I, Robot Short Essay Topics
Below are essay topics for I, Robot. I've tried to keep the topics chapter specific, but a few topics could cover more
than one chapter. It is quite possible that a good short essay could come out of
simply reading the chapter as opposed to the entire book. While that is
possible, not reading the book would be cheating yourself out of a rather
enjoyable science fiction novel that discusses important issues in a rather
interesting way. Also, if I think that too many of you just read the
chapter and not the entire book, you may find yourselves with a large I,
Robot section on the final exam.
Chapter 1: Robbie
Describe Robbie as if you were writing a sales brochure
for a family. Discuss Robbie's features, requirements, abilities, uses,
etc. You may also want to consider costs and maintenance possibilities. Remember, you'd be selling Robbie to people skeptical of robots.
Consider adding the history of robots and what makes this "nursemaid" unit
special.
Chapter 2: Runaround
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Describe the predicament on pp. 32-33 to a lay
audience. Then, argue for an alternative to the expedition or present
a safety plan for future expeditions. Consider such issues as food,
water, weather, environment, system capabilities (compatibilities as
well--some of the technology is rather outdated), and, of course, Plan B--a
backup in case things start going wrong.
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Take a position on robot labor. On p. 35 Powell
mentions that the first robots were almost banned from Earth. Argue
for the ban or against it. Obviously, you'll have to use sound
argumentation (logic, proof, thesis, etc.). You may also want to bring
up contemporary examples that are similar to the robot labor issue.
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Describe the insosuits for a semi-technical business
audience that has asked for a specification report. What do they look
like? What are they for? Are they worth the cost? Be a salesperson!
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Describe the mine for a freshman textbook. Discuss its size, dimensions, uses, operation, need, etc.
Chapter 3: Reason
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Write a report to the robot QT-1 (aka "Cutie")
explaining why he was
created. Obviously, this is an explanation to an extremely lay
audience--you can assume nothing. Tell him who you are and where
you're from. Then, explain his purpose in a report-like fashion.
Remember, he doesn't believe humans created him.
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Describe the station's operation. What does it do
and why?
Chapter 4: Catch the Rabbit
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Explain the merits behind the motto "No employee makes
the same mistake twice. He is fired the first time" (p. 83). Is
this a good or bad policy? For what type of industry would this be
good? Why? Would you like to work under such a motto? What
would the motto mean for advancement or innovation?
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Isaac Asimov wrote this novel in the 1940s. Like all science fiction, he uses contemporary items and situations, but
makes them more useful or just bigger, stronger, and faster (or smaller,
more efficient, and faster). For instance, on p. 84 Powell is reading
a handbook. Apparently, this handbook is so important that he'd run
naked from a burning building to save it. Is that necessary?
Update Asimov's science and technology (especially communication
technologies) for a "real" twenty-first-century (2061 in fact) audience. Pull ideas from the entire book if you'd like. You aren't supposed to
find everything; instead, find enough for at least five pages. (Hint: consider customs as well as items--workday issues, food, drink, smoke, etc.)
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Create a robot "personality" test and describe its
purpose. What does it say about robots? Why is such a test
important? You may want to consider this essay a persuasive appeal to
anti-robot groups or legislators who distrust robots.
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Explain why you think robots are constantly improving. What are the implications (economic, social, personal) and what do they
parallel today? In other words, how are robots similar to computers? Think about the whole picture--economics, distribution, marketability, etc.
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Interesting. Even in the future, redheads are
fiery hot-tempered individuals. Analyze why redheads are considered so
ill mannered. You may do a report that discusses Powell's temper and
how it's directly related to (or supplemented by) his red hair. What are the implications of having red-headed engineers and scientists?
Chapter 5: Liar!
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Creating positronic brains. What contemporary
system or process most resembles (or slightly resembles) the creation of positronic brains. You know, Internet security seems to be a close
match.
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Describe issues (ethical and economic) surrounding a
machine that could read people's minds. Would it sell? Should it
sell? What would make such a technology attractive or repulsive?
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You've been assigned to write a classified report to
the Board of U.S. Robots about RB-34. Explain the situation and
suggest what to do next. Remember, technical writers are often legally
responsible for the information they present to internal and external
audiences.
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Based on the issues between the two main "love"
interests, write an essay that discusses the pros and cons of romantic
relationships on the job. What are the problems? What are the
risks? Defend a position for good, bad, or "it depends..." Bring in personal experiences if you think that would help, but do try to
relate it to the novel's characters and plot.
Chapter 6: Little Lost Robot
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Consider a robot not impressioned with the First Law of Robotics:
"A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human
being to come to harm."
Is this a good idea? Why or why not? What purpose(s) would such
a robot serve? Also, what would such an invention say about the
(militaristic) society that created it?
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Anyone down with economics? Try to come up with a
cost-and-benefit analysis for destroying or not destroying the 63 robots
(which cost $30,000 in 1940's dollars). To do this you'll need to
first estimate the price in 2006 dollars, so you must inflate (an estimate
is ok) the price and then argue the pros and cons of destroying or keeping
them. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Inflation page for more information or use this inflation calculator from Moneychimp.com. If the BLS page still doesn't work, try this link: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/.
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Explain the importance of government-industry relations
in technology creation. In the case of robots without the First Law impressioned, the government had a few bargaining chips that compelled U. S.
Robots to create those modified robots. Is it right for the government
or anyone to be able to force companies to create these robots or similar
real-world technologies? Think about medicine, airplanes, bombs, spacecraft, etc.
Chapter 7: Escape!
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Consider the ethics behind the corporate chicanery of
Consolidated--U.S. Robots' main competition. Present ideas about what
would happen to competition in the industry if Consolidated's question
destroyed The Brain. What technological/scientific discoveries are
harmed/hindered? Why would working together and sharing be better? Would you want to work for a place involved in corporate sabotage? What would you like or dislike? What would you be worried about?
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Explain what this chapter has to say about the need for
critical thinking even in the midst of "thinking" robots. This isn't
an easy one. This chapter discusses troubleshooting (well, all the
chapters do) as an important component of science and engineering. Explain why
critical thinking is so important in the world of cold hard "facts" like
math, science, and engineering. Use examples from the chapter.
Chapter 8: Evidence
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Discuss the ethical, economic, personal, etc. issues of
having robots, artificially intelligent beings, run things. Is
life so predictable that it can be reduced to mere mathematical equations? This chapter comments on statistics in a subtle way. Explain why having
artificial intelligence technology is good or bad. Defend your beliefs
on the subject using examples from the novel or elsewhere.
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Write a report assuring the people (a lay audience)
that U. S. Robots has never created a robot for work on Earth. Assure
them that no positronic brains can ever be created without a "paper
trail"--well documented creation and disposal. Specifically, you are
responding to the Stephen Byerly case. Tell the public that the
company never created such a robot, and it adheres to all laws. You may
have to add some information from p. 211.
Chapter 9: The Evitable Conflict
I admit, this one is a bit tricky. It's more
philosophical than technical (but there's lots of technical stuff). You
could write about the pros and cons of having machines govern--as in keeping an
ordered bureaucracy not just political governance/decision making--all or most
of our lives. Technology is pervasive in our society and our network
technologies (mobile phones, Internet, etc.) are all connected and inseparable
from our lives.
With that being said, I offer the following question:
Is technology or technological development a good pursuit?
Obviously, to answer this question, you'll have to define good.
Overall Question
Total recap. What technical communication issues does
this novel raise for us--twenty-first-century people? {Intentionally vague}
Logistics
Good luck. All essays are meant to be at least four full
pages in a normal typed, double spaced format. All should have a title
other than, "I, Robot Essay." Also, all essays should be well
written, unified, coherent documents nearly free of mechanical, logical, or
structural errors (representative of appropriate college-level writing for a
2000-level course).
I will deduct points for poorly written essays and essays
not fitting the proper format. For instance, your papers should be
formatted this way with your Name, ENGL
2116-007, the Chapter and question you're answering, and the Date single spaced,
and everything else should be double spaced after that starting with a centered title. You should use a 12 pt Times New Roman font and have
no more than 1-inch margins. Number pages after the first page.
Please staple your paper and don't use folders or cover sheets--just type it up,
print it out, staple it, and turn it in. Did I mention I wanted it stapled? I'll deduct the following points
for not following the format/content directions:
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No staple: -5 pts
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Folder/Cover sheet is NOT needed (don't include either): -5 pts
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Improper heading: 10 pts
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Improper margins: 15 pts
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Improper font (for instance, too big): 20 pts
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No title: 10 pts
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Less than 4 pages: 10 pts
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Less than 3 pages: 20 pts
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Less than 2 pages: 30 pts
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Less than 1 and 1/2 pages: 35pts
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Less than 1 page: 50pts
Of course, the above formatting
issues are just surface features and are to be considered after you come up
with a topic and do multiple drafts. Remember, the Writing Resources Center
(WRC) can help. |