Chris Greger

English 96/1A
Fall 2017

Schedule of Assignments for Unit 2:

Social Technology and Loneliness

Thu 9/14: Today the final draft of essay #1 is due. In class well begin discussing some of
the tools and topic for unit two, in which well learn use different kinds of support
in understanding and building complex arguments focusing on social technology
and loneliness.

Tue 9/19: For today, please do the following homework assignment. First, watch comedian
Louis C. K.s takedown of mobile phones on the Conan OBrian show, recorded
on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbYScltf1c (or google
Louis CK + Cell phones + Youtube). Then, read the first essay in our
reading packet, Found on Facebook: Empathy, by Teddy Wayne. Homework
Assignment 2.1: Explain, in a sentence or two, what Louis CKs main point is.
Then, underline three interesting observations about empathy and social media
that you found in Teddy Waynes article, and write them out in your own words.

Also, for today and the next two or three classes youll need to bring your copy of
Rules for Writers to class. Were really going to use it this time, I promise.
Thu 9/21: For today, Please read Sherry Turkles article Stop Googling. Lets Talk. Its a
bit longer, so give yourself enough time. Homework Assignment 2.2: What are
some observations that Turkle makes about the internet, social media, and their
effects of human empathy? Underline 3 places in the text that caught your eye,
and explain each of them in your own words. In class, well also look at Sarah
Lutermans essay in your reader.

Tue 9/26: Okay, now were on the central essay of this unit. Please begin reading the first
section of Stephen Marches essay Is Facebook Making Us Lonely? Read the
first 17 paragraphs, up to the asterisks (* * *). Homework Assignment 2.4:
What do you think Marches point is in telling the story about Yvette Vickers?
Explain, in your own words. What point is he making about our attitudes towards
loneliness and social isolation?

Thu 9/28: For today, please finish up the Marche article. Homework Assignment 2.5: Try
to map out the different They Says and I Says present in this second half of
Marches article. In your own words, explain what a couple of experts have to
say about Facebook and loneliness. Then, try to explain Marches attitude
towards Facebook and loneliness. Mark places that suggest his meaning to you.
Tue 10/3: For today, please read Theo Merz essay Young People are Lonely But Social
Media isnt to Blame. Homework Assignment 2.6: In your own words, explain
what Merz brings to the discussion about the relationship between loneliness and
Social Media.
Thu 10/5: Finally, for today please read Dan Slaters essay A Million First Dates: How
Online Romance is Threatening Monogamy. There are some really interesting,
smart points being made in the essay. Homework Assignment 2.7: In your own
words, explain Slaters views about the problem he describes in his title: how is
online romance threatening monogamy? Mark the passages that help you answer
this question.

Note: Today well be having a brief quiz on annotating and identifying parts of an
essay (thesis, supporting arguments, counterargument and response, and different
types of support).
Tue 10/10: Today in class well be discussing strategies for organizing and outlining your
argument for essay #2. Well also be having a brief quiz on sentence combining.
Thu 10/12: Draft 1 Workshop day! Homework Assignment 2.8: For today, you need to
bring in a single printed copy of draft number one of your first essay. Please
follow the instructions on the Essay #2 Assignment sheet carefully to write your
draft.

Tue 10/17: Draft 2 Workshop day! Homework Assignment 2.9: Bring in a single printed
copy of your second draft, carefully following the instructions on the Essay #2
Assignment sheet.

Thu 10/19: Today the final draft of essay #2 is due. Printed, stapled copies please. And
remember, if youre absent or late today, you must email me a copy of your paper
by 8:10 AM in order not to be penalized for a late paper (then bring hard copy
when next I see you).
Chris Greger
English 96/1A
Fall 2017
Essay Assignment for Unit 2:
Social Technology and Loneliness
The Task
Write a polished, thoughtful and well-argued five page paper responding to the prompt below.

The Prompt
What is one of the most significant ways the new social technology is affecting our relationships?
Explain some key arguments that one (or more) of the authors weve read for this unit makes on this
subject. Then, explain using a variety of different types of support for your key claims the extent to
which you agree or disagree with the authors views, and what your answer is to the focus question,
above.

Grading Criteria / Writing Guidelines

Read carefully. More than in the first essay, part of your grade will be based on how well your paper
indicates that youve carefully read the assigned essays. Your paper should include at least three
controversial claims made by the authors, with appropriate paraphrases and/or quotes, along with clear
explanations of the reasoning and support behind these claims. Remember, the claims you choose to
write about shouldnt be factual or obvious there wont be much controversy about these sorts of claims.

Develop and maintain a clear thesis. Though Marche, Slater and Smith all make complex arguments,
they each maintain a fairly consistent thesis. Your essay should, too. Think through your answer to the
focus question Ive given you, as well as the answers that these writers come up with. Then, make sure
your introduction (and conclusion) clearly state you answer to the focus question Ive given you. Note:
you probably shouldnt write about all the new social technologies pick one (facebook, twitter, online
dating) to focus on.

Provide strong support for your arguments. Of course you should draw on your own experiences and
observations of Facebook (or whatever social technology youre focusing on). But try to go beyond
simple examples to make your point. Consider exploring causes and effects of the way people interact
with the technology. Consider comparing and contrasting the way people use Facebook to the way they
use other communications technologies. Most importantly, be specific as you write about the different
ways people actually interact with Facebook, and make distinctions between the various things people
actually do on Facebook.

Develop strong, persuasive counterarguments and respond to them effectively. This is crucial.
Many of you are good at stating a claim or an opinion that challenges your own, but less good at
explaining the actual arguments behind these claims. A good counterargument will not only say X
claims that; it will spend the next couple of sentences explaining why X says this, and then respond to
the argument (not just the claim).

Hold your paper to a high standard. That means that the final product that you hand in should
proofread very carefully. Please refer to the Hints for formatting, Proofreading and Polishing handout
from unit 1; also, pay close attention to the work you did on your edit sheet so that you can show
improvement. Remember: papers with more than ten editing, sentence or proofreading mistakes will not
pass.
 Schedule of Due Dates for Essay 2

Thu 10/12: Draft 1 of essay #2 is due. Instructions: For today, please prepare brief (1 page
each) summaries of and responses to three of the most interesting points made by
the authors of the three essays weve focused on in this unit. Pick the points that
you either agree with or disagree with the most powerfully, the ones that seem to
relate to your own experience of social technology the most dramatically. For
each summary, quote the point being made by the author, and then explain what it
says.

Tue 10/17: Draft 2 of essay #2 due. Instructions: For today, formulate a clear thesis that
answers the focus question of this paper directly. It should be based on the ideas
you formulated last class. Use that thesis to help you organize your draft (each
section should help you support one aspect of your thesis use topic sentences to
make sure they do this). Then, write up an introduction (issue + question+ plus
answer to question / thesis) and a conclusion (review thesis and explain why this
subject is important).

Thu 10/19: Final Draft, essay #2 is due.