AI Assignment

Purpose:

The purpose of this essay is to enter into the conversation, via an academic essay, about the integration of artificial intelligence and other technology into our lives and society. Remember, your opinion will not be graded.

You may think that artificial intelligence and modern technology is a positive or a negative part of our modern world. However, you will need to explore your own opinion about this topic using the readings from this module.

Ultimately, your essay must be organized around and support a clear thesis statement regarding AI and/or technology usage in our world, taking a clear side in the larger debate.

No matter what your opinion is, you will be supporting it with the articles from the module.

Skills:

The assignment will support your skills that are critical in writing an academic essay using multiple sources. Refer to the Essay Grading Rubric for specific grading criteria.

• Integrating writing skills from ENGL 1010, including:
• See the materials in the MLA Formatting Resources in Content.
• MLA works cited page for sources used;
• correct use of signal phrases, direct quotations, and paraphrases to integrate source information;
• Using summary and critique from this module’s learning activities.
• correct internal citations in MLA format;
• crafting an effective thesis (your opinion stated in one sentence, without first person pronouns):
• integration of sources using MLA documentation:
• using critical thinking skills (critical thinking + critical reading [the texts over AI] = critical writing);
• utilizing feedback from your instructor, peers, and any writing tutor visits over rough draft of essay;
• editing and proofreading final draft.

Knowledge:

The assignment will help you to consider the future of technology and its impact on our personal and professional lives. In other words, you will gain more knowledge to help you form your own opinion about the intrusive nature of modern and future technology.

Task:

Follow these steps to complete this essay.

1. Decide how you feel about artificial intelligence and other modern technology that may or may not be intruding on our lives. Other technologies that play off the ideas that may help you find a topic for your essay:
2. Social media (algorithms that may/may not track our online activities);
3. “Big Tech” (how a few technology companies that control a lot of our online and offline lives);
4. The prevalence of online devices in our daily lives-work, school, and home;
5. What role, if any, should AI tools like ChatGPT have in our lives, whether that is in school, work, or in some other field?
6. Craft your thesis using an answer to this rhetorical question:

• Do you feel that artificial intelligence and/or other specific aspects of modern technology control too much of our lives?
• Feel free to “play” with this idea but remember that the answer is ultimately driven by your own opinion, one which you will need to use documented evidence to support.

1. Find at least two articles to use as support for your thesis. While you are free to use multiple articles from the assigned readings, only one will count toward the minimum number of sources. The second required source must be from your original research.
2. Integrate the two articles, using correct MLA documentation throughout the essay and on your Works Cited page.

• At least four in-text citations for a mixture of direct quotations, summaries and paraphrases, and a works cited page listing all sources used in the paper are required.
• In-text citations: these come from your chosen articles. See the materials in the MLA Formatting Resources in Content.
• Works Cited Page: See the materials in the MLA Formatting Resources in Content.

1. Do not use first-person pronouns (“I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” “our,” “us,” etc.) or second-person pronouns (“you,” “yours”) unless those occur with direct quotations. Instead, you will want to express your essay without saying phrases like:

• “In my opinion…”
• “I think…”
• “I feel…”
• “When thinking about this topic, I…”

1. Edit/proofread. Remember, the feedback you get from your instructor, peers, and tutor should give you some insight into areas of improvement and areas of strengths of your previous rough draft. Revision is important in the writing process.
2. Submit the essay in the Assignment Drobox by 11:59 p.m. on the due date.
3. Hand in a folder containing your in-class writing activities, research notes, and drafts for this essay. Failing to submit this will prevent your essay from being graded, which is the same as earning a zero.
4. Your finished essay must be at least 900 words long.

• Note: That minimum word count does not include the paper’s heading or Works Cited page.

Criteria for Success

A successful essay:

• Meets basic requirements of the assignment.
• Has met the minimum word count of 900 words.
• Has met the minimum number of sources.
• Has been written by the student submitting the essay, for this class, and for this semester,
• Does not contain plagiarism of any kind.
• Academic dishonesty is an offense of the NSCC Student Code of Conduct, punishable by a failing grade or zero.
• Has a clear thesis, main ideas, and pattern of organization.
• Has been carefully edited and proofread to minimize grammatical and other editing errors.
• These can be remedied by editing and with Writing Tutor visits and peer reviewing.
• Follows MLA style and guidelines (spacing, indent, margins, etc.).
• Include the folder containing your preliminary work, research notes, drafts, etc.

Grading Rubric

The essay will be graded with the standard grading rubric for essays.

• All essays are marked for errors and include comments. This rubric shows the breakdown of your score.
• Any essay that does not meet the requirements of the assignment may not be graded and may receive a zero.
• Any essay that contains an abundance of major grammatical errors or numerous repetitive errors that negatively affect the meaning and readability may lose extra points.

A. Content

• Topic: 5 points
• Thesis: 5 points
• Rhetorical Technique: 5 points
• Critical Thinking: 5 points
• Support: 5 points

B. Structure/Organization

• Logical Structure: 5 points
• Topic Sentences: 2.5 points
• Transitions: 2.5 points
• Paragraph Unity: 5 points
• Introduction: 5 points
• Conclusion: 5 points

C. Voice/Mechanics/Editing

• Grammar: 5 points
• Sentence Structure: 5 points
• Academic Voice: 5 points
• Proofreading: 2.5 points
• Formatting: 5 points
• Title: 2.5 points

D. Documentation/Use of Sources

• Quality of Sources: 2.5 points
• Use of Sources: 2.5 points
• Quotation. Paraphrase, Summary: 10 points
• In-text Citations: 5 points
• Works Cited Page: 5 points