Assignment#17

Assignment # 17
Traci Kassens

When compiling my research paper, the thesis question I chose to ask was; “What are the consequences of digital learning compared to an “in class” face-to-face setting?” Before I made changes to my critical question, I was going to ask, “Which is better, the use of technology such as computer aided instruction, or the use of the text book?” Because this question included the word “or” in it, I decided not to take a one way or the other approach to my question. I decided to look at “all” of the consequences when implementing computer aided instruction “and” a physical classroom, to investigate both sides of the issue at hand. I wrote this paper so that students could look at and understand that there are consequences when using computer aided instruction, as well as consequences with a physical classroom setting. Therefore they can decide for themselves whether or not they could benefit from the use of computer aided instruction, such as Desire 2 Learn (D2L), or would they be better off to physically attend classes on campus with the use of text books.
In my first draft of my research paper, I seemed to only explain the positives of using Computer aided instruction, but failed to include some of the downfalls to its users. When adding consequences for both the positives and the negatives when making the comparisons, students can weigh out both sides of the issue.
There were many places in my research paper where I needed to inject additional context, and also expand on statements that needed further explanation. There were places in each paragraph that also needed to tie into the original argument for D2L.
My paper also needed additional explanations after quotes. I injected this quote from Carr, “This phenomenon has caused people to stop reading books altogether” (Carr 58). What I need to interject there was an explanation or interpretation as to what he meant by this statement. In my revision I added, “Carr states this to insinuate that because we use the Internet to the extent that we do when doing research, we are no longer partaking in text books, and rely on the Internet alone for our sources.” There I needed to expand on what he meant by that statement. Another place where I needed to add additional context is another quote by Carr when he stated, “They (computers) supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought. And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a jet ski” (Carr 57). I needed to inform the reader that Carr is painting a picture in our minds describing how fast a person can receive information while using the Net for doing research. These are just two examples where I added context to my research paper. Then after every quote, I tried to add additional context so that the reader could fully understand the meaning behind the quotes. I tried to expand on the thought of the person I was quoting. When a writer does this, is assures that the reader has all the back ground knowledge needed to fully understand the person you are quoting along with what you as a writer is trying communicate to you readers.