Matthew Wilkins

Monday & Wednesday 8:30am 9:50am

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?
The ethical issue I wrote about was Molding & Casting and the ethical concerns behind it. I
choose to write about this issue because I felt it had a great argument on both sides of the
spectrum. Before researching the issue, I only knew that you could mold & cast a fossil but I
didnt know what all went into it.
After my research my thinking was impacted because I was able to learn what went through the
process of molding & casting. I feel that we should be taking care of all fossil that are molded &
casted to insure they newest / best process are used, as to not damage the fossil. I feel that
procedures should be written and used throughout the world to make sure everyone is using the
same method.

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).
An example for this class is the different methods used to mold & cast a fossil. Critical thinking
in how to properly cast and mold a fossil. Communication between the different countries and
groups to insure each one is completed correctly.
In buying a new car. You use critical thinking to make sure the vehicle will be something that
last awhile for you and the needs that will be required of it. Communication between the
dealership and you to make sure you both agree on a final price.
In other courses and work. I have to use critical thinking to make sure I will be able to handle so
much of a course load, while at the same time being able to provided a forty plus hour a week for
my employer. Communication is key for me and my employer to make sure I will be able to
provide the required work while, still continuing my education.

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?
Im still perplexed about the genetic code that we have the ability to complete and find out how
we could prevent certain medical conditions on our lives. I will apply the skills Ive used from
my research, by following closer studies on genetic coding and how to improve it and compare
different results and different companies doing the research. To completely get the full picture on
how we can better this process.

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).
My biggest AHA moment would be what all goes into anthropology. I know that is pretty broad
but if you have never taken a class or studied the subject of anthropology then you can
understand it would be a pretty big AHA moment.
Ive always thought that anthropology was the studying of human and how we evolved from
apes. I never could have imaged what all I was going to learn this semester. Starting with the
learning what anthropology was, to the evolution of Darwin and how he came to look at
evolution. Moving on to our genetics and found out what we can now about our genetic code if
we were to have it decoded.
Then starting to learn about the different types of anthropology, to how closely related we are to
primates and what we share with them. Then ending with us has early hominins, homo erectus,
and homo sapiens. It can gave me a better understanding of what all goes on in anthropology and
how I can be a part of it.