Class Work

I. It is time to share! This was the assignment:

A. Read two articles - various topics are fine.Note title, author, and source. (Article titles go in quotation marks. The source titles are underlined or place in italics.) You may locate and report on an article related to your chosen technology. 
B. Identify the technology.
C. Tell a little about the history of the technology. Explain the evolution of the topic.
D. List the advantages of the "new" technology.
E. Note the disadvantages of the technology.
F. Explain your opinion about the technology.

Write your name and the topic on the note card. Be ready to share B, C, D, E, and F.

II. Back to the time machine!

"Sound of Thunder."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxgbZAwIhVw&t=20s (Movie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGFMVo2xn5Q (Audio Book)

https://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/ASD-S/1820/J%20Johnston/short%20stories/A%20Sound%20of%20Thunder%20with%20questions%20--Ray%20Bradbury.pdf (Text)

Discussion: What do you think? Could the travel back in time alter the present? If so, would that be a positive or negative?  Would travel to the future have the same impact? Should humans do either?


The Assignment - Technology/Friend or Foe?

Technology – Friend or Foe?

For this essay, you are writing to convince the opposition. Consider the dangers and advantages of technology. For this essay, you must pick a side. Think of this essay as a debate on paper. You must know what the opposition thinks, but you do not support that point of view.

I.                    Introduction –

a.       Identify the specific technology you will be discussing – cell phone, computer, automobile, dishwasher, microwave, GPS, video games, television, apps, photography etc.

b.      Capture the attention of the audience in the normal way with startling statistics, an interesting anecdote, a quotation from an expert, lines from a song or poem, a thought provoking question, etc. In short, make sure that what you say makes the reader want to know more.

c.       In addition, state your thesis – make your point of view clear!

d.      Use claims, reasons, and evidence to build your case

II.                  The body of the paper will do several things –

a.       Convince the reader that they either need or do not need the technology.

b.      Provide a brief history of the specific technology you plan to discuss. What was life like before its invention? When was it invented? How has it evolved? What is its story?

c.       Provide clear evidence to support your point of view. You must have proof from at least four of the following:

                                                               i.      At least three experts/sources. You may use the articles studied in class and articles that specifically relate to your chosen technology.

                                                             ii.      A current news source such as a newspaper or magazine article or news cast.

                                                            iii.      An interview with at least one person who uses the technology.

                                                           iv.      A personal anecdote.

                                                             v.      Lines from literature – poem, short story, or novel.

                                    VI. “A work of art.

                                                           vII.      Strong statistics from an expert source.

The body of the paper will be several paragraphs in length.

III.                Conclusion –

Wrap it up for the readers. Leave them with a call to action to either give up or get the gadget you are supporting. Be sure they know why they need or do not need one. Consider:

a.       Convenience

b.      Cost

c.       Safety

d.      Environmental impact

e.      Impact on society/ethics

General formatting guidelines: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/24/

Sample essay: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/13/

Works Cited guidelines: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/

In-text citations: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/

Quick Write) Topic? Are you ready to write? What is your message? Is your chosen technology a friend or foe? Do you have enough evidence to prove your point? Why do people need to know this?
Find a quotation to use in your essay.  

http://www.ithistory.org/quotes?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI07eDhZn63gIVwCCtBh15WwQ7EAAYASAAEgIZUfD_BwE&page=1

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This site is interesting: 

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/10/25/tech-exceeded/

Check out the source of a famous quotation. Sometimes people credit "persons" with a quotation, but it is not necessarily true!

Start your draft. Write the introduction and work on the body. Post your work in Canvas by Tuesday.  Keep in mind that you will need in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Plan accordingly. 

November 27, 2018 - Tuesday

Class Work

1. Talk about your interviews. What did you discover? What do people think about our technological world? What were the ages of the people you interviewed? Does age seem to color opinions?

2. What technology is in the news? What are the issues?

Here are some places to start with articles. Feel free to look for alternate sources.

https://www.knowablemagazine.org/article/technology?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI28L4kI713gIVwxx9Ch3bCwFKEAAYAiAAEgLiEfD_BwE

https://www.nytimes.com/section/technology

https://sciworthy.com/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2018/10/26/what-has-business-ever-done-for-you/#3c7a1972a2b4

http://discovermagazine.com/topics/technology

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology

A. Read two articles - various topics are fine.Note title, author, and source. (Article titles go in quotation marks. The source titles are underlined or place in italics.) You may locate and report on an article related to your chosen technology. 
B. Identify the technology.
C. Tell a little about the history of the technology. Explain the evolution of the topic.
D. List the advantages of the "new" technology.
E. Note the disadvantages of the technology.
F. Explain your opinion about the technology.

Post in CANVAS and be ready to share/discuss in class. One articles should be ready today. The other will be shared on Thursday.

As you discuss and listen, note the similarities to and differences of the various advantages and disadvantages..

3. Did you locate a piece of art related to your technology? (Discuss)

4. Homework:  Locate and take notes on statistics related to your topic. You are searching for numbers.

A. How many items are in use?
B. What does it cost to make the item?
C.How many uses are there? (There may be more users than items.)
D. How much does it cost to purchase the item?
E. If all of the users purchased the money, how much money would that be?
F. How much time do people spend using the technology? Does this save time for other things, or does it take time away from other activities?
G. Are lives saved because of this technology? How many? 

Be sure to note your sources. At the very least, list the URLs. 

5. If time permits, we will go traveling in a time machine. To where and when would you like go? (Quick Write)

Begin reading "Sound of Thunder."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxgbZAwIhVw&t=20s (Movie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGFMVo2xn5Q (Audio Book)

https://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/ASD-S/1820/J%20Johnston/short%20stories/A%20Sound%20of%20Thunder%20with%20questions%20--Ray%20Bradbury.pdf (Text)

November 20, 2018 - Tuesday

We will NOT have class today due to a medical family emergency. 

I do hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will see you next Tuesday!

Contact me on Canvas if you have questions.

November 15, 2018 - Thursday

Class Work

1. Share the history of your chosen technology . . . top 5 things to know!

2. Your technology through the eyes of an artist.

As in the war paper, you can might be surprised at the messages artists share about your technology.

A, Locate a work of art. Study it. Here are the questions once again. What does the artist think about technology?

Looking at Art -

• What is the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message? What is the message?
• What is the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?
• Look at the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors were different? Explain.
• Study the shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?
• Who is the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific event piece of technology.  What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places with or without technology, or is it limited to the audience for whom it was created?
• How does the work relate to the technology.

B. Conducting an interview:

Why? (discuss)
Notes:

https://www.public.asu.edu/~kroel/www500/Interview%20Fri.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDOQBPYEaNs&t=131s  (Watch and take notes!) We will make a top 10 tip list! 

Now, create 7-10 questions that you will ask of someone who is older and may not have always used your chosen technology.

Create 7-10 questions to ask of someone who is an avid fan or or who uses your chosen technology.

You will be conducting two interviews - one for each of the above. One must be a person-to-person interview. (advantages/disadvantages?) 

The other may be conducted by phone, e-mail, text, FacetTime or other long distance platform. (advantages/disadvantages?)

Practice today with each other. (Random partners)

Post your interview notes in CANVAS by Tuesday. 

November 13, 2018 - Tuesday

Class Work

This was part of the homework. What did you discover about yourself? Are you addicted to technology?

 Keep track of all of the technology you use in a 24 hour period. If you had to give up one piece of technology for a week, which one could you do without? Explain.

Or, if you have ever had to exist without electricity, explain how your life was different during that time. Would you want to do it again?

Keeping track = 20 points
Paragraphs = 20 points
Total = 40

 We are now in the gathering phase for the next essay. As you might have guessed, it will focus on technology. You will be writing to convince the opposition that your point of view is the best point of view.

1. Identify a specific technology as the focus of this piece. Select something that you actually use and either love or hate! (cell phone, computer, automobile, dishwasher, microwave, GPS, video game, television, specific app, camera, lamp, etc . . . (Expand the list! What else might one consider?)

2. Research the history of the item. What was life like before the invention? When was it invented? Why and how was it invented? How has it evolved from the first one? What is the story?

3.  Look for numbers. How much does it cost to purchase? How much does it cost to use? How many of these exist? How many people in a given area own and use one? Get some real numbers!

Let's see what visionaries have said about our world of technology!

"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury

We will listen and follow along. The reading will be stopped from time to time to give your table time to discuss and list all of the technology that we have today that was only a dream in the 1950s. 

https://www.btboces.org/Downloads/7_There%20Will%20Come%20Soft%20Rains%20by%20Ray%20Bradbury.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzhlU8rXgHc&t=4s

Homework: See 1, 2, 3, above and record your notes in CANVAS. Keep track of your sources.  

If time permits, we will look for art related to your topic. 

See you Thursday!

October 8, 2018 - Thursday

Class Work - A New Unit!

How much technology is too much technology - or is there a limit?

What technology did you use today?

"I Can't Think" by Sharon Beagly

 http://www.sharonlbegley.com/the-science-of-making-decisions

Listen for instructions - complete the worksheet.

Homework:  

A. Find two articles that discuss the dangers or advantages of technology.  Read each. In paragraph form, summarize each article. Add a paragraph explain why you agree or disagree with each article.

40 points

B.  Keep track of all of the technology you use in a 24 hour period. If you had to give up one piece of technology for a week, which one could you do without? Explain.

Or, if you have ever had to exist without electricity, explain how your life was different during that time. Would you want to do it again?

Keeping track = 20 points
Paragraphs = 20 points
Total = 40

November 6, 2018 - Tuesday

Please VOTE! 


Class Work

1. You need a paper copy of your Cause/Effects/Solutions draft. Print one now if you did not print one at home. (If our printer is still broken, we will go to the movie room and continue.)

2. Peer Editing Activity

Problem/Solution Essay – Peer Editing Review Sheet

Author/Owner: _____________________________________

Reader #1: _________________________________________

Reader #2: _________________________________________

Reader #3: _________________________________________

Reader #1:

1.       What is the problem? Was it clearly identified? How many are impacted by the problem? Who is impacted? What other problems result because this problem exists? ( Look at the effects.)

2.        What are the causes of the problem? Is the information specific? Explain. Do you need to know more? Is anything confusing? Explain.

3.       Suggestions:

Reader #2:

1.       What are the future implications if this problem is not addressed? (Look at the effects.)

2.       What are the possible solutions? Are they realistic? Would you join in? Explain.

3.       Suggestions:

Reader #3: 

1.       What information needs to be documented? Do you know where the information originated? If not, put a question mark on the paper and ask.

2.       Did the author credit any sources? Where would expert information help you to understand? Put an “*” in those spots.

3.       Is there a Works Cited page? Yes/no

4.       Read for GUM: grammar, usage, and mechanics. Suggest corrections.

5.       Suggestions:

AAfter editing: Writer's Circle - You will be sharing the best part of your essay. Your choice!  Listen for further instructions.

Homework: 

Write the final copy of your essay. Post in CANVAS. It is due on Thursday. 

November 1, 2018 - Thursday

Class Work

1. Let's go to our in-class art gallery!

A. Have your art showing on your computer screen.
B. Be ready to explain your art. (Remember the questions! Provide the answers.)

Questions:

Looking at Art -

• What is the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message? What is the message?
• What is the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?
• Look at the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors were different? Explain.
• Study the shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?
• Who is the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific event in the history of war? What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places in all wars, or is it limited to the audience for whom it was created?
• How does the work relate war  in the 20th and 21^st centuries?

C. Visit the work of others.

Groups will be assigned. Listen for groupings.

2. Let's review the parts of this essay:

Topic- prove the topic is important.
Causes.
Effects.
Solutions.

This is a outline for your draft.

You will need to have a dynamic introduction and a powerful conclusion. 

Samples:

http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/style_purpose_strategy/intro_conclusions.html

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/introductions/

https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/introductions-conclusions

You will fill in the body of the essay with the information you researched.

What is the topic? Make it clear.

What are the causes?

What are the effects?

What solution(s) do you offer?

Sample essay:

 https://www.crsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000188/Centricity/Domain/2423/Problem%20Solution%20Annotated%20Essay.pdf

Homework: Write the draft of your essay. Post it in CANVAS. Bring a paper copy to class on Tuesday.