Prompt:
Do you fall asleep with your phone in your hand? Conduct entire relationships through social media? Could you imagine going without the internet for a week? Did you always feel this way about tech?
Our class focuses on the attention economy, the idea of productivity, and the way technology has shaped our lives, so a good place to start in exploring these issues is with ourselves. How has technology shaped your life (if it has)? Has your relationship with technology changed over time? Do you set goals with regard to tech or screen use?
How do you imagine your future might be changed or affected by technology? Using any or all of these questions, write your tech autobiography of at least 1000 words! (Please define all of these terms in the broadest possible sense—and feel free to surprise us!)
Note: You are welcome to use any of the readings/viewings from class so far to inspire your ideas, but the focus in your essay should be on your own experience. Chapter 3 readings have been attached to incorrporate within essay. If you decide to quote from a source, please do use MLA in-text citation styleLinks to an external site. to cite your quote. However, you don’t need to use a “Works Cited” page for this assignment even if you do use sources. Instead, just provide the author’s last name (if not already given in the sentence) and page number (if the source is paginated—for example, the Harris article does not include page numbers so you can skip that part) in your citation. Here is an example:
I completely agree that “the main problem with quoting arises when writers assume that quotations speak for themselves” (Graff and Birkenstein 44).
This framework not grabbing you? Make it your own within the goals of the assignment—just reach out to me (Leila) to run your idea by me or brainstorm together.
Goals:
A strong essay will capture the reader’s interest and convey meaning. It will have a main point and will balance narrative (storytelling) with analysis (commentary on the storytelling) so that the reader is able to understand the significance of your story. It will develop its ideas thoroughly enough that readers will follow the writer’s intentions and goals for the piece. It will feature engaging and thoughtful introductory and concluding elements as well as attention to style (transitions, sentence variety, word choice, etc.) and voice (your writing sounds like YOU!).
Tip:
Note the way the thinkers we’ve encountered so far in class grab (or fail to grab!) your attention–and use them as models. For example, in “How Technology is Hijacking Your MindLinks to an external site.,” how does Tristan Harris use his childhood experience as a magician (i.e. a personal narrative) to tell a story and engage you with his ideas? If you find that effective, can you use a similar strategy? If you find that ineffective, can you be sure to go in a different direction?
