Today you will watch Youtube videos that present a variety of current animal issues. These videos are designed to make you think about animals and our relationship to them. You will be asked to choose the issues that mean the most to you. After some discussion activities, you will write a short essay in class or as a homework assignment. The essay should persuade your readers that the issue you chose is the most important of all the issues presented to you.

Step One
(30 minutes) Watch as many videos as you can. The videos are short, so you will be able to watch several. Take notes for our discussion later. You can watch randomly, but you must watch videos from each of the four categories.

• Prevent Animal Extinction
• Stop Cruelty to Animals
• Animals for our Entertainment and Recreation?
• Wearing Fur and Animal Testing for Cosmetics

When you have finished, make a list of the four videos that impressed you the most.

Step Two
(15 minutes) You will be divided into pairs to discuss the four videos you chose and why. You must explain the logic behind your four choices. Now your new task is to narrow your choices to four between you and your partner. So, four issues must be thrown out. You must negotiate and debate for your choices.

Step Three
(15 minutes) Now you and your partner will join another pair to share the list of four issues you negotiated. After defending you choices, you must now narrow the list again to four. So, four issues must be thrown out again. Once you have negotiated a new list of four issues, you will elect a spokesperson to present your choices to the class. You will also elect a scribe to write your group's choices on the board.

Step Four
(15 minutes) The spokesperson for your group will go to the front of the class to present the group's results and explain why you chose those issues. While the spokesperson is presenting, another member of your group will write your four choices on the board.

Step Five
Once all results are on the board, the class will be open for discussion and comments. Can you identify any similarities or differences on the lists?

Step Six
(30 minutes) Now you will take a stand on one issue. You will have 30 minutes to write a short essay defending your stand, or you will be asked to do the essay as a homework assignment.

Step Seven
(30 minutes) After you have finished your essay, your teacher will divide the class into study groups to do peer reviews of the essays.