Download Exploring Electrical Technology: Persuasive Paper Assignment - Prof. Harold R. Underwood and more Papers Humanities in PDF only on Docsity! Exploring Electrical Technology (IDST 300) MESSIAH COLLEGE Dr. Harold Underwood November 11, 2008 Paper #3 Assignment: Your final paper for this course will be a persuasive paper in which you take a position on the appropriate use (or nonuse) of a contemporary electrical technology. A FIRST (ROUGH) DRAFT will be due Thursday Nov. 20 and the FINAL DRAFT will be due on Thursday Dec. 11. The electrical technology you choose will preferably fit into a category emphasized in this course such as communication systems, power systems (including generation and/or consumption), medical application or an application particularly relevant to your field of study. In the FIRST DRAFT, please include a thesis and some significant development (e.g., at least 3 pages) including references. The final draft of your paper should be 4-6 pages to satisfy the overall required amount of finished writing specified for a "W" course. You need not feel absolutely committed to the topic of theme of your first draft if you modify it or discover a better one before writing your final draft. A FIRST DRAFT is REQUIRED to receive any credit. (Unexcused late drafts will be penalized 10% for each weekday late beyond the due date.) Your paper will be credited in part on the extent to which it includes the following approaches: 1. Shows how the specific electrical technology of your choice acts as an influential agent ON and/or BY other aspects of culture which you identify (see Course Objectives a & b). 2. Traces the specific electrical technology back to its original invention and inventor(s) and explains how the nature of its appropriate use is the same or different now (see Obj’s. c & e). 3. Evaluates positions advocated by noted authorities across the spectrum of Pro- to Anti- technology such as Samuel Florman, Jacques Ellul, Neil Postman, Arnold Pacey, Stephen Monsma, David Nye, etc. Some of these views will be presented and discussed in class but you may wish to consult original sources before drawing your conclusions (see also Obj’s d & e). Examples of some specific electrical technologies you may choose to address and/or evaluate: 1. Internet communication via the WWW, email, instant messaging, etc: compare pros and cons versus #2 and face-to-face communication. 2. Telephone including the cellular system: compare pros and cons versus #1 and face-to-face communication. 3. Broadcast TV and/or radio by airwaves, satellite or cable: compare versus other types of news and information media. 4. Hydroelectric, Nuclear, Photovoltaic or other alternative electric power generation. Consider as motivation Electric Choice in PA and other states, and evaluate regulation versus free market. 5. Household appliance such as vacuum cleaner, refrigerator, air conditioner, dishwasher, washing machine, personal computer, etc. Evaluate convenience versus higher expectations, etc. 6. Medical device or technique such as an electric bandage, laser, optical fiber, defibrillator, etc. 7. Alternative: a technology in foreign country survey, as approved by your instructor.
