CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Technology and Media(tion): The Senses

Today’s Agenda: Writing (1-2) & Reading (3-4)

1.Academic Disciplines1. “discourses” & awareness2. evidence & reasoning

2.Formatting1. Standard Manuscript2. MLA, citations

3.Nye & McLuhan Discussion4.Reading Prep#2

CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Writing Discussion: Disciplines

Academic Disciplines

1.What do you think of when you hear “Academic Discipline”?2.Why do academic disciplines matter in writing?

CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Writing Discussion: Disciplines

Disciplines-17thC, rationalism-Division of labor into professions-Hierarchies of knowledge-CP Snow: “Two cultures” (1959)-Humanities / Natural Sciences

-20thC specializationWhat are your experiences?

Raphael’s “School of Athens” (1509)

CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Writing Discussion: Disciplines

“Discourses”1.Rhetorical Awareness

1. genre, formatting2. audience3. jargon, concepts

2.Evidence & Reasoning1. methods2. Sources3. pedagogy

Goal: Effective Participation in Communities of Inquiry(vs. traditional, expressive models of writing)

CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Writing Discussion: Formatting

Appropriate FormattingWhy do you think formatting matters?

1.Standard Manuscript Format Example

2.MLA Format Example In-text Citation Style (logic) Works Cited

(see files in “media” on website)

CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Technology (Historical & Experiential)

David Nye’s Technology Matters (Historical)

1.What is the general thrust of the 3 chapters – what is Nye arguing about our historical views of technology?2.What was of interest to you personally in the reading – what did you learn?

CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Technology - Historical

David Nye’s Technology Matters1.Tech used for social evolution, not just survival (2)2.Tech precedes “science”/knowledge for most of history (9)3.Claim: Culture shapes uses (21)4.Mechanization, “cultural lag” (26)5.“Technological momentum” (52+)6.“Soft determinism” (55)7.Naturalization (65)

What are the differences between Externalist, Internalist, Contextualist approaches to technology?

CUSP134: Icarus’s Parachute

Technology (Historical & Experiential)

Marshall McLuhan’s Understanding Media (Experiential)

Groups: (10min)1.Discuss Reading Prep (passages, concepts, questions)2.Choose 1 of each for sharing in whole-class discussion

Class: 1.What are the key claims?2.What are the useful ideas?3.What problems persist?