Society has Become too Reliant on Technology

Overview
This assignment is part 1 of 2. Part 1 (Position Essay) will focus on whether you are ‘for’ or ‘against’ the topic and be worth 10 points (10% of the final course grade). Part 2 (Persuasive Paper) will focus on the opposite view of the topic and be worth 14 points (14% of the final course grade). The Position Essay is
Week #5 and will need to be completed prior to working on the Persuasive Paper. The second part, the Persuasive Paper will be due in week 8 of the course.
Information Technology aims to provide efficiency and effectiveness to professional and personal lives. Hardware, software and telecommunications advancements are intended to assist people with the symbiotic decision making that makes our organizations and lives more vigorous. Unfortunately, technology can also have negative consequences and effects on human lives. The purpose of these assignments is to focus on a topic that is of interest to you, research the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ associated with the topic, and demonstrate strong arguments in favor and against the topic.
Description of a Position Essay
A position essay is a paper that professionals and scholars write in order to express their view on a certain topic. These topics are often relevant to current events in society and include researching the topic in order to write a well-informed and convincing position essay. You will start by choosing one of the topics listed below, stating your opinion on the topic, and justifying your opinion based on reasons, statistics, examples, and facts gathered from research. This justification needs to be based on academic sources, including the UMGC Digital Library and other scholarly works. Other’s opinions, for instance
Internet blogs, are not scholarly sources and should not be used.
Topics - You are to select one topic from the list below and follow the instructions to write the papers:
• Violent video games have a negative psychological impact on children.
• News on the Internet is trustworthy.
• Autonomous vehicles are safe to ride in.
• The ‘digital divide’ had no effect on education during the pandemic.
• The government should have the authority to demand a mobile phone be unlocked during a
criminal investigation.
• Society has become too reliant on technology.
• The benefits of artificial intelligence are worth the potential hazards.
• Social Media websites should be mandated to protect personal privacy.
There are two (2) basic elements to a Position Essay:
• Position: It's essential to determine which side of the argument you are taking. For example, you may be arguing that tobacco products or cannabis should be made illegal. Make a point to express why you took your initial position. For example, you may provide exact reasons to show how tobacco products may be damaging people’s health.
• Evidence: This is where you should provide factual substantiation for your reasons from outside resources. It is very important to give citations and references for where you gathered your evidence. If there is no proof, the evidence may not be taken into account. For example, you could cite health studies or scientific papers related to the effects of tobacco products on peoples’ health to prove your statement.
Note: do not present counterpoints in this paper – we will focus on the arguments in the second assignment, the Persuasive Paper.
Format of Paper
• Introduction where you introduce the central message of your paper (the thesis statement).
Example: Tobacco products can induce various health problems, including cancers, heart attacks, and obesity. State the topic and your opinion.
• Background of the subject where you provide details on the topic. Example: historical information on people who have smoked long-term and those who have been exposed to tobacco smoke for long periods of time, and the long-term effects of smoking.
• Main arguments — Talk about the main points of your position. For example, you could write about the feeling of addiction that makes it difficult to give up smoking.
• Conclusion — Summarize / restate your opinion (position). Present all of the main arguments and provide solutions or studies that need to be conducted in the future.
Points to consider
• Decide whether you agree or disagree with the subject of the topic, then make a list of your viewpoints and reasons.
• Write well-developed paragraphs, joining the sentences with appropriate linking words and phrases. Do not forget to start each paragraph with a topic sentence which summarizes what the paragraph is about.
Assignment Expectations
The paper should be a minimum of three (3) pages in length, Times New Roman 12 pt., and double spaced. Title page and references are not including in the page minimum. You should have a minimum of five (5) academic references. Be sure to properly cite all sources, per APA standards. Upload the paper to the Assignments folder in either Word or pdf format.