USE2323 Culture and Technology

Term Paper

Word limit: 3,000 words

Deadline: Friday, November 22nd, 6 pm

The term paper is the least restrictive but largest assignment you will do this semester for
this module. Think of this as a paper within the genre of the “researched argument”
(otherwise known as the academic argumentative essay) based on a topic that is of interest
to the module. This topic can be something that has already been or will be covered or
something we could potentially cover but don’t have the time to. As is the case with all good
argumentative essays, do note that writing to a topic is not enough; you should be able to
narrow the topic down to a research problem (essentially a question with a demonstrated
significance). In other words, a scope like “the history of computer science as an academic
discipline” would be too wide for you to handle in a focused way; whereas “the impact of
Ray Kurzweil’s popular theories on human-machine bodily interfaces on the development of
artificial intelligence” would be more suitable.

Since this is an academic paper, you are also expected to abide by the rhetorical convention
that you learned in WCT. This includes ensuring that the paper contextualizes or orientates
readers, establishing the broad premise of what you will address; for example, the primary
source(s) that contains the problem you want to address or the specific phenomenon that
the paper is exploring. The paper will also need to establish a motive, or a problem, issue,
question (concerning the primary source or phenomenon) that it wishes to address and the
significance of doing so. Ultimately, all these lead to your statement of a thesis, which is the
biggest claim you make in response to your paper and that serves as the focal point for your
paper’s argumentation. This leads to the final point: the bulk of the paper will be concerned
with developing the different arguments that support your thesis.

In order to write a good term paper, you will have to research. This means thinking of your
paper as part of a research project. What framing questions drive your project? What makes
you want to ask those questions in the first place? Where and how will you find a response
to those questions? Since this project is more “humanities” in form, the research will be
mostly through the acquisition of primary and secondary materials, and then reading,
thinking, analysing, and forming relationships across the materials. For this paper, as in
paper 2, you are expected to make use of both primary and secondary sources. However, I
will no longer stipulate any minimal source requirements, as I have done previously, but
obviously, the nature of this research project will obviously require you to do more.

But how do I get started?

Given the reasonably laissez-faire nature of this assignment, you may be concerned about
what you can possibly write or how you can get started. A good rule of thumb is to consider
this module’s philosophy. Although the specific approach in this module is to use cultural
studies as a way of thinking of technology beyond its function and form as technological
practice, I do not insist that the papers you write will all need to be specifically cultural
readings of technology (and their representations). Crucially, the broad goal is to get you to
find your own way of critically articulating your interest in technology and then locating this
in areas and realms that you may not have commonly visited. This is why I speak constantly
about social, cultural, or political aspects of technology, and within these realms you may
further find the historical or issues of ethics.

Here are some possibilities to consider:

§ A controversy relating to your field of study (if it is a STEM discipline) and how it
might be considered political or having social and cultural implications
§ For humanities and social science students, how might various approaches to the
discipline be thought of as technological changes (organizational technology?)
§ A critical discussion of a work of fiction that is directly or indirectly concerned about
social, cultural, or political aspects of technology
§ A paper similar to what you could have written for paper 2, but on a different
technology and presenting a more complex discussion
§ A response to current public discussions about a specific technology and how it
might be connected to other social or political concerns
§ Some form of social and cultural change as a result of the introduction of certain
kinds of technology
§ A secondary source inspired project, in which you use academic writings about
technological culture as the basis of developing your research question(s)

Remember, these are possibilities only, so feel free to think of others outside this list.

Finally, to get started, you may also wish to consult the secondary literature to see what
kinds of issues scholars in the field are interested in. You may want to look at the back
issues of Technology and Culture, examine the bibliographies in readings we did in class, and
see if there are titles that might interest you. Do these sources suggest technologies you
might want to talk about? Do they employ a mode of analysis or make an argument that
you aren’t happy about? As you can see, there are many things you can do just preliminarily
skimming over these sources.

Conference

You will have the chance to talk to me about your intentions during the conferences that
will be held throughout week 10. More information will be provided to you about the
conference, but this will be an opportunity for you to ask about your topic, research
problem, and the sources you can consult.
USE2323 CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
Term Paper Grading Rubric

A The essay demonstrates all that is desirable in a B grade paper. But in addition,
it shows creativity, clear sense in presenting an original research problem
pertaining to module themes. For the A grade, the analysis goes slightly further
in not simply using the secondary sources just to explain the cultural and social
phenomena but begins to show a conversation between the various sources and
develops new and original insights. In other words, the essay doesn’t just map
the secondary source onto the phenomenon, but synthesizes as the author tries
to support the paper’s thesis (or main claim). The paper is rhetorically sound, and
thus makes use of a good argumentative structure.

B The essay shows competence in performing an analysis of its subject matter by

drawing in and establishing a convincing relationship with cultural or social
phenomena. The essay establishes an interesting and significant question
concerning module themes and shows varying extents of responding to it. In
order to do this, the essay makes good use of the secondary source(s). The
paper has a good sense of argumentation. Since there are three grade fragments
in the B scale, essays marked at the lower range (straight or minus) are
differentiated by some remaining issues with analysis and rhetorical soundness.
They may have argumentation that might still be shaky, such as with claims that
are supported by slightly dubious reasoning and evidence, or that it has an
analysis that still could be developed further.

C The essay is basically able to demonstrate some relationship with the themes
and issues that are of interest to the module. This is evidenced by the attempt to
address some aspect of technology outside the way it is predominantly featured,
such as in the social or cultural domains. However, it still suffers from a number
of issues, such as the inability to explain why the questions it is addressing is
significant or has an unclear thesis. The essay may still show signs that the ideas
are still rudimentary at this point. For instance, the questions are still vague or not
properly contextualized. The use of the secondary sources is somewhat
superficial or not related to the argument at hand. The paper also may contain
problems with its rhetorical integrity, such as weak arguments.

D The essay is too broad and unfocused or just provides a generic exposition of
the primary sources being used. There is no attempt at any analysis or has
serious rhetorical issues, such as the lack of a central argument or little attempt
at support the central argument.

F Nil submission; or the essay plagiarizes or is academically dishonest, in which

case requires the intervention of the USP director.