Below are essay topics for I, Robot. I’ve tried to keep the topics chapter specific, but a few topics could cover more than one chapter. It is quite possible that a good short essay could come out of simply reading the chapter as opposed to the entire book. While that is possible, not reading the book would be cheating yourself out of a rather enjoyable science fiction novel that discusses important issues in a rather interesting way. Also, if I think that too many of you just read the chapter and not the entire book, you may find yourselves with a large I, Robot section on the final exam.
Chapter 1: Robbie
Describe Robbie as if you were writing a sales brochure for a family. Discuss Robbie’s features, requirements, abilities, uses, etc. You may also want to consider costs and maintenance possibilities. Remember, you’d be selling Robbie to people skeptical of robots. Consider adding the history of robots and what makes this “nursemaid” unit special.
Chapter 2: Runaround
- Describe the predicament on pp. 32-33 to a lay audience. Then, argue for an alternative to the expedition or present a safety plan for future expeditions. Consider such issues as food, water, weather, environment, system capabilities (compatibilities as well–some of the technology is rather outdated), and, of course, Plan B–a backup in case things start going wrong.
- Take a position on robot labor. On p. 35 Powell mentions that the first robots were almost banned from Earth. Argue for the ban or against it. Obviously, you’ll have to use sound argumentation (logic, proof, thesis, etc.). You may also want to bring up contemporary examples that are similar to the robot labor issue.
- Describe the insosuits for a semi-technical business audience that has asked for a specification report. What do they look like? What are they for? Are they worth the cost? Be a salesperson!
- Describe the mine for a freshman textbook. Discuss its size, dimensions, uses, operation, need, etc.
Chapter 3: Reason
- Write a report to the robot QT-1 (aka “Cutie”) explaining why he was created. Obviously, this is an explanation to an extremely lay audience–you can assume nothing. Tell him who you are and where you’re from. Then, explain his purpose in a report-like fashion. Remember, he doesn’t believe humans created him.
- Describe the station’s operation. What does it do and why?
Chapter 4: Catch the Rabbit
- Explain the merits behind the motto “No employee makes the same mistake twice. He is fired the first time” (p. 83). Is this a good or bad policy? For what type of industry would this be good? Why? Would you like to work under such a motto? What would the motto mean for advancement or innovation?
- Isaac Asimov wrote this novel in the 1940s. Like all science fiction, he uses contemporary items and situations, but makes them more useful or just bigger, stronger, and faster (or smaller, more efficient, and faster). For instance, on p. 84 Powell is reading a handbook. Apparently, this handbook is so important that he’d run naked from a burning building to save it. Is that necessary? Update Asimov’s science and technology (especially communication technologies) for a “real” twenty-first-century (2061 in fact) audience. Pull ideas from the entire book if you’d like. You aren’t supposed to find everything; instead, find enough for at least five pages. (Hint: consider customs as well as items–workday issues, food, drink, smoke, etc.)
- Create a robot “personality” test and describe its purpose. What does it say about robots? Why is such a test important? You may want to consider this essay a persuasive appeal to anti-robot groups or legislators who distrust robots.
- Explain why you think robots are constantly improving. What are the implications (economic, social, personal) and what do they parallel today? In other words, how are robots similar to computers? Think about the whole picture–economics, distribution, marketability, etc.
- Interesting. Even in the future, redheads are fiery hot-tempered individuals. Analyze why redheads are considered so ill mannered. You may do a report that discusses Powell’s temper and how it’s directly related to (or supplemented by) his red hair. What are the implications of having red-headed engineers and scientists?
Chapter 5: Liar!
- Creating positronic brains. What contemporary system or process most resembles (or slightly resembles) the creation of positronic brains. You know, Internet security seems to be a close match.
- Describe issues (ethical and economic) surrounding a machine that could read people’s minds. Would it sell? Should it sell? What would make such a technology attractive or repulsive?
- You’ve been assigned to write a classified report to the Board of U.S. Robots about RB-34. Explain the situation and suggest what to do next. Remember, technical writers are often legally responsible for the information they present to internal and external audiences.
- Based on the issues between the two main “love” interests, write an essay that discusses the pros and cons of romantic relationships on the job. What are the problems? What are the risks? Defend a position for good, bad, or “it depends…” Bring in personal experiences if you think that would help, but do try to relate it to the novel’s characters and plot.
Chapter 6: Little Lost Robot
- Consider a robot not impressioned with the First Law of Robotics:
“A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”
Is this a good idea? Why or why not? What purpose(s) would such a robot serve? Also, what would such an invention say about the (militaristic) society that created it? - Anyone down with economics? Try to come up with a cost-and-benefit analysis for destroying or not destroying the 63 robots (which cost $30,000 in 1950’s dollars). To do this you’ll need to first estimate the price in 21st Century dollars, so you must inflate (an estimate is ok) the price and then argue the pros and cons of destroying or keeping them. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Inflation page for more information or use this inflation calculator from Moneychimp.com. If the BLS page still doesn’t work, try this link: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/.
- Explain the importance of government-industry relations in technology creation. In the case of robots without the First Law impressioned, the government had a few bargaining chips that compelled U. S. Robots to create those modified robots. Is it right for the government or anyone to be able to force companies to create these robots or similar real-world technologies? Think about medicine, airplanes, bombs, spacecraft, etc.
Chapter 7: Escape!
- Consider the ethics behind the corporate chicanery of Consolidated–U.S. Robots’ main competition. Present ideas about what would happen to competition in the industry if Consolidated’s question destroyed The Brain. What technological/scientific discoveries are harmed/hindered? Why would working together and sharing be better? Would you want to work for a place involved in corporate sabotage? What would you like or dislike? What would you be worried about?
- Explain what this chapter has to say about the need for critical thinking even in the midst of “thinking” robots. This isn’t an easy one. This chapter discusses troubleshooting (well, all the chapters do) as an important component of science and engineering. Explain why critical thinking is so important in the world of cold hard “facts” like math, science, and engineering. Use examples from the chapter.
Chapter 8: Evidence
- Discuss the ethical, economic, personal, etc. issues of having robots, artificially intelligent beings, run things. Is life so predictable that it can be reduced to mere mathematical equations? This chapter comments on statistics in a subtle way. Explain why having artificial intelligence technology is good or bad. Defend your beliefs on the subject using examples from the novel or elsewhere.
- Write a report assuring the people (a lay audience) that U. S. Robots has never created a robot for work on Earth. Assure them that no positronic brains can ever be created without a “paper trail”–well documented creation and disposal. Specifically, you are responding to the Stephen Byerly case. Tell the public that the company never created such a robot, and it adheres to all laws. You may have to add some information from p. 211.
Chapter 9: The Evitable Conflict
I admit, this one is a bit tricky. It’s more philosophical than technical (but there’s lots of technical stuff). You could write about the pros and cons of having machines govern–as in keeping an ordered bureaucracy not just political governance/decision making–all or most of our lives. Technology is pervasive in our society and our network technologies (mobile phones, Internet, etc.) are all connected and inseparable from our lives.
With that being said, I offer the following question:
Is technology or technological development a good pursuit? Obviously, to answer this question, you’ll have to define good.
Overall Question
Total recap. What technical communication issues does this novel raise for us–twenty-first-century people? {Intentionally vague}
Logistics
Good luck. All essays are meant to be at least four full pages in a normal typed, double spaced format. All should have a title other than, “I, Robot Essay.” Also, all essays should be well written, unified, coherent documents nearly free of mechanical, logical, or structural errors (representative of appropriate college-level writing for a 2000-level course).
I will deduct points for poorly written essays and essays not fitting the proper format. For instance, your papers should be formatted appropriately for essays with your Name, ENGL 2116-XXX, the Chapter and question you’re answering, and the Date single spaced, and everything else should be double spaced after that starting with a centered title. You should use a 12 pt Times New Roman font and have no more than 1-inch margins. Number pages after the first page. Upload your paper to Canvas in .doc, .docx, or .pdf formats. I’ll deduct the following points for not following the format/content directions:
- No title: -10 pts
- Improper margins: -15 pts
- Improper font (too big): -20 pts
- Double Spacing headings or triple spacing between paragraphs: -5 pts
- Less than 4 pages: -10 pts
- Less than 3 pages: -20 pts
- Less than 2 pages: -30 pts
- Less than 1 and 1/2 pages: -35 pts
- Less than 1 page: -50 pts
Of course, the above formatting issues are just surface features and are to be considered after you write a well-reasoned argument that shows you’ve read the novel.