECEO-D)
| Attended Event | Dr. Brian Toon's TED Talk |
| Due Date and Time | May 7th, 2020 at 10:00 PM CST |
TED Talk Link here
Prompt
After watching the TED Talk, you must submit an essay that addresses some of the issues described below.
This is your chance to discuss whether the speaker was effective in persuading peers of your generation to take nuclear weapon stockpiling and development as a serious threat despite the Cold War being over.
- Discuss what information you have learned in PHYS 280 that has been critical to informing your own opinions on the danger of nuclear war. Is this addressed by Dr. Toon, and if yes, what does he say about it?
- Is there any critical information Dr. Toon does not mention that you believe would strengthen his case to younger generations?
- Is a TED Talk an effective way to engage people in this topic? Are there better ways to communicate these complex ideas to generations that did not grow up in the Cold War era?
You do not need to provide a bibliography, but it should use APA parenthetical citations when you are referring to the talk or any course readings you wish to reference.
You will submit only one version (extra-credit essays are not revised).
This essay should be 1 - 1.5 pages in length.
Structure
- Brief introductory paragraph explaining what the event was about.
- One or two paragraphs that critically evaluate the information and arguments presented and respond to the questions provided above.
- Closing paragraph that summarizes your main conclusion about Dr. Toon’s TED Talk.
Assume your audience is an expert in nonproliferation, and this talk is being evaluated for its ability to deliver its point to the younger generations. Begin each paragraph with a strong topic sentence and omit any information that is not essential for addressing the points listed above. Make you paragraphs clear, concise, and to the point. Avoid repetition and unnecessary words. Your essay should focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the presentation’s content and style.
Please follow all specifications describe in the Phys 280 Style and Format Guide and review the writing strategy discussed in the ECEO overview.