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Population Articles In "Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Science, Technology and Society," edited by Thomas A. Easton, these two articles (Population Articles #1 and #2, above) were paired around the question, "Do falling birth rates pose a threat to human welfare?"  Read and consider the different perspectives represented in these articles.  Here are some of the prompts from "Taking Sides" and from me to help you get started.   RESPOND TO ONE PROMPT.   

Your response should be an essay of at least 150 words.  Also comment on threads initiated by  2 (two) other classmates.  Replies should be at least 40 words in length.   BE SURE TO REFERENCE CONCEPTS AND SPECIFICS FROM THE LECTURES AND READINGS IN BOTH YOUR THREAD AND YOUR REPLIES.  You may also vote for posts you feel are particularly good by selecting the plus sign (+) in the upper left-hand corner next to a thread or a reply.  After the Discussion has been graded, the rubric may be seen in Class Progress which is under Course Materials in the Brightspace navigation bar. Prompts (pick one):

1. These two articles deal with different aspects of the population issue.  What is Meyer's big issue?  How do girls and women fit into Whitty's considerations?

2. What does the term "carrying capacity" mean?  Is it possible to have too many people on the Earth?  What does population have to do with sustainability?

3. Both Michael Meyer and Julia Whitty consider economic issues.  What are their main points?  Any common ground between the two?

4. What are the key features of "quality of life"?  Does quality of life seem likely to suffer more with a declining population or a growing population?

5. Why is talking about the population problem taboo (Whitty's title)?  Any way around that to have a more open discussion?

6. The response to this 6th prompt does not have to be 125 words in length.  Pick one of the two articles and summarize it by writing 4 lines that rhyme.  Be sure you are capturing the main points.