Origins of Technological Development: Critical Theory VS Social Construction of Technology

 Objective:
Answer the essay question below by analyzing and directly discussing the modules and at least four required or suggested readings of your choice. With reference to direct supporting examples from the assigned readings, answer the following questions:
 Essay Question:
How does the “critical theory” approach differ from the “social construction of technology” approach when it comes to explaining the origins of technological development and the relationship between technology and society?
 Essay Instructions:
For this essay, you are expected to answer the question above by directly referring to at least four assigned readings. You can also refer to the module material, but you will be assessed based on your ability to closely read, analyze, and draw upon themes, concepts, ideas, and specific examples from the assigned readings.
Your essay must include a thesis statement which every point in your essay directly relates to, and which directly answers the question. This thesis statement should be presented as an argument that is defended throughout your paper, uses only the assigned readings as evidence, and is always related directly to the essay question. When planning your thesis statement, you can consider the following questions: What kind of themes and factors does each perspective emphasize? Which (if either) do you think is a more reasonable approach when it comes to explaining the relationship between technology and society, and why?
You are expected to articulate a clearly defined thesis statement which you will then use to defend a unique argument that you follow throughout your paper. This thesis statement should respond to the essay question while demonstrating an ability to connect together concepts and ideas from multiple authors and readings.
 Discussing the Readings:
You will be graded on your ability to craft a nuanced argument that demonstrates an understanding of the module material as well as a close analysis of the readings that you have chosen to discuss. While it is up to you to decide which readings you refer to, your paper must directly refer to at least four required or suggested readings from different authors.
If you wish to refer to multiple chapters from the same author (for instance, the two chapters assigned from David Nye, these would count as one reading).
Since you will be graded on the level of detail that you draw out of the readings, you are asked not to include any additional research, or external material that does not come from this course.
This essay will be graded based on your ability to competently discuss the assigned readings. When writing about the readings, you should demonstrate that you have actually read and understood them. This means selecting specific examples that are relevant to the essay question. When referencing a reading, you must include specific details or concepts related to that reading. Additionally, the discussion should accurately reflect the central ideas and themes from that reading.
Your essay should go beyond merely summarizing the content of each reading. You must develop a specific argument about how these readings relate not only to the essay question, but to each other, and bring forward a thesis statement and argument about what these readings tell us about the relationship between technology and society.
Try to connect higher level / abstract concepts (like definitions of theories) with specific examples and case studied included in the course content.
• Your paper must also not make any broad generalizations about technology, or refer to personal thoughts or experience. This paper is asking you to do a close reading and analysis of the assigned readings and course material, not to give your own personal views about technology overall.
• All points that you make must be supported by direct evidence.
• Since this paper is asking you to write about the differences between theoretical approaches,
your paper should not shift to a discussion of what you perceive to be the positive or negative
impacts of technology on society
• Your argument must be analytical, and connect theories to direct supporting examples.
• Try to pick an argument that is manageable within the assigned word count.
 Formatting instructions:
• Papers must be double-spaced and written in 12 point Times New Roman font.
• Papers must be properly referenced with an appropriate referencing style, preferably American
Psychological Association (APA) format. You must include a bibliography section at the end of your paper that lists your references. Papers that fail to follow proper referencing styles will be penalized.
• Your essay must include a front title page and your essay must include a title.
• Don't use long quotations.
 Grading criteria:
A good essay needs to have a clear, well-focused thesis, needs to review relevant literature from
the course, and should be analytical. You should draw specific details and examples from the readings to show that you understand the question and to show off your knowledge of the course material.
A strong essay must have:
• A specific argument that is explored consistently and defended throughout the paper,
is directly introduced in your introduction, and which directly relates to the essay question.
• An introductory paragraph that clearly states your thesis statement, and which is relevant to the
essay question. This introduction should inform the reader of the focus of your essay and the
argument that you will be making. Introductory paragraphs should not be too long.
• The content of your essay should develop your argument in well-structured paragraphs. Each
paragraph should stick to developing one central idea, which is connected to your overall
argument.
• A narrow focus that explores a specific idea in detail, rather than a broad range of ideas that are
each discussed briefly and vaguely, concrete points that are made and related back to specific
examples from the readings, without generalizations
• Strong evidence to support your claims, from appropriate (and permitted) sources
• An engagement with multiple readings, and inclusion of very specific examples which are
relevant to the essay question
• An understanding of the theoretical perspectives that you are discussing
• Organization, sentence and paragraph structure, and a clear flow of ideas between paragraphs
(clear transition sentences)
• Effectiveness of your written communication
• Well-written sentences with proper grammatical construction and without spelling mistakes or
typos
• Proper referencing (very important)
• References must be used for indirect and direct sources of information. If you rephrase an
author, you must reference their text. It you directly quote from an author, you must also
reference their text. Your references must be in a recognized format like APA format.
• Proper use of quotations, and using only direct quotations sparingly and when appropriate
• Do not use quotations as full sentences in your paper, always introduce them in your own
words. Marks will be deducted on papers that do not follow the appropriate protocol for
quotations)
• Direct quotations should be used sparingly, and only when they support your point. Do not use
quotations in place of your own argument, but rather to support (or test) your own argument. You should make a quotation speak, rather than let it a quotation speak for you. If you have questions about a specific instance where you are not sure whether it is best to summarize or to provide a direct quotation, feel free to e-mail me for advice.

Essay Question: How does the “critical theory” approach differ from the “social construction of technology” approach when it comes to explaining the origins of technological development and the relationship between technology and society?