Throughout history, people have argued whether utopian and dystopian views of communication technologies are more accurate. This is a highly debated topic within the field of communication, and one that we will be reading and talking about throughout the course. The purpose of this paper is to think through your own position on this issue and make an argument for that position. You will write a paper that argues that modern communication technologies will lead to either a) our societys demise or b) our societys success. Your paper should do two things. First, you should provide some background on the controversy over the effects of new communication technologies. Explain both sides of the issue in a balanced way, and situate current opinions and the current controversy in the context of previous/historical opinions and controversy. All of this information should be supported by scholarly sources. Second, clearly explain your own position on the topic. Will new communication technologies benefit or harm society? Why? Feel free to be as broad (e.g., the Internet in general) or specific (e.g., mobile phone internet access) as you think is necessary. Remember that you are making an argument for your position, so provide strong reasons backed up by relevant scholarly sources. Also, remember that both sections are worth the same number of points, so they should be approximately the same length. Papers will be graded according to the following criteria: Background review (30 points): Fully and coherently integrates the literature reviewed. Provides a balanced review that incorporates the key arguments and concepts on each side of the debate, using sources that are relevant and appropriate to your review. Demonstrates a full understanding of the literature reviewed and its underlying concepts. The information should go well beyond what was discussed in class; a would-be reader should learn something new (that he/she did not already know from class) from your review. Position explanation (30 points): Clearly explains your position within the controversy in a detailed, well-articulated manner. Accurately and insightfully discusses the relevant course concepts in a way that demonstrates a full understanding of those concepts. Coherently and persuasively explains how your position is grounded in the literature reviewed and why you are taking that position, using sources that are relevant and appropriate to your argument. Writing and style (10 points): Scholarly writing throughout, absence of informal writing. Writing is clear, concise, direct, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Citations for all non-original information. Follows paper formatting requirements (margins, font, spacing, page limits). Your paper should be approximately 6-8 pages, double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font, with 1 margins. Papers should include a minimum of 5 peer-reviewed, scholarly sources from outside of the course readings (typically journal articlesplease contact me if you have any questions about whether or not a source is appropriate). You can include course readings in your paper, but they will not count toward the minimum number of required sources.
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