Reference no: EM132398272 , Length: word count : 1500
Assignment
Learning outcomes
The aim of this assignment is to examine how data shapes meaning. We want you to explore this issue by looking at your own life as a case study and answering the following essay question: what are some of the ways data defines who you are? Do you have any control over this?
Assessment requirements
We want you to use specific examples of how data defines you (e.g. profiling - e.g. as a terrorist, a certain kind of shopper, a potential pedophile; or even the use of data by Spotify/Pandora to suggest playlists for you). Choose two or three examples, no more.
Your examples may be actual (i.e. you may have been defined this way), or possible (you could be defined this way based on what's happened to other people). Now, you need to decide if the examples you've found are problematic. If you think they are you need to explain why and what you could do about it. If you don't think the way data defines you is problematic, you need to explain why also.
Note : The type of data would be like facebook friends that are recommended or ads on apps which are shown from the data and things you look up from your phone.
Part 1 – Preparing for your essay
(Note: this is from the learning guide)
Do these 5 steps first!
1. Brainstorm some of the ways data plays a role in your life - you will need to flick through the weekly readings as well as your tutorial notes. Make notes on paper, or a mind-map.
2. Take a close look at your brainstorm document and identify the more serious ways data plays a role in your life - that is, identify the situations in which the data doesn’t just play a role, but seems to define you, making you who you are. If you can’t think of any ways, then go back through the readings (because there are plenty of ways data defines us).
3. Think about these ways data defines you, and ask yourself: what are the problems with this? Is there anything I can do and do I need to do anything? Jot down some answers to these questions. Now, look for some research that discusses the same issues.
4. Using your research and your ideas and examples of data, think of an argument you could make about how data defines you and what (if anything) you can do about it. Imagine you had to convince someone about the role of data in your life, and what you want to do about it. Write it down, in two or three sentences. This argument is the argument you will use for your essay.
5. Now that you have your argument, your perspective, you are ready to write your essay. Your essay needs to logically explain your argument, using your examples and research to back you up. Sometimes it is good to start with a heading that sums up your argument.
Part 2 – Writing your essay
After you have completed the preparation in part 1, plan your essay using the structure below, then write it up!*
Suggested essay structure(note: this is a typical, stock-standard essay structure)
[Title] “Something that explains your central argument in one sentence”
[Intro – 1 paragraph]
• Your intro needs to tell your reader your argument. You can use a sentence like: “In this essay I will argue that <insert – e.g. cats are better than dogs>.”
• Your intro does not need to repeat the essay question – for example, we know you are going to talk about how data defines you. Instead, tell us what you will say about this.
• The last thing your intro does is lay out the steps of your essay. You can use sentences like: “First I will explain this <insert>, and next I will talk about this <insert>.”
[Body – multiple paragraphs]
• In your body paragraphs, you develop the steps of your argument (as you outlined them above in your intro). And, you need to develop your steps logically. (An example of how to do this is talking about issues/ideas chronologically.)
• For your essay, in your first body paragraph, you could talk about the first example of how data defines you and if you can control this process.
• First, describe the example. Tell us when it happens. Also, tell us the features of the example and how the example works (you need to paint a detailed picture of your example – see criterion 1 in the rubric). E.g. “Spotify is one way data defines me. Spotify is this… It works like this…”
• Second, you need to explain how your example of data defines you and if you can control this process. This will require you to use research to analyse your example (see criterion 3). You should find concepts from the readings and your own research that explain data and apply them to your example.
• Third, you need to make sure your example develops your main argument (noted in your intro). Make sure you actually tell us how this example relates to your main argument. You can use words like: “This example relates to my main argument <insert what it is> this way <insert>.” (See criterion 2).
• In your second body paragraph, you could talk about yoursecond example.
• First, guide your reader by telling them what this second body paragraph is about. You can use words like, “In this paragraph I will develop my second example. It is <insert>.”
• Follow the same steps as above:
1. Describe the example.
2. Analyse and use research.
3. Sum up in relation to your main argument.
• In your third body paragraph, you could talk about the third example (if you have a third examples) of how data defines you.
• First, guide your reader by telling them what this second body paragraph is about. You can use words like, “In this paragraph I will develop my second example. It is <insert>.”
• Follow the same steps as above:
1. Describe the example.
2. Analyse and use research.
3. Sum up in relation to your main argument.
[Note: you may need more than one paragraph per example. You may prefer, for each example, to use a whole paragraph to describe your example, and then a separate paragraph to analyse using research. This is up to you. As a guide, try and keep your paragraphs about 100 words.]
[Conclusion – 1 paragraph]
• In your conclusion, you need to sum up your main argument and the most important things you discussed in your essay in relation to your main argument. While your intro sets the scene for what you will talk about and how, your conclusion sums up the big important ideas you discussed, and it’s really direct about why they are important and why your discussion has bigger implications. You might also like to note what important issues your essay uncovered that someone else might like to research at a later date.
• There is no need to start your conclusion with the words “In conclusion…”
[Reference list – APA style]