Media Essay Two

The Assignment
Find an article in the media (not more than one year old) that demonstrates issues and controversies surrounding the use or development of technology in our society. The article chosen should deal with at least one or more of the concepts or questions covered in the reading up to this point in the course (chapters 5 – 10). Some of the concepts and questions we have explored that you will likely find in the media include:
The diffusion of technology
Efforts to restrict the diffusion of technology
Patents
Secret Technologies
Pollution (acid rain, toxic wastes, greenhouse gases, etc.)
Depletion of resources (fossil fuels, for example)
Alternative fuels/Energy
Global warming
Stem cell research
Genetics
Cloning
GM Crops or Genetically Modified Foods
Life sustaining technologies/inappropriate technology
Halfway technologies
Bridge Technologies
Diagnostic Technologies
The changing nature of work
Materialism
The role of the technology in job creation

These are just a sample of some of the concepts and questions surrounding technology and society that we have explored so far. You should not have difficulty finding a current article that deals with at least one of these, or other topics covered thus far. Sources for your article might include but not be limited to, newspapers, websites such as CNN.COM or MSN.COM, magazines such as Time or Newsweek, or some of the electronic databases available through the FTCC Library webpage. These databases include such useful resources as Issues and Controversies, Science Resource Center, NC Live, and the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. See COURSE INFORMATION for guidance on accessing these databases if you have never used them.

Keep in mind, this is a current events assignment that relates course material to things going on in our world (and thus the news) now. Do not use articles more than one year old.

After you have selected an article and read it, write a one or more page essay that explains:
1. What is the controversy?
2. How is technology involved and what are the potential impacts on society?
3. How many sides are there to this issue (at least according to your article), and what are they?
4. What concepts or questions explored thus far in the course are apparent in this article? State the concepts by name!
5. What are your own feelings on this issue, and has any of the material covered thus far in the course impacted this opinion?
6. What is the source for your article? Provide the name, date, issue and/or volume number of the publication, name of the author (if given) and name of the article for print sources such as newspapers or magazines. Provide the web link for online sources. Provide the database and article name for articles accessed through the FTCC Library’s electronic databases.
Your written response to the above should be done in MS Word or a similar word processing program, using size 12, Times New Roman font. Further, the essay must be in MLA format and must include a works cited page that at a minimum lists the course textbook and the news article as sources.