You are now an expert on persuasive techniques in advertising and speaking. The same techniques are used when writing to convince others of your point of view or to convince others to do or change or support something.
We live in a world of technology. For some, the inventions are wonderful. Others warn that humanity is being lost because of machines. This week, you are going to explore technology and decide if it is our friend or our foe.
A. "The Whole World Is Watching" by Thomas L. Friedman http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/opinion/27friedman.html?_r=0
Answer the following questions.
1. Friedman claims that we are all "more transparent" now in this "transparent world." What aspects of transparency are positive? What aspects are negative?
2. Friedman mentions a book by Dov Seidman. In the book, Seidman talks about a digital fingerprint. To what extent are our digital fingerprints impacting work and socializing? Should future employers be able to use your Facebook, Twitter, or other posts when deciding to offer a position to a new employee or fire a current employee? Expalin.
B. “I Can’t Think” by Sharon Begley’s February 27, 2011, in Newsweek. http://www.sharonlbegley.com/the-science-of-making-decisions )
As you read the article, look for the and define these terms. They are in order.
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1.
Information
Overload
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2.
Info-paralysis
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3.
Information
fatigue
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4.
Addicted to
incoming texts and tweets
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5.
Decision science
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6.
Torrent of data
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7.
Total failure to
decide
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8.
Many diminishing
returns
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9.
False god if
immediacy
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10.
“Recency” Trumps
Quality
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11.
The neglected
unconscious
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12.
Info-glut
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13.
Experience based
decision making. . .
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14.
Sufficers vs. maximizers
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Write two or three paragraphs where you agree or disagree with Beagly. Consider these questions.
What do you think, or can you?. Is our culture Twitterized? Are our brains frozen? Do we have trouble making decisions? Support what you think with examples from life and from this article.
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Week #4 - Assignment #2 - Literature
"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury - as you read the 1950s story, keep track of the" futuristic inventions" that are just the norm today.
For example, In the living room the voice-clock sang, Tick-tock, seven o'clock, time to get up, time to get up, seven o'clock! Do we have clocks that talk? Later in the story you will read, The gentle sprinkler rain filled the garden with falling light. Do we have anything that automatically waters the lawn or garden?
As you read, you will find many "inventions" that are similar to the gadgets in our current homes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzhlU8rXgHc Story read by Leonard Nimoy
After reading and listing, make a list of all of the technology you use in a 24 hour period. You list might include items as simple as a hair dryer or as complicated as the electronic wonders on your phone or in your car. After creating the list of technology used in 24 hours, react to this prompt in a Quick Write of 15 minutes.
Prompt: For 24 hours, electricity no longer works in any form - no current comes into your home, there are no working batteries, and generators are frozen. Describe how life would be different. Would it be better or would it cause chaos?
Week #4 - Assignment #3 - Health and Technology
What about your health? Is technology helpful or invasive? Read one person's opinion.
"When the Patient Is a Googler" by Scott Haighttp://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1681838,00.html
Questions:
1. What reasons does Haig give to explain why he does not want googlers as patients?
2. I a paragraph or two, agree or disagree with Haig. Should patients research their symptoms on the Internet before seeking medical advice? What are the dangers? What are the advantages?
3. Make a list of all of the health related technology you can think of or that you use. For example, do you wear a "FitBit" or other health-tracking device? Do you or does someone you know regularly check blood pressure at home? Do you own a treadmill or other fitness equipment? Do you or does someone yhou know have a gym membership?
4. Does technology make us healthier? Explain in a one page response essay. (30 points)
Week #4 - Assignment #3 - Health and Technology
What about your health? Is technology helpful or invasive? Read one person's opinion.
"When the Patient Is a Googler" by Scott Haighttp://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1681838,00.html
Questions:
1. What reasons does Haig give to explain why he does not want googlers as patients?
2. I a paragraph or two, agree or disagree with Haig. Should patients research their symptoms on the Internet before seeking medical advice? What are the dangers? What are the advantages?
3. Make a list of all of the health related technology you can think of or that you use. For example, do you wear a "FitBit" or other health-tracking device? Do you or does someone you know regularly check blood pressure at home? Do you own a treadmill or other fitness equipment? Do you or does someone yhou know have a gym membership?
4. Does technology make us healthier? Explain in a one page response essay. (30 points)
Week #4 - Assignment #4 - Technology Persuasive Draft
This is the full assignment so that you can see where you are headed.
The instructions for this week follow.
Technology – Friend or Foe?
For this essay, you are writing to convince the opposition. Consider
the dangers and advantages of technology. For this essay, you must pick a side. Think of this essay as a
debate on paper. You must know what the opposition thinks, but you do not
support that point of view.
I.
Introduction –
a.
Identify the specific technology you will be
discussing – cell phone, computer, automobile, dishwasher, microwave, GPS, video
games, etc.
b.
Capture the attention of the audience in the
normal way with startling statistics, an interesting anecdote, a quotation from
an expert, lines from a song or poem, a thought provoking question, etc. In
short, make sure that what you say makes the reader want to know more.
c.
In addition, state your thesis – make your point
of view clear! (Some of you may be taking a creative approach. See me if this
is the case.)
II.
The body of the paper will do several things –
a.
Convince the reader that they either need or do
not need the technology.
b.
Provide a brief history of the specific
technology you plan to discuss. What was life like before its invention? When
was it invented? How has it evolved? What is its story?
c.
Provide clear evidence to support your point of
view. You must have proof from at least four of the following:
i.
At least three experts/sources. You may use the
articles studied in class and articles that specifically relate to your chosen
technology.
ii.
A current news source such as a newspaper or
magazine article or news cast.
iii.
An interview with at least one user.
iv.
A personal anecdote.
v.
Lines from literature – poem, short story, or
novel. “There Will Come Soft Rains” was
assigned. You may use other SciFi literature or movies.
vi.
A work of art
vii.
Strong statistics from an expert source.
The body of the paper will be
several paragraphs in length.
III.
Conclusion –
Wrap it up for the readers. Leave them with a call to action to either
give up or get the gadget you are supporting. Be sure they know why they need
or do not need one. Consider:
a.
Convenience
b.
Cost
c.
Safety
d.
Environmental impact
e.
Impact on society
f.
Ethical concerns
Your assignment this week is to identify the technology you will be using as the focus of your study and to conduct research to get ready to write.
A. Consult two sources and find out the history of the item. Summarize the information. Post your summary and the sources consulted. Do not simply copy/paste from a site. Use your own words. (25 points)
B. Locate a work of art that features your item. Answer these questions:
Looking
at Art
· What is
the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message?
What is the message?
· How does this work relate to your topic?
Discuss.
· What is
the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?
· Look at
the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors
were different? Explain.
· Study the
shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?
· How do
the lines and angles impact your eye as you study the work?
· Who is
the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific
event in history? What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is
the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places, or is it
limited to the audience for whom it was created.
· How does
the work relate to us in 21st century America? (40 points)
C. Interview someone who owns and/or uses the item. Create five questions and record the responses. (You conducted an interview on body art a couple of weeks ago. Use the same techniques.) 25 points
D. Take 10 minutes to jot down your initial thoughts about the item. Is is your friend or is it a foe? 10 points.
Week #4 - Assignment #4 - Discussion Board
Talk about technology. What do you like about technology? What is negative? What is your favorite item? Could you survive without your cell phone? Are you old enough to have lived without the Internet or without a cell phone? Do you know anyone who lived in a time or place without television?
These are some of the many ideas you could discuss about technology.
Your first post should be complete by midnight on Thursday, February 9, 2017. At least three response posts need to be completed by midnight on Sunday, February 12.
