PURPOSE:  This research guide is to help you complete Essay #4 “Argumentative Research Paper.

Essay #4 Digital Nation: Researching Techno-Issues

 Context: Can you imagine going a day without the use of your cell phone, computer, TV, iPod, etc.? In American society, we are blessed or some might say cursed with a never-ending supply of technology-related paraphernalia. Some critics believe that technology has vastly improved our lives in the realms of education, work, socializing, war, etc. “But is the technology moving faster than we can adapt to it? And is our 24/7 wired world causing us to lose as much as we've gained?” –From Frontline’s Digital Nation

 Writing Task: For this assignment, you will be writing a 4-5 page, argumentative essay in which you focus on a technological issue. This may seem like a broad topic, but think in terms of the Internet, Cell Phones, Television, etc. Ultimately, the purpose of this essay is to choose a relevant topic, create a definitive thesis statement and support it with reasoning and evidence from at least three outside sources. You may also draw from your previous knowledge, personal experiences, and other observations (though most research papers place a limit on personal experience).

 Possible Topic Ideas, Threads, Questions (Keep in mind, some of these are broad, so try to narrow the topic down to a manageable concern):

--How emailing and/or texting has changed our ways of communication.

--Addiction to or dependence on technology

--Cyberbullying, Internet Predators, Internet Porn

--Privacy Issues (Our financial information online, Spying, etc.), Online censorship

--Positives and negatives of social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc.

--Pornography, Online file sharing, piracy

--Online cheating, Online classes, Educational Issues, Improving Education through technology (telecommuting, online classes)

--Overexposure to media, videogame violence, etc.

--The Internet has created generational divides; some people lack access and are falling behind

--How war has become digitalized

--Use of technology in the medical field

You may combine some of these or come up with your own topic, but it must be controversial. And since this is an argumentative essay, you must take a position. For example, look at the following two thesis statements:

1.)     There are many reasons why technology has made our lives more convenient.

2.)     Although there are negative consequences of the technological revolution, technology has dramatically improved our lives: communication is more convenient and the Internet is bridging the generational gap.

Which one is more effective and why?

Requirements for Sources:

·   Your essay must have at least three credible/reliable sources

·   You may use the film Digital Nation, but it does not count as one of your three required sources

·   You must include at least one scholarly journal (they can be accessed through the electronic databases on Grossmont’s library homepage)

·   You can use magazines (e.g. Time, Rolling Stone, GQ) and newspapers (e.g. San Diego Union Tribune, New York Times)

·   Limit your use of general websites (yahoo, cnn, etc.)

·   Do not use general encyclopedic works (e.g., the dictionary, the Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia) in your essay

·   Start as soon as possible

**Remember that a well-researched paper will include a variety of sources. Also, for academic papers, books and scholarly journals tend to provide the most credible information.

Note on Plagiarism: Like all essays written for this class, your research essay must constitute original work. Research essays written for other/previous classes will not be accepted. If your essay is not original for this class, it will constitute cheating, and disciplinary action will ensue. Furthermore, since this is a research essay, all sources must be cited accurately.

Your essay should:

·   Address the assignment thoughtfully, analytically, and creatively

·   Contain a clear and concise thesis statement which states an arguable, definitive position

·   Contain cohesive, focused, body paragraphs that relate back to your thesis

·   Contain summaries, paraphrases, and direct quotations of your sources (In BR, read pp. 54-56)

·   Contain a logically progressive structure

·   Maintain audience awareness (appeal to and persuade your readers)

·   Include a counter-argument (the other side of the issue, so you are seen as credible)

·   Contain sentence variety and a calm and reasonable tone

·   Include in-text citations and a works cited page

·   Have few sentence level errors

·   Be 4-5 pages typed, double-spaced and formatted in MLA style

Workshop #1:__________________

Workshop #2:___________________

Final Draft is Due:_________________

**For this final assignment, I will not be collecting your essay and giving it back to you with a tentative grade; for this reason, we will be having two workshops and your final draft will be included in the portfolio along with the peer review sheets from the Workshop.