Main Question:

How does digital connectedness change relationships?

Prompt:

In this essay, you will analyze two essays with opposing viewpoints about digital relationships. After analyzing each essay, you will intercede and take a stance on this disagreement.

You can use both New York Times Debate authors, Ferdman’s interview with Rosenfeld, Carr, Gladwell, Beck, or any essays of your choice from a reliable source (if using an outside essay, I must approve it first). Do not use Koifman’s essay because, while he lists a lot of useful ideas, he does not support those ideas with evidence.

Make sure to do the following:

1) Analyze two authors who disagree about this topic. Use at least three quotations per author. You must lead-in, cite, explain, and interpret each quotation.
2) In your analysis, use the quotations to explain the “stakes” or “so what” for each author. How might their big picture worries contribute to their disagreement?
3) Show me how these authors disagree in intelligent ways. No matter your opinion, demonstrate how two intelligent people might respectfully and thoughtfully disagree. Consider not just how they disagree, but also the evidence they use to support their argument. How might two authors with different views each present evidence supporting their claim? What’s up with that?
4) Offer your own stance on this disagreement. Explain your position, support it with evidence, and respectfully address naysayers. Don’t just say “so and so is 100% correct.” The point of this essay is to engage with intelligent disagreement. No one is completely right or completely wrong! You don’t want to waffle, but you should take a stance that respectfully and thoughtfully adds something to this disagreement. For example, maybe you think schools or teachers should use trigger warnings, but in a slightly different way than the authors consider. Maybe you think that the stakes / big picture is incorrect and want to offer a different big picture.
4+ pages
MLA format (check syllabus for help, too!) Link (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Outline due: Oct 3
Rough Draft due: Oct 8
Final Draft due: TBA

Skills to highlight:

1) How well you introduce, explain, and interpret quotations
2) How well you can explain and analyze two differing but intelligent viewpoints
3) How well you can develop and support your own unique point of view about a difficult topic where two intelligent people disagree.

Advice:

1) What can you add to this debate that the authors miss or overlook? Pick your authors carefully! Don’t just cookie-cutter agree with either author:

Yes AND
Yes BUT
No BECAUSE
2) Your thesis should mention a specific disagreement between these two authors and highlight your addition or insight. Voice markers help!

An example: “Although Slaney and Csorba disagree about if facebook encourages digital friendships to shift into the real world, both authors forget how other forms of digital connectedness such as text messaging might promote instead of limit face-to-face interactions.”

3) Choose your quotations carefully! You shouldn’t summarize everything. Instead, only discuss the sections that help support your argument