Reading guide for “A Defense of Abortion” by Judith Jarvis Thomson.

Word process your responses.

1. Skim pages 161-164 of the Introduction to Chapter 8: Abortion.

2. Explain the difference between an embryo and a fetus.

3. Explain the ruling in Roe v. Wade (1973).

4. Create a reference entry for Thomson’s article in the format of the APA, and keep in mind

that this essay was written before Roe v. Wade.

5. List the concessions Thomson makes to the argument that abortion is wrong.

6. Summarize the example of the “famous, unconscious violinist” and, reading ahead, explain it

in terms of moral decence.

7. Summarize the example of the “tiny house with a growing child.”

8. Summarize the example of “Henry Fonda’s cool hand.”

9. Summarize the example of the box of chocolates.

10. Skim the section about the Good Samaritan. We’ll read it together in class.

11. Explain the difference between aborting a fetus and killing a newborn child.

12. The thesis of the essay is obscure. Can you find it?