The topic for my academic paper would be the growing dependence people have to the internet. The sources I would use would be Neil Postman’s book Technopoly, Andre F. Wood and Matthew J. Smith’s book Online Communication, and a website from Villanova University on the topic. I evaluate the two books as credible because they were required texts for the Comm 385 class. Postman explains in Chapter 5 that school is used as a mechanism for information control. Curriculums describe the necessary topics of information as well as the focus of knowledge transferred to the student. Because the books are required for learning the specified material I believe they are the most credible available sources for information. Villanova University’s website is titled “Internet Dependence”. The source is credible because it too is an educational institution. All three sources are focused towards educating people about the impact of the internet or technology.
The information brings the value of truth. We are taught through these sources, and these sources were chosen by the people who judge our scholastic success. The agreement between the sources and our educational advisors creates a common relationship. I feel as though I cannot go wrong choosing these sources because they are already of value to the experts guiding me in education. The information from the books is believable to the instructor, and realistically that is the main void to fill. My main concern is receiving a decent grade, not connecting with my paper. If the information from the book looks credible to the person grading the paper then the sources were successful. As a professor I would find the Comm 385 books credible and believable sources. The Villanova University source might be a tougher source to agree with. As a professor from different school I may judge the school for being different, and may be protective and biased. If I saw Villanova as a credible university then I would probably see the source as credible and the information believable.
Based on the sources found I would evaluate my research skills as suspect. As a professor I would either be proud that the information I thought was important was used, or I would perceive the student as lazy for not looking past the required text. I would see the Villanova source as a credible source, but would want more than just one source that is not found from the class. I would be happy that the student did not use Wikipedia, even though my students always find a lot of good information there. Professors always want sources that could be found in print, so I would urge the student to find sources from a newspaper or journal.
The guidelines for this assignment involve information control. As Postman explains, institutions teach us using relevant information and not using irrelevant information. If I were to write this week’s blog on Alex Rodriguez ruining baseball I would be using irrelevant information and not using relevant information. The rules for functioning in the assignment are to present information in agreement with my claim that society is growing dependent to the internet. The oversimplified claim needs evidence to strengthen the theory. A professor does not want manufactured expertise (Wikipedia). The professor wants research; the application of practical wisdom that allows people to learn. Postman explains that technical machinery and expertise will ruin society, and for that reason Google searches cannot create sources of education.
Society finds too much comfort in numbers and answers. Certainty feels good, but are we trading assurance for intellect? Does the ease of searching the internet for answers rot our intellect? Are we even giving our brain a workout anymore? The value of sources comes from the effort and mental exertion taken in finding the information. Sources for papers represent endeavors for learning. Are we becoming a culture that values ease above all else? I feel as though the fascination with technology overshadows the true effects it is putting on our society. We need to move from a society that transfers information into a society that learns and acquires knowledge.
Works Cited
Postman, Neil. Technopoly : The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York: Vintage, 1993.
Villanova University. 09 Feb. 2009 <http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife/counselingcenter/infosheets/psych_topics.htm?page=internet_depend.htm>.
Wood, Andrew F., and Matthew J. Smith. Online Communication : Linking Technology, Identity and Culture. Danbury: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Incorporated, 2004.
February 13, 2009 at 8:17 am
I agree with you statement about professors wanting actual research and being able to tell the difference between the manufactured expertise and actual knowledge. There is definitely a looming void out there of those who actually do the research as opposed to those who “cut and paste” the knowledge from internet sources. Its becoming harder to tell the difference I believe because we are not paying enough attention to what the internet is doing to us as a society.
February 13, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I love the fact that you used the books for this class as credible sources. That is such a good idea! I never even thought of that, and my topic was very similar to yours: “how has technology changed our society” I’m sure I would have been able to find some great pieces of information and some great quotes if I had only taken the time to look. Books are the best source for information because if it was published then you know the information is correct and accurate. It’s when you start dealing with those websites that you have to be careful what you think is credible and what is not.