Week 14: Making Choices

Goals:

• Consider views on choosing or relinquishing technology.
• Wrap up the course.
• Revise your research paper.

Monday, May 4: Choices (1): Technology Users

Read 

• Wendell Berry. "Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer." In What Are People For?, North Point Press, 1990: 170-177. On eReserve.
• Donald B. Kraybill and Steven M. Nolt, "Taming the Power of Technology." In Amish Enterprises: From Plows to Profits, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995: 125 - 142.
• Howard Rheingold, "Look Who's Talking." Wired 7.01, Jan. 1999.

1. What do you think of the argument between Berry and Borenstein (who is, incidentally, a Grinnellian)? With whom do you agree, and why?
2. From what you read, what principles or practices seem to govern the ownership and use of telephones and cell phones among the Amish?
3. What can we learn from people such as Wendell Berry and the Amish?
   
4. What is one question about the reading that you would like to discuss?
5. About how long did you spend on the reading and your response?

Assignments:

• Students whose last names begin with N - Z should post their answers to the above questions in the appropriate forum. As a reminder, reading responses are due by 7:30 the day before the class meeting.

Wednesday, May 6: Choices (2): Technology Makers

Read 

• Samuel Florman. "Technology and the Tragic View. In Blaming Technology: The Irrational Search for Scapegoats, St. Martin's Press, 1981: 181-193. On eReserve.
• Rich Gold. Exerpt from The Plenitude: Creativity, Innovation, and Making Stuff, MIT Press, 2007: 78 - 111. On eReserve. (As a bit of context, this is the end of a book. Gold's term "the Plenitude" refers to the vast and growing quantity of technological stuff in the world today.)

1. Who is Samuel Florman? What is his thesis?
2. Who was Rich Gold? What is his thesis?
3. How are these selections connected to (or even commentaries on) ideas from earlier in the course?
4. Briefly, what's your reaction to these perspectives?
5. What is one question about the reading that you would like to discuss?
6. About how long did you spend on the reading and your response?

Assignments:

• Students whose last names begin with A - M should post their answers to the above questions in the appropriate forum. As a reminder, reading responses are due by 7:30 the day before the class meeting.

Friday, May 8: Wrap-up & course evaluations

Please come to class as we will be doing course evaluations! I have made significant changes since the last time I taught this course, and I greatly value your feedback.

We will also discuss Joy again, in the context of the remainder of the semester. Optionally, read

• John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid. "Don't Count Society Out: A Response to Bill Joy." In The Invisible Future, ed. Peter Denning,  McGraw-Hill, 2001: 117-144

Friday, May 8, 5:30 p.m.: Final research paper due

Your research paper is due by the end of the day.

• The paper should have a meaningful title; it should be 1.5- or double-spaced, in a 10-12-point font, with at least 1" margins; each page should include a page number and your name.
• The paper should have a clear thesis, an introduction, a conclusion, and appropriate transitions to help the reader follow the logical flow of your argument or analysis.
• The paper must have appropriate citations and a bibliography in MLA style.
• The paper should be around 1500-3000 words. 
• I encourage you to reference at least one reading from the course, but this is not required.

• Argument: Does the paper have a main point?  Is there a clear and logical progression of ideas expanding on that main point?
• Evidence: Is the argument supported by an adequate number of concrete facts and vivid details?  Are points well enough developed to be convincing?
• Research: Does the text cite an adequate number of high-quality sources?  Were any important sources or substantive issues overlooked?
• Handling of Sources: Does the text draw a clear distinction between the author's perspective and the perspectives of the sources consulted?  Has the author taken a critical approach to the sources available?

Janet Davis (davisjan@cs.grinnell.edu)