Responsible teacher: Kimmo Sorjonen

Prepare a short reflection paper (PM) based on two of the four articles listed below under alternative 1 and 2. You choose either Alternative 1 or Alternative 2. No more than 1500 words. You can write in either Swedish or English.

Alternative 1: Memes or not memes?

The task is to read and summarize:

Dawkins, R. (1976). Memes: the new replicators. In The Selfish Gene.
Aunger, R. (2006). What’s the matter with memes? In A. Grafen & M. Ridley (Eds.), Richard Dawkins: How a scientist changed the way we think (pp. 176–188).

Your text, no more than 1500 words, should include for example the following points:

Explaining what a meme is (give example).
Description of which factors that make memes successful.
Description of the problem with the “meme-theory”.

I do NOT want you to simply answer the points above like in an exam, but to write a well composed text with a fine train of thought. Please, feel free to present your own reflections on the meme-theory. If you would like some extra information Wikipedia has a page on memes.

Alternative 2: How much can be explained with/by mirror neurons?

The task is to read and summarize:

Your text, no more than 1500 words, should for example include the following points:

An explanation of what mirror neurons are, for example when they are activated.
Description of what behaviours and phenomena that one has attempted to explain using mirror neurons, and what these explanations are.
Something on possible explanations to why we would have mirror neurons.
Description of problems with these “mirror neuron explanations”.

I do NOT want you to simply answer the points above like in an exam, but to write a well composed text with a fine train of thought. Please, feel free to present your own reflections on mirror neurons. If you would like some extra information Wikipedia has a page on mirror neurons.

Assessment & Grading

A. Are the instructions satisfied (completely = 2; kind of = 1; no = 0)

B. Does the text include irrelevant material (no = 2; some = 1; a lot = 0)

C. Logical or semantic predicaments (none = 2; some = 1; a lot/severe = 0)

D. Own (high-quality & relevant) ideas and reflections (several = 2; some = 1; none = 0)

E. Linkage to other relevant research and theories (several = 2; some = 1, none = 0)

For the grade “pass” you will need at least one point on criterion A + at least one point on criterion C + at least four points total.

Kimmo Sorjonen

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