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Essential Question: What are some of the constructs we participate in, without knowing why they exist and why we participate?

There are machines we make, and there are machines that make us.  And often both are happening at the same time.  We are socially constructed creatures, whether we realize it or not. There are many machines, constructs or systems at work in our lives.  Each of us participates in a machine of some sort.  Our educational system, for example, is a machine, a system that works to serve whom, exactly?  There are many other systems at work in our country:  government, gangs, gender constructs, economy, Wall Street, the Girl Scouts, your job.
Find a machine, a system, or construct that you are part of and would like to question.  Interrogate this system to its inception.  Ask "why?" until you are satisfied with your critical understanding and careful contemplation of multiple perspectives.  Discover how and why this machine came to be.  Then reflect on why you are questioning it and your place in it.

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This project asks that you interrogate your cultural lens in a ways that open you up to a new perspective(s).  This means you will formulate the following into a 10 minute (max) presentation to share with the class.   This presentation should have a visual component which lasts no more than 3 minutes:  a slide show, video, or podcast.  Hint: narrow your focus and add depth to your discussion to keep it interesting to your audience.

1. Define your machine, system or construct

2. Offer a question of why you want to interrogate this machine. (This is the Essential Question that will drive your research)

3. Encounter multiple and different sources mediums through interview, primary sources, experience, web and text based research.  These sources must be credible based on your topic.  Be specific with what you have already researched.

4. Research at least three  counterpoints to answer your essential question.  You must look at multiple perspectives that counter each other.  Be specific.

Project Objectives:

“The Machines We Make” project will demonstrate original research to answer a student driven essential question.

This project will demonstrate critical thinking, analysis, interpretation, incorporation of multiple perspectives, and use a variety of sources.

This project will deconstruct the very foundation our society and culture is built upon for critical inquiry.

A Working Example:

1. I consider myself liberal and "left-wing" in politics.  Some of my family has served in the military (I am a strong supporter of people who serve in the military, but question the US "military" as an institution) and while I love my country, I stand against its intentional segregation and divisiveness.  When I saw people attacking our Capitol, I saw them as the "other", people I could never understand, a motive I could never understand.  Then I saw a face I recognized.

2. What makes influencers become mobsters?

3. Perspective 1:  those inside the "mob" mentality; perspective 2: those opposing the mob; perspective 3: those who have been persuaded to join, once opposing now a follower

4. Research sources: offer specific articles and source info.

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You may explore or expose machines related to family, gender, sexuality, politics, religion, social media, the pandemic, culture, family, race, language, money or movements that are happening now.   Remember this is about exploring new territory, you don't need to be an expert on your topic to ask a question.

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(post a video presentation of slides, a podcast, or a self made video so it shows as an icon below the title.  See student samples on purple bricks. )
Your Name
Presentation Date:
Essential Question:
Define your Machine:
Counterpoints:
Research Sources: (offer at least 3 sources as links below)

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Max Orozco
Date of Presentation: 12/13/21

Essential Question: Does the current U.S. two party Political System effectively communicate the beliefs of all voters?

Define your machine: The machine I would like to explore is our current democratic system here in the US. I would like to explore the ins and outs of our political system to see wither or not all of Americas views are expressed can be put in legislation.

Counterpoints:

Sources:
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/lesson-plans/Government_and_You_handouts.pdf

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/final-presidential-job-approval-ratings

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Charlize Chu
Date of Presentation: 12/6/2021
Essential Question: What does it mean to be beautiful: why is it important to adhere to the beauty standards?
I would like to explore the beauty standards set for people and how it affects the way we see ourselves. I will look at where we see these standards within our daily lives
Define your Machine: Beauty Norms
Counterpoints:
- Being physically attractive is viewed as more intelligent
- It builds character because it motivates people to be more put together
- Beauty helps to understand the environment around us
- We feel better about ourselves when we feel beautiful
Research Sources:

- https://shedefined.com.au/style/beauty/how-unrealistic-beauty-standards-profit-from-womens-insecurities/

- https://inewsnetwork.net/6203/investigations/beauty-standards-and-how-theyre-affecting-americans/

- https://mymodernmet.com/the-cut-100-years-of-beauty-mexico/

- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-defines-beautiful-according-to-psychologists-5180378

- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beauty

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Max Orozco
Date of Presentation: 12/13/21

Essential Question: Does the current U.S. two party Political System effectively communicate the beliefs of all voters?

Define your machine: The machine I would like to explore is our current democratic system here in the US. I would like to explore the ins and outs of our political system to see wither or not all of Americas views are expressed can be put in legislation.

Counterpoints:

Sources:
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/lesson-plans/Government_and_You_handouts.pdf

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/final-presidential-job-approval-ratings

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Sam Marzulli
Date of Presentation December 3, 2021
Essential Question: Should we invest in Cryptocurrency more
Define your Machine: Cryptocurrency and the trend, I will discuss the benefits and concerns when diving into Cryptocurrency and why it has become what it is
Counterpoints:
-Difficult for some to operate
-Inconsistent Market
-Risk Of Government intervention

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1clu2rquTpDA9MiUZAXaMDGd8RTxsd_MO3BSDFJxmwhs/edit?usp=sharing

Sources:
https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/financials/cryptocurrency-stocks/is-cryptocurrency-good-investment/

https://www.investopedia.com/tech/most-important-cryptocurrencies-other-than-bitcoin/#:~:text=A%20cryptocurrency%2C%20broadly%20defined%2C%20is%20virtual%20or%20digital%20money%20that,of%20tokens%20or%20%E2%80%9Ccoins.%E2%80%9D&text=The%20%E2%80%9Ccrypto%E2%80%9D%20in%20cryptocurrencies%20refers,their%20transactions%20across%20decentralized%20systems.

https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/benefits-of-crypto/

https://www.darwinrecruitment.com/blog/2018/02/big-issues-cryptocurrency-today

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BY Elizabeth Ruiz
12/10/21

Essential question: How does TikTok's algorithm work?

Define Your machine: I will touch on the history of this social media platform and why it's algorithm works so well.

counterpoints: the dangers of this algorithm.

Research sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/05/business/media/tiktok-algorithm.html
https://towardsdatascience.com/how-does-tiktoks-algorithm-know-me-so-well-459e8dc7e90b
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53640724

Presentation link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JB8asL6rZj5xpHyV36OiErJA5LVr1IGiF5cJYUEkzKo/edit?usp=sharing

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Gabriel Adelman

Presentation Date: 5/9/22

Essential Question: How and why have people’s relationship with gender evolved into what it is presently?

Define Your Machine: Gender Identity and Expression, the new machine of gender.

Counterpoints:
- How does society's views on gender relate to sexuality?
-How has the way we address the evolution of gender identity changed, and why has it become so divisive?
- How has social media impacted how gen z sees gender identity?

Research Sources:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01237-z

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205084203.htm

https://amity.edu/UserFiles/asco/journal/ISSUE66_5.%20Debastuti%20%20-%20AJMCS%20Vol%208%20No%201.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences_in_social_network_service_use

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1948550620937188

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Jemsa Lee
Presentation Date: 05/23/2022
Essential Question: What does it mean to be an adult and how is it different nation to nation?
Define your Machine: Adulthood
Counterpoints:
-There is no one definition of being an adult
-Most people are just faking what they think an adult is
-There is no need to try and "grow up" because being youthful at heart is more important
Research Sources:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0959354319876985
https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/what-adult
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/01/when-are-you-really-an-adult/422487/

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Matthew Robles
Presentation Date:5/13/2022
Essential Question: Why are some people so attracted to religion? Why do people Head to church on Sunday and more like clockwork? Is religion great or bad and if others out way the good over the bad?
Define Your Machine: Religions' effect on people's lives.
Counterpoints: It's through a personal belief that others choose to follow religion Or the belief that religion is the norm others should follow.

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Georgina Arreola

Presentation Date: 5/9/22
Essential Question: Why do we dream at all?
Define your Machine: I will explore and discuss about our dreams and the phenomenon behind dreaming.
Counterpoints:
-Overview of different theories about dreaming.
-Glimps inside the mind of dreaming animals.
-How is dreaming related to our health?
-History and discovery of dreams.
-Fun facts about dreams.

Research Sources:

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_your_brain_needs_to_dream

https://www.sutori.com/en/story/the-history-of-dream-research--aHZ2EkuAQtRJgjhMMjxJ7bvX

https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/facts-about-dreaming.html