WRD 103

Instructor: Leah Cardi

Project #4: Photo Essay Exploring Generational Differences in Technology

Introduction: This weeks readings (Carr, Naughton, and Pinker) discuss technologys effect on our brain, particularly exploring the ways the Internet has changed our ways of reading, thinking, and, ultimately, interacting with information. These discussions are interesting when thought of in conjunction with the Technology and Language readings from 9/30 (Rosen, Keller, and Norvig). As a class, we have discussed many ways in which technology affects our own lives, both personally and academically. Weve talked about its use in our classrooms, and weve extended that discussion to one that identifies your generation as one who has grown up in, rather than into, the Digital Age. Our parents, grandparents, and siblings, peers, co-workers and instructors have had different experiences with technology, all leading to varying opinions on how it can affect our intellectual and emotional lives. Our most elderly counterparts may not be able to conceive of the widespread effects of the World Wide Web. Conversely, our youngest counterparts may be savvier with an iPad than their older siblings or parents. Arguably, these experiences have a profound effect on the way we position ourselves in and experience the worldwhether we are spectators or participants, agents or observers. Assignment 1. We will do a free write at the beginning of class on 10/30. This will give you the opportunity (before class discussion) to think about how you feel about technologys place in your own life. Does it change the way you think? Does it affect your relationships? Your education? It may help to imagine your life without the convenience that the Internet provides. How would we write a research paper with high powered search engines or archived library catalogues online? How would we connect with friends and family who may not live in our immediate radius? Thinking about these questions on a personal level will help you to conceptualize what your own experience with technology has been, and how it may have changed over time. 2. Next, we will have a class discussion about the different viewpoints on technology and the brain. As the authors weve read in Exploring Language do, well look at the perspectives of people across multiple fields (academia, biology, psychology). 3. Then, you will take this knowledge and go out into the field. Identify two people of a different generation who have had a different experience with technology . You will conduct and audio tape an interview with them (two separate interviews). You will also want to take this persons photograph, letting them know (ask for their consent!) that they will be featured in your Photo Essay. As a class on 10/30, we will construct a list of possible interview questions. 4. Compile your reading responses, class discussion notes/freewrite, and interview materials. You are now ready to begin drafting your Photo Essay. The audience for your essay are Lens readers. Well take a look at Lens in class, but basically it is an online

photojournalism blog from the NYT. Writers compose essays that explore an issue or question, and they integrate photos and images to enhance the stories they tell. 5. The topic youll be exploring is generational differences in technology experience: What are the generational differences in experiences with and viewpoints on technology? How does my own experience fit into this? Can this experience be extended to others of my generation? Youll identify your original position/opinion on technology, reflect on the opinions of those we have read and interviewed, and position yourself within these viewpoints. Your essay will be exploratory in nature in that it begins in one place and considers and integrates the experiences of others. You should not necessarily end with a conclusion of whether or not technology is positive or negative. You should delve deep into the stories and opinions of others and reflect on how those may differ from your own. 6. You will tell these stories through text and photographs. Youll have a complete audio tape of your interviews, but youll need to decide what parts you want to include in your essay. (On Digication, youll be able to upload the full audio recording of the interview.) Youll use photographs (of your interviewees and other images you find relevant to the subject matter) almost as transitions embedded in your essay. These photographs should be positioned so that it helps your reader follow your exploration of the topic. Assignment Details 1. Your Photo Essays text should be 12pt, single spaced. 2. The photographs you include should all be your own. Think of yourself as a reporter or photojournalist here. Youll want to capture images that are important to your own life and the lives of those you are interviewing. Make sure you get consent of your interviewees to include their photographs/comments in your essay. 3. The lengths of your essays will vary, depending on how many photographs you include and how much space you decide to take to embed those into your text. You should be able to explore your topic in a least three pages, but a strong essay will likely go over this. 4. Make sure to keep a digital copy of all included photographs and the audio recording of your interview. We will upload these to Digication and it is good to have a back -up copy in case there are issues with transferring. 5. If you do not have a device that allows you to photograph/record, see me. We will work something out! Dates/Timeline M 11/04: Completed interview due. Bring the audio copy and written field notes to class. W 11/06: Rough draft due in dropbox. Bring either two hard copies or a digital version, whatever form you prefer for peer review. M 11/11: Final draft due in dropbox.