Analyse, Compare and Contrast Essay

Analyzing, Comparing and Contrasting Arguments: WR121 Midterm Performance Essay

Assignment Synopsis: Write a coherent, well-organized, analytic/reflective essay (1000 words minimum) analyzing, comparing and contrasting [a] the views of Rinie van Est in A Survival Plan for the Wild Cyborg (2014) — [b] with those of Daniel Berdichevsky and Erik Neuenschwander in Toward an Ethics of Persuasive Technology (1999). Read the new van Est article and review the Berdichevsky and Neuenschwander article (that you have previously perused for the Précis-Annotation assignment) as helpful and appropriate. See the core questions/issues listed below for what to specifically include in Essay 3—and on how your essay will be graded. The essay should be written in a flowing, narrative style, although you may use subheadings to assist in organizing your essay based on the principal questions and essay requirements delineated below. IN YOUR OWN WORDS, please address (in thoughtful detail and in-depth description—using examples whenever possible) the following questions: 1) What is the overall tone and perspective of the Wild Cyborg article? What are van Est’s three main arguments about the convergence of modern high technology with human personality, emotions, intimacy, and our private and social interrelationships? 2) What are the seven recommendations van Est contends will preserve our humanity as ‘wild cyborgs’ in the face of pervasive, ubiquitous, profoundly transformative technologies? 3) Compare and contrast the important observations about language, behavior, privacy, persuasion and human society that Berdichevsky and Neuenschwander observed in their Ethics of Persuasive Technology article—with those of van Est. Think broadly about everyday issues concerning the individual versus the state, privacy versus security, information vs. disinformation, history versus fiction, real truth versus the appearance of truth, control versus freedom, individuality versus conformity, man versus machine, etc. How are key elements of their worldviews similar? How are they different? [Note: Pronoun ambiguity is intentional here]. Do you think that Berdichevsky and Neuenschwander would have enjoyed, approved, and supported van Est’s perspectives (why or why not)? Use specific, tangible examples as feasible. 4) Be sure to organize your Analyzing, Comparing and Contrasting Arguments Essay with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Include a beginning ‘hook’ to engage the reader, an introduction, several supporting ‘body paragraphs’ addressing the specific questions (1-3 above), a solid summary (recap) and an interesting, stimulating, conclusion to keep the reader intrigued by your unique insights and observations.

Midterm Essay Scoring Rubric

Adhere to the discussion focus described on the previous page. Your essay will also be graded on the following essay-grading content and style rubrics:

 Opening paragraph & thesis sentence(s)

 Purpose and consideration of audience (clear, compelling prose that is also enjoyable to read)

 Technical compliance to aspects of submitted file: o APA style conventions o Course file naming & formatting conventions

 Clear description of the main points/recommendations derived from each article’s arguments. Include a detailed analysis of the Wild Cyborg van Est article and the Berdichevsky and Neuenschwander Ethics of Persuasive Technology article [Note: you may repurpose some content from your previous Annotation-Précis]. Provide an in-depth comparison and contrast between both articles’ worldviews on the critical issues described on the previous page. Use concrete, tangible, real-world examples from current events and actual news where possible.

 Descriptive Summary (of your essay’s main points)—followed by a reflective conclusion about where you think the three writers posit we are headed as individual human beings, as a culture, as a society, and as a world—and what can be done to change the future and preserve humanity, privacy, intimacy and human dignity as a whole.

Essay 3 Total: ____ (15% Course Grade = 30 points max.)