Instructions for Essay: Technological Innovations in Popular Culture
READ ALL DIRECTIONS BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS
English 10 Semester 2; Ms. Chen
Adapted from Paper #1 English 50
In this unit, we’re reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. One concern of this novel is the way that a technological or scientific innovation can take on a life of its own. After thinking about some recent trends of technological innovation in popular culture, research and read a few articles about text messaging, iPods, online education, social networking, and/and virtual worlds. Use the Mira Costa Library databases to find these articles. Record the citations of these sources as you will include them in your works cited page on the final essay.
You will write about ONE of these trends. However, if you want to write about cell phones and text messaging, then that would be fine. In short, you will pick your topic from the following options:
Text Messaging and/or Cell Phones
iPods
Online Education (Distance Learning)
Social Networking (Facebook or MySpace, etc.)
Virtual Worlds (World of Warcraft, Second Life, or something similar)
Note: to stay focused, do not write about iPhones or similar all-in-one devices
ASSIGNMENT: Your assignment is to write in response to this question: In what way was the innovation you have researched initiated to be helpful? How has the innovation taken on a “life of its own”? In what ways has the technology become dangerous or how has it changed in its usefulness to society? Your responses to these questions should be based on examples of specific ways the trend has affected you, people you know, and/or people in general. Your essay should address examples of BOTH the positive (beneficial) and negative (detrimental) effects of this innovation.
Your body paragraphs of your essay should be organized in such a way that they address the questions in an systematic way. In your essay, then, you will be making a claim (presenting a thesis) about the trend. This claim will be based on your opinion, but your opinion will need convincing support. Your support will primarily come from the ideas raised in the readings you have researched; but can also include personal anecdotes (brief personal stories), experiences, and/or general knowledge about the topic,
Main Objectives: For this assignment, your key goals are to:
ntroduce the topic in an engaging way.
- Use body paragraph one to explain how the creature in the novel Frankenstein was intended to be a positive expression of scientific innovation, but “went awry” (use specific textual details to support claims in this paragraph)
Present a clear claim (thesis) in your introduction about the trend.
Provide good support for your claim by looking at the topic from a variety of angles.
Develop your support by providing sufficient examples to back up your main claims.
Maintain clear organization and provide smooth transitions.
Use formal diction, avoiding slang and “you” and “I” where such words are not appropriate.
Follow MLA format (a model has been provided during semester 1—refer to OWL at Purdue; additionally, a model is provided on the website for an outline of the ipod essay).
Grading Criteria: Papers will be evaluated upon the effectiveness and clarity with which they address the tasks of the assignment and meet its stated objectives. More specifically, papers will be evaluated according to our grading rubric, which is guided by the more general Writing Manual of the English Department of MCHS (This Manual is posted on our school website; we have accessed it during class time to be sure all students can navigate to this resource.)
Due Dates:
Draft 1 (submitted to Turnitin.com for peer editing)
March 29, 2015
Final Draft April 13, 2015 on Turnitin.com
Format: MLA style, typed, double-spaced, carefully edited and proofread Page
Length: The final draft should be at least 3-5 pages.
o It must complete the 3rd page to fulfill the essay’s minimum length requirement (minimum length will be accorded “average” assessment)
For Peer Review & Editing, submit to Turnitin.com by the draft 1 due date. Peer editors will be assigned using the Turntin.com technology.