ONLINE NATS 1775 Guidelines for Technological Controversy Assignment

1775 Guidelines for Technological Controversy Assignment

The purpose of the technological controversy assignment is to get you to start thinking critically about technology and how science and technological issues are presented in the popular press as well as in academic literature. Not only will this assignment give you the opportunity to thoroughly examine all sides of a modern day technological debate, it will also allow you to see how your own ideas and understanding about technology are influenced by the different kinds of sources you examine.

This paper is not your traditional argumentative essay where you have a thesis statement and then spend your time trying to prove your point of view. While there is value in this kind of assignment, the problem is that if you spend all of your time focusing on one side of a debate, you are unlikely to understand or examine the arguments that might go against your own ideas. The type of paper I have assigned you will allow you to explore a current day technological (or in some cases scientific) controversy from different points of view. You will have various topics to choose from and they are listed below. The reason it is called a controversy assignment is because the topic you will examine is one currently being argued about by different groups of people who can’t agree on anything. That means your responsibility is to figure out and describe the various arguments on either side of the debate.

Another important reason I have assigned this kind of paper to you is to allow you to start thinking critically about where information comes from. In other words, think about the sources you use to get evidence. For this paper, I want you to examine your controversy topic by choosing both SCHOLARLY (ACADEMIC) sources as well as POPULAR MEDIA sources. You will pick a minimum of five (5) scholarly sources and a minimum of five (5) popular media sources to gain information about your controversy and the various arguments on either side of the debate. While you must look at 10 sources in total, to get a decent mark on the paper I would suggest using (or referencing) at least 7+ sources altogether.

Part of this exercise is to figure out what an academic source is, and to make things easier for you I will give you two great examples of this type of resource. One type of scholarly source you can use are books that have been published by an academic or university press. Look at the publisher of your book. If it has been published by a university or academic publisher you are good to go. Do a google search if you are not sure about the publisher. Now, if you come across a book that hasn’t been published by a university or academic press, you will need to be very careful about labelling it as scholarly. You may need to do further research on the author or examine the book to see if it is well referenced. Ultimately, you will need to make a judgement call yourself.

The other kind of scholarly source you can use is a peer reviewed journal article. Peer reviewed articles are written by experts in a field which are then sent to other experts for review. After a period of time, this article, which has now been peer-reviewed, is published in a reputable journal. The easiest way to find peer reviewed journal articles is to search various e-resource databases through York’s library page. There are a number of databases you can use and I urge you not to just look at science and technology databases since your topics are likely to touch upon other fields like economics, law, sociology or politics. I would suggest starting with a multidisciplinary database such as ProQuest, Scholar’s Portal, Web or Science or Expanded Academic ASAP before moving to subject specific ones. Another research tip is to limit any search to peer-review or scholarly sources. This little box can be found on almost all the search engines on these sites.

You can choose to use all books, all articles or a combination for your research. Just make sure to choose sources that have been published within the last six years, although one of your sources can be older. I would also recommend viewing the document on scholarly sources that was prepared by a librarian for this course. It can be found in this section of Moodle.

I am aware of the fact that there are lots of other kinds of academic sources out there like policy papers, government documents, or independent research studies. Feel free to use these kinds of sources as well, but be very careful when deciding whether they do constitute as an academic source. For example, you might go to a government website and come across a policy paper that has been written by experts in that field. This is a very different however, from a position paper written by a politician who might not know very much about that same subject.

Scholarly (academic) sources are very valuable when obtaining information about any topic, but in reality, very few people have access to these sources. Probably less than 10% of the population. You do since you go to York and pay fees to access these materials, but if the majority of society doesn’t use academic sources, where do they get their information from? The answer is popular media, and that is the second type of source I want you to use. You can choose any kind of media source for your paper. Newspapers, magazines, YouTube videos, random website information, blogs, TV shows, movies, radio programs, documentaries – these are what I mean by popular media, and the reality is that most people out there are more likely to learn about an issue from YouTube then they are a peer-reviewed journal. Again, please make sure your sources have been published within the last six years and again, one can be older than this.

Once you have selected your academic and popular sources, I want you to gather information about each side of your debate and then start organizing the various arguments. Don’t worry about choosing sources that only present one side of the argument or another. That is not the point. Many scholarly sources for example, are likely to provide you with arguments that you will use for both sides of your controversy. While you don’t have to worry about choosing the same number of “for” articles and “against” articles, it is important to make sure you have a balanced number of arguments for each side of your debate. Finally, you also don’t need to separate your popular and scholarly sources as they are likely to examine similar issues. You don’t want to be repetitive when describing various arguments, so think about a way of effectively organizing the arguments you will presenting.

Your paper is essentially going to be divided in two parts. The first part will be about describing the arguments on either side of the debate. I call this the descriptive component of your paper. The second part of your paper is the analysis. You will be analyzing two things. First, I want you to compare and contrast how your topic is presented in scholarly versus popular media. Think of areas like language (simple versus complex), use of references, and length of article as a starting point for your analysis. Make sure to use examples in your analysis. For instance, if you tell me that scholarly sources are harder to understand than popular ones because of language, provide an example of this from your own sources. The other thing I want you to analyze is how your topic relates to any one or two of our course themes and/or theories. This is unit one material only.

Topics to Choose From:

Please choose any of the following topics for your paper. You do not need to tell me what topic you have chosen.

Should information from genetic testing be made available to employers and insurers?

Can nuclear waste be disposed of safely?

Should potential risks slow down the development of nanotechnology?

Does the spread of surveillance technologies such as closed-circuit cameras threaten privacy?

Should net neutrality continue or be abolished?

Can privacy be protected online? (Choose a specific topic like Facebook or email)

Should companies have the right to patent genes?

Does RFID technology violate privacy rights?

Do cell phones cause cancer?

Do video games encourage violent behavior in youths?

Does the internet strengthen social connections?

Should there be an open market for human organs?

Are genetically modified foods safe to eat?

Should DDT be banned worldwide?

Should parents have the right to opt out of vaccinating their children? (MMR or HPV)

Is the pharmaceutical industry responsible for the high cost of prescription drugs?

Is wind power green?

Should race play a role in the study and treatment of disease?

ORGANIZING YOUR ESSAY – GUIDELINES

Since most of you have probably never written this kind of paper before I have given you some guidelines about what to include in each section. For example, if you don’t need a thesis statement, what should you include in your bibliography? Please keep in mind that although I have separated parts of this paper into different sections, I want you to write it without section headings. It should flow like a traditional essay. For further information about things like paper length, referencing style, etc…, please refer to the next section of these guidelines.

1. Section 1- Introduction

1. What is the topic you are going to discuss

2. Some general information about the topic itself

3. Why is this topic controversial?

4. Some information about the sources you are going to examine*

* In your introduction, I would like you to include one paragraph which provides me with information about the sources you have chosen. I don’t want you to tell me what they say, I just want to know what they are. For instance, be clear about which sources are popular and which are scholarly, and include the author(s) and title of your sources. Only list the sources you are referencing in the paper.

1. Section 2 – SIDE A

After your introduction, you should start describing the arguments on one side of your debate. For instance, if you doing the topic, “Should DDT be banned worldwide?” then this section will highlight all the reasons (arguments) why it should be banned.

1. Section 3- SIDE B

Once you have finished describing the arguments on one side your controversy, you can then begin to describe the arguments on the other side. For example, going back to DDT, you would use this section to highlight all the reasons why it shouldn’t be banned.

Please note that when describing your debate, you do not have to separate your popular and scholarly sources. Use the information from both these sources together when discussing different aspects of your debate.

In addition, you do not have to choose sources that are entirely on one side of the debate. Many sources (especially academic ones) are likely to present information on both sides. Feel free to the same source when highlighting arguments on either side of the debate in each section.

1. Section 4 – Analysis

After you have provide me with a complete description about the arguments on either side of your chosen debate, you can start with the analysis. Again, look for differences between scholarly and popular sources, not in terms of what they have said, but HOW they present their arguments. Finally, don’t forget to relate your topic back to one or two course theories or themes from unit one. Use examples to prove your points.

1. Section 5 – Conclusion

You can write about anything you want in your conclusion. For example, up until now you have not given me your opinion on your controversy. Now you can. Or, maybe you want to provide me with other thoughts, ideas or opinions that you think are relevant. It is entirely up to you in terms of how you want to use this space.

1775 Technology Controversy Paper – Info for Organizing and Writing you Paper

I. General Information

1. Your paper should be 2500 words (about 10 pages long). Papers that are longer than 2500 words should not exceed 15 pages in total. Make sure to use standard one inch margins and font size (12) in Times New Roman. Double space your work. If your paper is 2500 words but not quite 10 pages, you can provide a screen shot of the word count (not including references) and attach it to your paper.

1. Please do not include a title page with your paper or any kind of plastic covering. Just put your name, student number and section number on the first page along with the title of your paper. Make sure your paper is stapled or paper-clipped, and that you include page numbers on the top or bottom right hand corner of each sheet.

II. Structure

c. You can write in either the first or third person.

d. Paragraphs should not be too long (i.e. more than a page or two) or too short (i.e. one or two sentences). On average, there are usually two paragraphs on every page. If you are not sure when to start a new paragraph, follow these rules: start a new paragraph when introducing a new topic or when expanding on a topic you have briefly introduced in the previous section.

e. No section headings please. Each new paragraph should have an introductory and concluding statement. Please do NOT leave spaces between paragraphs. Each new paragraph should be indented.

f. Stick to one tense (i.e. past or present tense). Don’t mix them up all the time, especially within the same paragraph.

g. Don’t capitalize a word unless it is necessary. Also note the way you are using grammatical tools like apostrophes, commas, and semi-colons. Have someone double check your work. The Writing Centre is an excellent resource for students who want to make sure they are on the right track.

h. Sentence structure: keep sentences SIMPLE. Overly long sentences are difficult to read and often make no sense.

i. READ YOUR WORK ALOUD. When you finish your work, read it out loud in the exact way it is written. You will be able to catch grammar and sentence structure errors more easily if you do this.

III. Referencing

j. Please use parenthetical referencing for this paper (MLA, APA, etc…). No matter which citation style you choose, you must include a PAGE NUMBER when referencing your materials. If you are referencing a source that has no page numbers, than include a paragraph number. A WORKS CITED page is also required.

k. Remember, referencing is not just for direct quotes. General ideas or facts (i.e. World War I started in 1914) do not have to be referenced but all arguments, opinions and ideas that you take from an author should be cited. When in doubt, REFERENCE!

l. Quotations: Make sure to follow the proper formatting for referencing long quotes based on your citation style.

m. DO NOT OVER QUOTE. Use direct quotes sparingly and only when the point is very valuable/ necessary such that only those precise words will do. Otherwise, paraphrase the ideas and include a citation.

n. If a student is found to have plagiarized their paper, they will automatically receive a zero for this assignment and a failing grade for the course. In addition, their name will be sent to the appropriate administrative authorities who deal with issues of academic integrity.

IV. Bibliography Info

o. Make sure you include a bibliography at the end of your work. ALL STUDENTS REQUIRE A BIBLIOGRAPHY. Please note that a works cited page is DIFFERENT from a bibliography is a few ways. First, the authors on your works cited page will be listed alphabetically, and in your works cited list you will only include the sources you directly referenced in your paper. In contrast, the bibliography will be divided into two categories: POPULAR and SCHOLARLY. Not only will you include the sources you directly cited on this list, you may also add sources that you looked at but did not necessarily use in your paper. For example, if you looked at ten sources for your paper and only cited nine of them, then your works cited list will include these nine sources but your bibliography will include all ten sources. Even if there is no difference in the number of sources used, please note that the bibliography will be organized differently (see above.)

p. Another major difference between your works cited list and bibliography is as follows: the BIBLIOGRAPHY will be the place where you can justify your decision to label something as a scholarly source. If you choose a book that does not come from a university or academic press or is not a peer reviewed journal article, then in your bibliography just place an asterisk (*) beside the source and below it provide me with some information about why you consider a particular source to be scholarly. For example, you will do this if you choose a government publication or independent research study.

q. You only have to justify a source if you consider it to be academic and it does not fall into the categories of a university press book or peer reviewed journal article. University press books, peer reviewed journal articles and all popular sources DO NOT require any kind of justification.

r. If you are not sure how to properly cite or reference a particular source, look it up online or refer to York’s library website for further information.

s. The majority of your sources should be current – no more than six years old. However, you can use two sources (of the 10) that are older than six years.