Title: Technology & the Interpersonal

First Draft due: 10/1
Second Draft due: 10/29

Objectives: to evaluate sources; to synthesize sources; to fashion an opinion or position in relation to other sources
 

Audience: For this assignment, imagine that you have been asked by Wired to write an opinion piece on the impact of technology on interpersonal relationships. Here's an example of an opinion piece from Wired:  http://www.wired.com/dualperspectives/article/news/2009/07/dp_security_ars0728 

Task: The editors of Wired expect you to find four sources on this topic. Of these four sources, two must be peer-reviewed, which means they need to come from a scholarly/academic database, most likely. You may use one source from our readings. The editors expect you to summarize the arguments on both sides of this question (Is  technology a blessing or a curse in terms of interpersonal relationships?), and then to offer your own opinion. They also expect an annotated bibliography,one-half page per annotation. Click here for a sample bibliographic entry.

A full annotation entails: first, the full citation. We will review this in class, but it's also in your handbook. Use APA style; second, a one-paragraph concise summary of the main idea or position of the article; third, a one-paragraph critique of the author's argument, highlighting those points which are (in your opinion) credible or well-supported by evidence, and those points which are weak or not believable. The summary paragraph and the critique paragraph should be about the same length.

We'll have a library session, and during that library session librarian Stephanie Davis-Kahl will talk about evaluating Web sources and locating Information Technology sources online, including full-text electronic texts.

Length: Minimum 6 pages. Of these six pages, four will be your essay, which (as you recall) is a summary of the Luddite and Anti-Luddite positions, AND your own opinion. The remaining two pages will be the annotated bibliography, which means each source you use will have a half-page annotated bibliography.

Points: 100 (75 for first 4 pages, 25 for annotated bibliography)

Commentary: As usual, a one-page commentary on the problems you faced and your solutions to those problems during the writing of the first draft should be turned in at the time of the first draft, and does not count towards the page total.

Writing Center Visit:  For this assignment you are required to complete a tutorial with a tutor at the Writing Center. This tutorial MUST be completed before the rough draft is due, or you will lose 20% of the grade. BOOK AHEAD.  Call x3810, email writcent@iwu.edu, or stop by Buck 102 to make an appointment. This tutorial must focus on a nearly-complete rough draft. The tutor will email me a summary of the tutorial, and this will constitute a record of your visit.

Sample Student Annotated Bibliographic Entry:

Naylor, Thomas H.  (2001, July/August)  Trading Our Souls for Virtual Reality.  Across the Board,  19.

Naylor makes his case against virtual reality in a short, no holds barred essay.  He cites growing apathy among citizens toward their community at the same time that internet use is on the rise.  He points out that students aren’t required to think as much as in the past; the computer does most of it for them.  Naylor’s central idea is that computers and the internet are causing deterioration in civic values, quality of academic work, and creativity.

Strong language makes this essay.  Naylor is good with words, and makes his case sound quite convincing.  He does not provide much proof for his statements, but his credentials are listed at the end of the piece, and he is a professor at Duke, so I trusted his authenticity.  Naylor wants more people involved in real communities, not virtual ones.  He believes that virtual reality is going to destroy our sense of collectiveness to the point where we don’t care about our country or even our neighbors.