Objective: 

In a well-organized, thesis-driven essay, you will focus on the idea of human beings manipulating or accepting their natural life span. 

• Focus on reversing the aging process. Speculate. In the near future—20-30 years—what would happen if humans could live up to 150 years in relative comfort? 
• This possible situation means that someone who is 90 years old might resemble and function like someone who is 45 years old. If some or all people had the option to live to 150-160 years old in relative comfort, should they?
•  Some questions to think about in regards to the assignment: How would marriage change? Would family dynamics change? What would happen to ‘the workplace?’ Would people live their lives differently because ‘the pressures’ of time have changed? 

You have to incorporate at least 4 of the 6 articles listed here to support your essay:

1. “Radical Life-Extension Is Not around the Corner”
2. “Radical Life Extension Is Already Here, But We’re Doing it Wrong”
3. “To Count Our Days: The Scientific and Ethical Dimensions of Radical Life Extension”
4. “Americans are wary of enhancements that could enable them to live longer and stronger.”
5. “The Tricky Ethics Of Living Longer A medical revolution aims to stave off age-related disease and extend our lives — but what will it mean for society?”
6. “Shifting focus from life extension to ‘healthspan’ extension Disparities in longevity should be addressed, expert urges.”

Assignment specifics:

• 1000-words minimum
• Essays that do not meet the word count will not receive partial credit.
• Two quotes per article minimum
• Follow the MLA format when citing your sources throughout the essay. 
• Plagiarism of any kind will result in immediate failure (see syllabus). 
• A rebuttal paragraph is required. It should be the paragraph before the conclusion.
• Do not use “I,” “my,” or “you.”
• Do not use contractions.
• A Works Cited page is required. 

That what you have to read before starting the essay:

1. The Tricky Ethics Of Living Longer A medical revolution aims to stave off age-related disease and extend our lives — but what will it mean for society?

2. Shifting focus from life extension to ‘healthspan’ extension Disparities in longevity should be addressed, expert urges (Listening to public concerns about human life extension)