Monthly Assignment #4

Assigned: Mon, Feb 18
Due: Mon, Feb 25

Option 1: Friedman response

This option asks you to write a thoughtful and intelligent response of about 2 double-spaced pages to the Friedman. Here are a few options to get you started:

• attend this Thursday's Books & Coffee*, summarize Prof. Ramirez's talk, and, if you wish, respond to it (Where? Stewart 302-306; When? 2/21 at 4 pm for food, 4:30pm for talk)
• pick a question or your own or a classmate's that we didn't get to, and answer it
• pick a section you found interesting and discuss it
• find some material relevant to your project, summarize it, and explain how you'll use it
• characterize Friedman's politics and discuss how they affected your response to the book
• criticize Friedman

Option 2: Report Evaluation

A report often cited alongside Friedman's "Quiet Crisis" chapter is the National Academy of Engineering's Rising Above the Gathering Storm (2005?).

Spend about 30 minutes browsing the report, available online at:

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11463#toc

and then write:

• a description of the report's format,
• a brief summary of the report,
• your evaluation/ opinion

Note: you may substitute a different report if you wish.