Certainly! Here are responses to the questions using the RACES strategy.
1. Do you think Joe Carp and Frank Reilly should be considered Charlie’s friends? Explain why or why not.
R/A: I do not think Joe Carp and Frank Reilly should be considered Charlie’s friends because their behavior towards him demonstrates a lack of true friendship and respect.
C: In the text, it is evident that Joe and Frank often make fun of Charlie’s intelligence by joking about him and calling him “Dummy.” For example, they ‘play tricks’ on him and laugh at him instead of supporting him.
E: This evidence shows that instead of being supportive, Joe and Frank take advantage of Charlie’s naivety for their amusement, which is not the behavior of true friends. True friendship involves respect and support, which they clearly lack.
S: In summary, Joe Carp and Frank Reilly do not deserve to be considered Charlie's friends due to their hurtful treatment of him.
2. In what way is Charlie the same at the end of the story as he is at the beginning? In what way is he different?
R/A: At the end of the story, Charlie is the same in that he still desires love and connection, but he is different in his understanding of the world and his emotional depth.
C: Initially, Charlie is eager to please others and gain their approval, as seen when he is excited about the chance to be smart. However, by the end, he reflects on his experiences and expresses, “I’m not the same person I was,” indicating his broader emotional range after the experiment.
E: This illustrates that while Charlie maintains his fundamental desire for human connection, his experiences have profoundly changed his outlook on life and self-awareness. He learns about the complexities of human relationships and the reality of his situation, which ultimately enhances his emotional maturity.
S: Therefore, while Charlie’s core desire for connection remains the same, his self-awareness and emotional understanding have significantly evolved by the end of the story.
3. Explain whether you believe it is ethical to use humans as experimental subjects? Use evidence to support your reasoning.
R/A: I believe it is not ethical to use humans as experimental subjects without their fully informed consent and consideration of their rights and well-being.
C: In the story, Charlie, who undergoes the experimental procedure, is not fully aware of the risks involved. He mentions, “I trust Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur,” which highlights his lack of understanding about the experiment being done on him.
E: This demonstrates that without informed consent, subjects cannot make rational decisions about their participation. Using vulnerable individuals, like Charlie, who have intellectual disabilities, raises ethical concerns about their ability to understand the implications of the experiment and protect their own interests.
S: In conclusion, the ethicality of using humans as experimental subjects hinges on informed consent and protecting their rights, which Charlie’s case illustrates as being violated.