English 1301 Week & assignments

ENGL 1301

Week #7

Chapter 18: “Reflections”

7.1 Reading, Thinking, and Writing Assignment for Week #7:

Everyone knows the advantages of using electronic media as part of our education, work, personal, and/or social environments.

Do some research to explore the disadvantages, the harmful effects, of using our smart phones and other digital devices constantly.

The following essays in your book suggest some of the disadvantages of using electronic devices. Read the essays to gain ideas for your paper.

A. Read the essay “Does Texting Affect Writing?” pages 87-95.

1. Michaela Cullington’s essay examines whether or not texting affects students’ writing. Describe how she conducted a survey of students and teachers. Tell what her findings were.

2. What do you think of Cullington’s findings? Do your experiences or observations agree or disagree with them?

B. Read Nicholas Carr’s report “Rural > City > Cyberspace: The Biggest Migration in Human History” pages 95-100.

1. What is the central message of this essay? 2. Do your experiences or observations about stress and information overload agree or disagree with Carr’s message?

C. Read Carr’s essay “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” pages 731-745

1. According to Carr, what has been the effect of the Internet on the way we read, think, and live?

2. What is your view about how technology is affecting the way we read and think? Reflect on your own use of computers to answer the question.

D. Read “Facebook in a Crowd” by Hal Niedzviecki (available online).

1. How many “friends” does the narrator have? What is the result of his “party”?

2. What suggestions about the value of developing real face-to-face friendships are suggested in this humorous essay?

Attach the answers to the questions above to your essay as Text Study for

Essay 4. Use some of the ideas from these essays in your Essay #4.

7.2 WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Essay #4 Harmful Effects of Using Electronic

Media

There are many articles online that discuss the harmful effects of using electronic media. Look for reputable articles that discuss harmful effects such as the following:

a. Concerns about privacy, identity theft, and postings that can never be removed from the web.

b. Concerns about isolationist lifestyle and ability to develop face-to-face friendships and conversations.

c. Concerns that surfing the web for bits of information here and there damages what Carr calls “deep thinking” – the ability to read about a subject in depth and to think in creative ways.

d. Concerns about the consequences of extreme distractions in all parts of our lives due to the overuse of electronic media.

Use ideas from all your readings to inform your discussion, but also share your own experiences, observations, and any interview information to support your ideas.

REMINDERS FOR ESSAY #4:

a. Structure effective introductory and concluding paragraphs.

b. Think about AUDIENCE (who will benefit from reading your essay?) and PURPOSE (what is your message for this audience?)

For example, do you have advice for young people today so that they can

avoid the pitfalls of using electronic media?

c. Include enough DETAIL in your essay to make your points

interesting and clear to the reader. Correct all sentence errors.

d. Note: An “essay” should have at least four typed pages of text.

e. Include a Works Cited page to list all the readings and/or any interviews that

you used to write the essay.

f. Use MLA style for your heading and paging (see page 524).

g. Use MLA style for the Works Cited page. See pages 531-532 as examples.

7.3 Submit your essay as Essay #4 to Turnitin in Week #7 by the due

date and time.

Reminder: Attach your Text Study after the Works Cited page.