Technology & Society Research Paper Assignment

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that the use of nontraditional readings can provide undergraduate students with an accessible medium to explore sociological ideas and concepts (Castellanos, DeAngelis, & Clark-Ibanez, 2008). Specifically, science fiction novels involve both real and imagined life and require the reader to develop critical and analytical...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Science and Technology

Resource Type(s):

Assignment

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

This assignment requires students to draw examples of predicted technologies in science fiction novels, compare them to current technologies, and apply course concepts to analyze the development and impact of the technologies. Detailed usage instructions, concept suggestions, and sample rubrics are provided.

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. To help students consider the reciprocal impact of technology on society and society on the development of technology.
2. To develop students’ ability to apply the concepts learned throughout the semester to specific examples from a science fiction novel.
3. To help students improve research skills by requiring them to locate and critically evaluate evidence from internet sources.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. In a research paper, students compare technologies predicted in science fiction novels to technologies that exist today, and analyze how the social conditions of the time the novels were written may have influenced the technologies predicted.
2. In a research paper, students analyze the impact of technology on society using at least five of the sociological concepts learned in the course.
3. In a research paper, students must incorporate evidence from academically appropriate internet sources to support claims.