Write a critical evaluation essay in which you identify a form of technology and assess its impact on language or literacy practices.

Technology, Language & Writing

Context & Description

Technology impacts most of our lives on a daily basis. From the smart phones we hold in our hands to the laptops and tablets we use for school, work or leisure, technology has changed, and continues to influences the ways in which we communicate, work, learn, and play.

While some developments in technology are well-received and widely used in effective ways that benefit society, other developments bring about controversy and disagreement over how specific technologies are used and to what extent. For instance, video games have become popular among people of all generations, but its uses and effects on people and society has created some very different views. Video games are sometimes blamed for promoting negative behavior among children and adolescents, such as criminal activities and physical violence (Barlett, et al., O’Toole). Some people also argue that habitual uses of video games lead to health issues such as addiction and obesity (Grüsser et al.). Video game addiction can also lead to sleep deprivation and lack of concentration, and in some cases affect people’s performance at work or school. While some people may be quick to dismiss all forms of gaming as the culprit, others argue that not all video games or all uses of video games are problematic. James Gee, a literacy specialist and advocate for the use of video games in teaching and learning, argues that “any learning, whether it’s books, a movie, or a game, can lead to bad or good results depending on the environment in which it’s [played], not the game itself” and that good video games can be extremely useful as a learning tool, facilitating the development of problem-solving abilities and language skills” (Sheffield 11).

Various forms of technology has also changed what it means to be literate. In 2008, The National Council of Teachers of English issued a statement defining twenty-first century literacies, recognizing the role of technology in shaping the meaning of literacy: “Because technology has increased the intensity and complexity of literate environments, the twenty-first century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies.” Literacy in this sense includes many types of activities that are “multiple, dynamic, and malleable”–such as reading online newspaper articles to participating in virtual class discussion and even interacting on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Weibo. How has technology shaped your literacy practices? What are your reactions to them? What would happen if you lost access to those forms of technology? The goal of this project is to critically assess the impact that a specific type of technology has had on our language and literacy practices.

Your task:
Write a critical evaluation essay in which you identify a form of technology and assess its impact on language or literacy practices. For the purpose of this project, technology can be defined broadly to include hardware (e.g., cell phones, tablets, computers, video projectors) and software (e.g., word processors, Internet browsers) as well as online resources (e.g., websites, online apps and social networking sites).

Steps to take:
Identify a form of technology
Think about criteria you will use for evaluating the technology (we will discuss criteria in class). These can reflect your values and beliefs, but should also reflect the audience’s values and beliefs.
Use the criteria you determined to evaluate your technology; think carefully about how it does or does not meet each criterion.
Based on your evaluation formulate a claim about your technology, make an argument (claim) about the role of this piece of technology in language and literacy practices and in learning. Think about the following:
What are some forms of technology you have always had access to and have come to take for granted?
How have the influenced the ways in which you read and write as well as think, learn, and interact with others?
What are some of the benefits of the technology?
What are some of the problems introduced by the same technology?
How are people reacting to the technology?
How can the technology be altered to facilitate literacy practices and learning?

Learning Objectives

In this project, you will learn to:

Demonstrate your understanding of the multiple perspectives and representations of your object
Identify a set of criteria by which you can evaluate your object
Identify the audience for your writing
Articulate the criteria for your evaluation and persuade the audience if some of the criteria have not already been shared with the audience
Formulate a claim based upon your evaluation of your object
Consider larger implication of the evaluation
Identify, develop and organize supporting evidence

Requirements:
7 – 10 pages, double spaced, MLA, does not include the Works Cited Page
5 sources: at least 2 peer-reviewed database sources from the library, all web sources must be C.R.A.P. tested.
Evaluation of a piece of technology and an argument about the place of your technology in literacy and learning.
Genre

An evaluative piece of writing begins with an overview and definition of the object being evaluated, making clear to the audience why there is a need for the evaluation (if it is not already apparent). It is important to provide the audience with this type of information so they can understand what is being evaluated and for what purpose. The introduction may also present the major claim based on the analysis, although it may be delayed until the end to maintain the appearance of fairness or if the claim is likely to be controversial.

Once the context has been established, the next step is to judge how well the subject meets each of the criteria that has been established. Evaluative writing is usually organized according to the criteria that is being used to evaluate the subject and moves through each criterion, explaining how the object meets, or does not meet, that criterion. In some cases, the criteria are already shared by both the writer and the readers; in those cases, they can simply serve as the organizational principle for the text without explicit discussion. (The writer still needs to be aware of it so all relevant criteria are addressed.) In other cases, the writer may propose a new criterion or dismiss the importance of existing ones, in which case the specific criterion needs to be negotiated explicitly.

Based on the examination of each of the criteria, the evaluation argument usually concludes with an overall assessment of the quality of the object, as well as a discussion of possible implications, including suggestions or recommendations regarding the possible course of action.

Genre Example(s):

letter of recommendation
product endorsement
vacation/travel review
restaurant review

Rubric Checklist for Writing Project (out of 300 possible points)
Intro, Conclusion, Thesis statement: Out of 60 points total
❏ The essay has a thesis statement.
❏ The thesis statement is clear/easy to find.
❏ The thesis statement includes the evidence they intend to explore in supporting their
assertion. (i.e criteria and reasons to support argument)
❏ The thesis statement is one that is appropriate for an evaluationargument
❏ Makes the introduction interesting enough to grab the reader’s attention
❏ Conclusion is connected to the rest of the essay
❏ Introduction identifies the form of technology being evaluated
❏ The essay includes an introduction which provides context for evaluation and
argument
❏
Structure and Organization: 90 points total
❏ Clearly defines/introduces stance on technology
❏ The essay paragraphs are structured in a way that creates an ease of reading for the
reader (i.e. the essay doesn’t jump from point to point abruptly).
❏ The essay strings together ideas and paragraphs clearly and in a sophisticated way
using transitional words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.
❏ Clear topic sentences for each paragraph.
❏ The essay follows the organization set out by the thesis statement
Content: 120 points
❏ Clearly defines/introduces stance on technology
❏ Clearly introduces technology
❏ Defines criteria for evaluation
❏ Evaluates appropriately
❏ Illustrate the benefit/lack of benefit of the technology in literacies and/or education
❏ Discusses the effect of the technology on people, society, and literacy
❏ Each paragraph is tied back to the larger point of the essay (thesis).
❏ Discusses evolution of technology
❏ Each example used from the original essay is cited properly in MLA format, both
intext and on the Works Cited Page.
❏ Uses logos, ethos, and/or pathos to enhance argument
❏ Uses two peer reviewed sources
❏ Uses at least 5 sources
❏ C.R.A.P. tests all internet sources
❏ 710 pages
rammar, Mechanics, Sentence Structure: 30 points
❏ Grammar errors do not create confusion in meaning (5 points)
❏ Mechanics errors do not create confusion in meaning (5 points)
❏ Sentence structure is complex and appropriate for college level writing. (5 points)
❏ Sentence structure does not create confusion in meaning. (5 points)
❏ Essay meaning is clear. The author expresses their thoughts in a way that is easy for
the reader to follow (10 points)                       *****Here is my sources for this essay, you can choose what ever you think is good for this paper.       McLean, Karen. “Literacy And Technology In The Early Years Of Education: Looking To The Familiar To Inform Educator Practice.” Australasian Journal Of Early Childhood 38.4 (2013): 30-41. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.  http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e922161f-bfcc-4be7-b1a1-4406b1b8cb24%40sessionmgr4002&vid=38&hid=4112       Mthethwa, Patrick M. “Examining The Impact And Cognition Of Technology On Preservice Teachers Of English In Swaziland.” Journal Of Technology Studies 40.2 (2014): 26-39. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.  http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e922161f-bfcc-4be7-b1a1-4406b1b8cb24%40sessionmgr4002&vid=10&hid=4112     Lu, Bin, et al. “The Environmental Impact Of Technology Innovation On WEEE Management By Multi-Life Cycle Assessment.” Journal Of Cleaner Production 89.(2015): 148-158. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.  http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0959652614011743/1-s2.0-S0959652614011743-main.pdf?_tid=533f2dc6-de64-11e4-9f79-00000aacb361&acdnat=1428548500_c34c3250b0ebb501afced994bd792950       EYYAM, RAMADAN, and HÜSEYİN S. YARATAN. “Impact Of Use Of Technology In Mathematics Lessons On Student Achievement And Attitudes.” Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal 42.(2014): 31-42. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.  http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e922161f-bfcc-4be7-b1a1-4406b1b8cb24%40sessionmgr4002&vid=4&hid=4112     Ching-Ting, Hsin, Li Ming-Chaun, and Tsai Chin-Chung. “The Influence Of Young Children’s Use Of Technology On Their Learning: A Review.” Journal Of Educational Technology & Society 17.4 (2014): 85-99. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.  http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e922161f-bfcc-4be7-b1a1-4406b1b8cb24%40sessionmgr4002&vid=28&hid=4112        SHOW MEI, LIN, and PRISCILLA GRIFFITH. “Impacts Of Online Technology Use In Second Language Writing: A Review Of The Literature.” Reading Improvement 51.3 (2014): 303-312. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.  http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e922161f-bfcc-4be7-b1a1-4406b1b8cb24%40sessionmgr4002&vid=6&hid=4112       Oldham, Greg R., and Nancy Da Silva. “The Impact Of Digital Technology On The Generation And Implementation Of Creative Ideas In The Workplace.” Computers In Human Behavior 42.(2015): 5-11. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Apr. 2015.  http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0747563213003919/1-s2.0-S0747563213003919-main.pdf?_tid=49920274-de61-11e4-b683-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1428547195_266dfe6d2101775bee85e6fc8bd648eb