Goals

We have read and discussed articles having to do with digital literacy. You’ve thought of issue questions and possible arguments. We have looked at the structure of arguments, including a supporting-reasons argument. Now it’s time to showcase your understanding of your learning in a formal essay.

Instructions

After reading the various articles in “Digital Literacies,” focus on an issue brought up in one or more of the articles, or an important issue that sprang up for you as a result of reading these articles but now UPDATE the issue and form a specific argument for a  4-6 page (double-spaced) supporting-reasons argument essay (See end of Chapter 5, pages 104-105).

Your argument must be narrow and on the concept of digital literacy, how we interact with one, specific media or an issue around one specific media but SET IN 2021. For example, here are some current issues related to that our readings in the news today that you could possibly write on: 

-Gamification of education resources in the classroom.

-Facebook hid reports that might make them look bad.

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22684293/facebook-antitrust-lawsuit-wall-street-journal-report (Links to an external site.)

-OnlyFans got rid of adult content then backtracked on that decision.

-What makes one of these social media influencers the top influencer right now?

https://influencermarketinghub.com/instagram-influencers/ (Links to an external site.)

-How does Gen Z interact with social media differenlty and specifically than a Millenial (one generation apart)?

-What else has been in the news lately? Why is Tik Tok so popular for Gen Z specifically?

Start thinking! I’ll be seeing your drafts but if you aren’t sure about whether a topic is specific enough, see me in ELC hours!

Additionally, you should cite a minimum of 3 sources in your paper [you may use the textbook and/or outside reliable sources from newspapers, articles, journals, books, interviews, reliable websites (not Wikipedia—Anyone can post on there!)

Assignment Development

• Must have a creative title of your own
• Engage your reader with an opening paragraph that introduces the topic of your essay (Be sure to “name drop” any author’s name and full title of the work) and presents a well-developed thesis at the end of the paragraph that clearly identifies your focused argument.
• Your thesis statement should not be a summary sentence but an argument. Try to find something original to write or something most readers wouldn’t see.
• Develop paragraphs with clear topic sentences (points or mini-arguments that support your thesis) with support in the form of specific examples from your life or the readings (by paraphrasing or quoting) that support your claims.
• Organize your paragraphs to show logical progression of ideas and arguments.
• Use MLA Format, citations, and a Works Cited page (that does not count into your 4-6 page count), citing the articles from our textbook or outside sources.
• Be sure you know what Web 2.0 is, and what it encompasses! Web 2.0 is not a reference to websites in general or online education in general, for instance.

Tips

• Please take advantage of the lovely resources on the Ohlone Library website or in our college libraries. You must incorporate source(s) by using quotations with proper parenthetical citations, paraphrasing of ideas (with citations), and a properly constructed cited page as the last page of your document file. Your paper must strictly adhere to MLA standards when citing and formatting. (Please see the MLA section of Chapter 17 of our textbook to refresh your memory of research skills built in English101A.)
• Closely revisit “Using Evidence Effectively” and adhere closely to the tips outlined in chapter 5. If, for example, you rely only on some random websites to back up your argument, your reader will probably assume you did the least amount of work possible in formulating your supporting evidence. This will also probably lead you into the danger zone of receiving less than passing points on the assignment.
• Note on First -Person “I”: Many of the student sample essays (including Carmen’s on pgs. 106-108) include a lot of first-person point-of-view language, or reference to “I”. While I don’t totally oppose the use of “I” in an academic paper, I do, however, feel that one should not over-use references to oneself in an essay. What I will require then, is for you to NOT use first-person “I” in your thesis statement or body paragraph-topic sentences at all (that is, the structure of your paper). 3rd person point of view should always be preferable and writers should really never use second-person language (you’s, we’s, and direct address to the reader) in an academic paper.

Collaboration

In addition to being graded on the paper you turn in, you will also receive points for your contribution to others during the weeks of the paper writing process. You will have an opportunity to review another student’s paper and to help others in your previous group and discussion boards. Sometimes we learn the most when we teach!

Submission

Use this assignment area to submit your own final paper submission the week the paper is due. Notice that you will submit your paper using the Turnitin built-in feature to check for plagiarism. (Note my guidelines about original work in my syllabus.)