Instructional Video

An Introduction to Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Are people inherently selfish? A video summary of Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene discusses how biology plays a role in selfishness. Part of a larger playlist the summary incorporates graphics and relevant examples to help make the text clearer.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Challenge scholars to write a response stating whether they agree or disagree with Dawkins' theory
  • Compare Dawkins' theory about the selfish gene to other discussions of evolution, such as those presented by Darwin
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires a basic understanding of biology, specifically genes
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Uses an analogy of a rowboat and a rower to illustrate how genes connect to selfishness
  • Narration features a clear voice and steady pace to make the summary easier to follow
Cons
  • Pop-up text distracts from the content of the video