It's a pretty open-ended topic. The main expectation here is that students demonstrate that they have engaged with the readings and are able to come up with a specific focus (thesis) in which they discuss the issue on both a personal and intellectual level. Support for their ideas should come from the readings as well as from their own experiences and observations. Is that asking too much?Think about the articles in this unit, as well as your own experiences with digital technologies. In what specific ways do you think these technologies affect society for better or worse, in the areas of interpersonal relationships, learning, thinking, or education?
I set up my assignment schedule to allow students to turn in rough drafts a week before final drafts are due if they want me to provide some guidance and feedback on their draft-in-progress. Typically, only about half the class meets this early deadline. Many of these early drafts are pretty dreadful. Here's an example of a particularly incoherent first paragraph:
The new generation is born into the digital era with cell phones, computers, and gadgets that makes life easier for humans. Digital natives is the name dubbed to the generation due to the fact that it is natural for the younger generation to operate the gadgets, and for the older generation who are not natural users are the digital immigrants. It is unknown whether this digital technology is harmful or beneficial for mankind. Current concerns are the fact that the youth is dependant and constantly on their cell phone or computer. This constant use has made social networking sites popularity grow exponentially, and with this expansion of social networking it made friendships lose the physical aspect of relationships. Throughout mankind there has always been development through the generations such as print in previous generations, and the current shift for the new generation is text messages. However, the current digital shift of the new generation is detrimental to mankind because of the dependency on technology for friendships, education, and the issues of social networking.Where to begin?
Normally, my response to writing like this is just to knuckle down and make helpful suggestions ("you're trying to cover too much in your thesis," or, "consider working with a Writing Center tutor").
This morning, though, my response is, Are you kidding me? Seriously, what is this student doing in a transfer-level composition class, and why does he use words like "humans" (as opposed to, say, animals?) and "mankind" (mankind? seriously?) in a discussion about social media?
I don't want to read essays like this anymore. I'm tired of the same old trite, hackneyed, boring, so-what papers. I want to finish Outwitting History, by Aaron Lanksy, so I can move on to Herman Wouk or Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I want to work on my WordPress website. I want to get started on my dad's oral history project. I want to watch the season finale of Downton Abbey, which I DVR'd last night, before I read the spoilers on Facebook or in the Los Angeles Times.
Instead, I'm stuck here, making notations in the margins of what amounts to nothing more than gibberish.
Why am I doing this again? I can't remember.
