Discussion

Project 5: Problem/Solution Essay

WHAT WE'RE DOING Writing a essay that identifies a problem in technology, explains why it's a problem, and offers a solutionto fix it.

HOW WE'RE DOING IT An essay of at least 1200 words which uses at least six sources from which you draw information

WHY WE'RE DOING IT To practice research skills in finding information To practice developing your ideas with information you've gathered To discover and critically think about important ideas To develop ethical thinking and responsibility  To synthesize ideas from material you've read To practice argumentation and thesis-based writing To communicate your thinking in a clear and effective way

WHEN WE'RE DOING IT Writing Center Draft -11:59 pm, 8 Apr. Teacher Draft -11:59 pm, 29 Apr. Final Draft - 11:59 pm, 11 May

WHAT IT HAS TO DO Identify a problem in technology Explain, in detail, why this problem is a problem Discuss possible solutions for the problem Advocate for one or more solutions to the issue Be at least 1200 words long (you can have more). Use at least six sources in the essay - these sources must be explicitly referenced and cited in-text. (You may use more.) Have a works cited page - all sources must be put on the works cited page.

HOW I'LL GRADE IT

50 points

WHAT IT'S WORTH 250 points, or 25% of your course grade.

50 points

50 points

50 points

Assignment features an effective argumentative thesis statement, clearly and effectively explains and expresses the problem at hand, and supports the assertion that the problem is a problem. Assignment clearly and effectively advocates for a solution to the problem, supporting the solution with thoughtful and logical reasoning

Assignment conforms to standard edited American English and MLA standard guidelines of citation and formatting.

NOTES TO SELF

A FEW NOTES Drafts sent to the writing center and to me recieve 5 Low-Risk Writing points each. Because this paper is the final essay of the semester, it will not be accepted late. Assignments not following the instructions will receive an automatic zero.

Assignment clearly and effectively organizes the paper in a logical and reasonable way that makes sense to the reader

Assignment effectively integrates credible sources in support of the arguments, with appropriate attribution and in-text citation.

25 points

Rather than having a revision opportunity, you'll submit a draft to me for feedback before it is graded for a final draft. 

25 points Assignment works toward clarity of language, ensuring that each topic and each sentence are easily understandable and adheres to academic conventions of style, avoiding slang and casual language

POTENTIAL TOPICS · Vulnerability of national infrastructure to hacking · Laws not keeping up with technological advances · Corporate espionage and patent theft by other countries · Filter bubbles and echo chambers · Corporate censorship versus freedom of speech (should Facebook be able to censor what people say on their platform?) · Right to the internet/major sites needed for modern life · Lack of transparency with algorithms · Automation and artificial intelligence leading to unemployment · The ecological/environmental impact of our technological addictions · Government collection of data versus the 4th amendment · Foreign powers attempting to undermine democracy through online trolls/bots · Fake news/deep fakes · Securing elections from hackers · Forcing companies to build back doors into software and hardware · Online radicalization · Accessibility of technology · Monopolies/Consolidation of power in giant tech companies · Censorship of the internet in other countries · Ethics of automated employment (should robots enjoy protections the way people do?) · Responsibilities of social media companies for what is posted by their users · Toxic communities on social media · Net neutrality · Mass surveillance · Private data collection and sales by companies · Virtual assistants and privacy concerns · Bias in artificial intelligence · Privacy for genetic data and ancestry databases