"Unpredictable Factors" as an Educational Piece, Plus! Check Out My New Site

When "Unpredictable Factors in Human Obedience" was published in Bewildering Stories, I was pleasantly surprised to see it featured in Issue 414's "Challenge." The editor's observations, implied in the questions he posed, showed a degree of insight that not only flattered me as a writer, but also got me thinking about the story in completely new ways.

I now believe that "Unpredictable Factors" could be used in the classroom as a jumping-off point for discussions of professional ethics. The story presents both the education and science research sectors and would surely result in some great critical thinking. So, please suggest to the story to any rhetoric, reading or writing instructors you may know.

Here, I've adapted the editor's questions as possible discussion points.

What political or cultural statement does the story imply?

Even if Emily Mattheson weren’t a schoolteacher, she ought to know better than to do what she does. How is she characterized?

As a hardened criminal?

As a sociopath?

As a terrorist? 

As an opportunist? (As the author, I vote for this one!)

As a naive and careless incompetent? (This one works, too.)

What other endings might the story have?

Why might the author choose to avoid having the story associated in any way with her business plans?


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