Turnitin Up and running

Looks like several of you have been able to post your essay on  canvas. If you haven't done so, please give it a try.

Problems with turnitin?

If you have problems this evening, submitting your essay through turnitin, please send me the essay as an attachment and try turnitin one more time in the morning.

Just make sure to bring me a hard copy tomorrow.

reading and writing journals

If you plan on turning in reading and writing journals on Thursday make sure you follow ALL the instructions. If you haven't followed the instructions, your grade will be significantly lower.  And, I won't have the opportunity to remind you.

Remember to include the prompt!

Bring technology book to Final Exam

Make sure you remember your technology book for the final and any other written items you might want to refer to. NO technology.

Pokemon Go in the news

MIght be of interest: Take a look at this article.
https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/just-visiting/five-reasons-why-pok%C3%A9mon-go-will-change-education-and-one-reason-why-it-wont

Need some extra credit? Write a thoughtful (read critical thinking) summary of the article for 5 extra points.

Final Essay Folder

Joining the conversation
Preparing for your project handout
Thesis, prolepsis, what would it take to prove you wrong
Confusion to Clarity
Justified Belief Outline
3 Page draft with revision
Critical Thinking while drafting

Missing essays

If you do not have a grade for an essay in the gradebook on canvas, you need to make sure that I have BOTH the hard copy and the internet copy of the essay in order to get that graded. If I asked you to redo the essay and turn it in, make sure you get that to me ASAP. And, if you have some difficulties in your writing that I have noted, please make sure to get help from the writing lab before you turn in that final essay on Thursday.

Just wondering how the Pokemon Go challenge is proceeding?

Fluoride making us stupid?

I was intrigued by the research mentioned in class today, and so I did a bit of research. You might want to take a look at this article . . . if you want to brush up on your fluoride facts.

http://www.livescience.com/37123-fluoridation.html

How green is the ipad

Here is an intriguing chart/article (very brief, so you won't even need to skim it!) about whether electronics or books are better for the environment

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/04/opinion/04opchart.html?_r=0

Posting your essay on canvas

The interface for posting the essay on canvas has changed. You will now be submitting your essay to turn-it-in before it comes to me. So, when you click on the essay, you will get a window that says something like "this needs to be opened in another window". Click on that. You will have to agree to turn-it-in's policies and then you will get a window you can download the essay into. PLEASE do not wait until the last minute to post your essay, so if you have any problems I can help you.

Rubric for tomorrow's project presentations is posted in Hand outs

Wikipedia

This is an interesting article on Wikipedia for any of you interested in how it is regarded as a source.

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2016/07/opinion/steven-bell/from-pariah-to-partner-wikipedias-growing-campus-presence-from-the-bell-tower/#_

Project Conversation order

1. Maddie, Andrew and Donna
2. Jack, Hannah and Brittany
3. Erin, Daniela, Jennifer
4. Wilson, Brian and Micaiah
5. Evelyn and Renat

In Lab on July 14th

Class cancelled July 11

Woke up with the flu this morning, so will be cancelling class. Please continue with the schedule as it is posted in the blog. Tomorrow, you should have today's homework AND your rough draft.

I apologize for any inconvenience and hopefully will see you Tuesday.

Technology Argument from Essay folder

Preparing for Essay (should include introduction and modeled paragraph)
Curiosity at Work
Modeled Paragraph and  Introduction
Rough Draft
Revision
What Makes you say that
Reverse outline
Add creativity/curiosity to paragraphs
Label paragraphs in rough draft

Introduction for Argument from Technology Book

Thesis: While technology can lead to great practical advances, it does almost nothing to advance our spiritual, existential or humanistic sense of self or the world. In fact, it may harm and/or detract from their development.

In Matthew Crawford’s groundbreaking books, both Shopcraft as Soulcraft and The World Beyond Your Head, the philosopher and motorcycle mechanic makes a convincing argument that as modern technology has gained ground in society our attention to the world around us, to our engagement with the world and to our sense of who we are has deteriorated and in some cases actually been replaced by the technology.  The consequences are not pretty: we are becoming robotic, dehumanized automatons with little individuality and almost no distinct sense of self.  Harsh sounding indictment, certainly, and some may find it hyperbole. But Crawford’s personal and data driven support leave little doubt. As Crawford states, only through shared attention to the world of real things, can minds “become powerful and achieve genuine independence (World Beyond Your Head, 23). So while that computer on our desk, that phone in our pocket (or more likely in our hand) and that perpetual drain on our attention and energy is not just a distraction issue that we can easily overcome but a threat to our very humanness. While technology can lead to great practical advances, it does almost nothing to advance our spiritual, existential or humanistic sense of self or the world. In fact, it may harm and/or detract from their development.

Source use: to build ethos and contribute ideas

Fallacies

I mentioned fallacies in class when discussing Kelly's argument. This is a link to a fairly comprehensive discussion of fallacies.

https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html

Equality

The discussion in class today about equality of opportunity vs. income equality is an excellent reminder of why, as critical thinkers, we want to carefully define our terms.

And, if you are interested in learning more about equality of opportunity, here is a pretty balanced discussion
 https://edeq.stanford.edu/sections/equality-opportunity-introduction

Article on the question of does the Internet make us biased

https://medium.com/@SeanBlanda/the-other-side-is-not-dumb-2670c1294063#.qswoje59l

If you read the article AND post some comments and discuss the topic substantially, there may be some extra credit in it. I encourage you to read the article regardless.

Here is a quote from the article that emphasizes the importance of both ethos and the counter argument:
"any debate club veteran knows, if you can’t make your opponent’s point for them, you don’t truly grasp the issue. We can bemoan political gridlock and a divisive media all we want. But we won’t truly progress as individuals until we make an honest effort to understand those that are not like us. And you won’t convince anyone to feel the way you do if you don’t respect their position and opinions. A dare for the next time you’re in discussion with someone you disagree with: Don’t try to “win.” Don’t try to “convince” anyone of your viewpoint. Don’t score points by mocking them to your peers. Instead try to “lose.” Hear them out. Ask them to convince you and mean it."

Email

Please do NOT send me email through Canvas. I cannot directly reply to you. Please email me to the emails I gave you. If you have grade questions, please see me after class.

Evaluation Essay

Please post on canvas AND bring a hard copy to class on Wednesday.