animal cognition and communication
Objectives of the assignment:
Ø Apply concepts from the course readings to explain the evidence that
shows there is communication and cognition in nonhuman animals.
Ø To learn how to use the research from academic journals.
Ø To perfect the use of APA format for citations and referencing.
Ø To practice academic essay writing, particularly writing in your own voice (writing summaries) and the organization of information.
The Topic:
1. Dononhumananimalshavecognitionandcommunicatewitheachother? Refer to concepts from the course, such as (you do not need to refer to all of these, depending on the focus of your essay): learning/teaching, referential and contact calls, affect and emotions, social cognition, self- awareness, mirror self-recognition (MSR), contact calls, theory of mind (TofM), problem solving (cause and effect, flexible thinking, imagination, mental time travel), tool making and use, memory, etc.
2. UseinformationfromALLthreesources:
a) Animal Wise: How We Know Animals Think and Feel, by: Virginia Morell
b) Journal article: Cognitive skills in bottlenose dolphin communication, by:
Vincent M. Janik
c) Journalarticle:Elephantsknowwhentheirbodiesareobstaclesto
success in a novel transfer task, by: Rachel Dale and Joshua M. Plotnik
Format:
Please pay attention to the following details:
Ø 1000 – 1200 words (approximately 4+ pages of writing; does not include title or reference page)
Ø number your pages
Ø double-spaced and typed in size 12 font (Times New Roman)
Ø 1-inch margins
Ø do not leave extra space between paragraphs
Ø have a title page and reference page (using APA as discussed in class)
Ø cite your sources using in-text citations (APA format)
Submission Due Date:
Feel free to submit on the original due date of Dec 3.
