Social Impact

Assignment 08

SO245 Social Impact of Technology

Directions:Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English spelling and grammar.  Sources must be cited in APA format.  Refer to the "Assignment Format" page for specific format requirements.

Instructions

In your course, turn to Lesson 8. Skim through it to refresh your memory. Next, carefully study and review the section titled “Approaches to Measuring Technological Progress.” Next, relying solely on the material in your course, use your own words in order to write a short comparison and contrast essay that defines and explains three distinct perspectives on the evolution of technology. As you write, imagine you are talking to a friend who has no knowledge of this topic. In short, write the way you speak, using a conversational tone. Also, try to alternate short sentences and longer sentences to make your writing more readable.

Before, during, or after you’ve completed your essay, be sure to create a title and cite yourself as the author. For example:

A Comparison of Three Perspectives on the Evolution of Technology

Heather Jones

Your essay should have 5 paragraphs. Paragraph 1 is your lead paragraph. It will contain an overview of what you have to say in comparing and contrasting the perspectives of Gerhard Lenski, Leslie White, and Alvin Toffler with respect to the evolution of technology.

Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4, are your body paragraphs. In your essay, paragraph 2 should describe the perspective of Gerhard Lenski.

In paragraph 3, you’ll write about the perspective of Leslie White.

In paragraph 4, you’ll describe and discuss the perspective of Alvin Toffler.

Paragraph 5 is your summary and conclusion paragraph. Here, you will compare the three perspectives to show how they are, or may be, similar. You’ll contrast the three perspectives to describe how they are different. You will end this process – and your essay – by expressing your view as to which theorist or theorists offer the most useful insights into the evolution of technology.

Mechanics

Your document’s margins should be 1 inch, top, bottom, left, and right. That’s the default option if you use MS Word.

All your copy should be flush left.

For purposes of evaluating your essay, skip a line between each paragraph.

Make sure you use a standard indent for the first sentence of each of your paragraphs. Pressing the tab key one time is a simple way to do that.

It’s permissible to use direct quotes from the lesson. But don’t overdo it. One to three such quotes should be your limit. In any case, be sure to bracket a direct quote with quotation marks. For example: According to Marlowe, “White and Lenski are on the same page.”

Begin by writing a first draft. Then, remembering that writing is rewriting, try and try again to make your prose readable. After you think you’ve composed a final draft, go over your essay again to locate and correct grammar and spelling errors.

Grading Rubric

Please refer to the rubric on the following page for the grading criteria for this assignment.

CATEGORYExemplarySatisfactoryUnsatisfactoryUnacceptable

10 points 8 points 5 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical overview of the

comparison and contrast of

the perspectives of Gerhard

Lenski, Leslie White, and

Alvin Toffler.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical overview of the

comparison and contrast of

the perspectives of Gerhard

Lenski, Leslie White, and

Alvin Toffler.

Student provides a weak or

unclear overview of the

comparison and contrast of

the perspectives of Gerhard

Lenski, Leslie White, and

Alvin Toffler.

Student provides a poor

overview of the comparison

and contrast of the

perspectives of Gerhard

Lenski, Leslie White, and

Alvin Toffler.

20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points

Student provides a clear,

logical description of the

perspective of Gerhard

Lenski.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical description of

the perspective of Gerhard

Lenski.

Student provides a weak or

unclear description of the

perspective of Gerhard

Lenski.

Student provides a poor

description of the

perspective of Gerhard

Lenski.

20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points

Student provides a clear,

logical description of the

perspective of Leslie White.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical description of

the perspective of Leslie

White.

Student provides a weak or

unclear description of the

perspective of Leslie White.

Student provides a poor

description of the

perspective of Leslie White.

20 points 15 points 10 points 5 points

Student provides a clear,

logical description of the

perspective of Alvin Toffler.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical description of

the perspective of Alvin

Toffler.

Student provides a weak or

unclear description of the

perspective of Alvin Toffler.

Student provides a poor

description of the

perspective of Alvin Toffler.

10 points 8 points 5 points 2 points

Student provides a clear,

logical comparison and

contrast of the three (3)

perspectives including

his/her view as to which

theorists or theorist offers

the most useful insights into

the evolution of technology.

Student provides a mostly

clear, logical comparison and

contrast of the three (3)

perspectives including

his/her view as to which

theorists or theorist offers

the most useful insights into

the evolution of technology.

Student provides a weak or

unclear comparison and

contrast of the three (3)

perspectives including

his/her view as to which

theorists or theorist offers

the most useful insights into

the evolution of technology.

Student provides a poor

comparison and contrast of

the three (3) perspectives

including his/her view as to

which theorists or theorist

offers the most useful

insights into the evolution of

technology.

10 points8 points5 points2 points

Student makes no errors in

grammar or spelling that

distract the reader from the

content.

Student makes 1-2 errors in

grammar or spelling that

distract the reader from the

content.

Student makes 3-4 errors in

grammar or spelling that

distract the reader from the

content.

Student makes more than 4

errors in grammar or spelling

that distract the reader from

the content.

10 points 8 points 5 points 2 points

The paper is written in

proper format. All sources

used for quotes and facts are

credible and cited correctly.

The paper is written in

proper format with only 1-2

errors. All sources used for

quotes and facts are credible

and most are cited correctly.

The paper is written in

proper format with only 3-5

errors. Most sources used for

quotes and facts are credible

and cited correctly.

The paper is not written in

proper format. Many sources

used for quotes and facts are

less than credible (suspect)

and/or are not cited

correctly.

Paragraph 4 - The

Perspective of Alvin

Toffler (20 Points)

Paragraph 5 -

Conclusion (10 Points)

Lead Paragraph -

Overview of Three

Perspectives with

Respect to the

Evolution of

Technology (10 Points)

Paragraph 2 - The

Perspective of

Gerhard Lenski

(20 Points)

Paragraph 3 - The

Perspective of Leslie

White (20 Points)

Format (10 Points)

Mechanics (10 Points)