AP Seminar Readings

It's true that we seem to be letting technology do all our work now.

I love the title of this one- great debate issue.

Here is an editorial by Malcolm Gladwell. What kinds of evidence and emotional and imaginative proofs does Gladwell enlist to build his case and how effective are they? Gladwell's title for this editorial is a play on words. What are the mul;tiple meanings of the phrase "small change"? Gladwell published this piece before the outbreak of revolution in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya and before the violence in Syria and the election process in Russia. How would these recent historical events affect the persuasiveness and Gladwell's argument?

A T-shirt design that states an interesting claim. What cultural and social background does Sewell expect readers to bring to this design? What stakeholder perspective of social media does this graphic draw on and what assumptions would readers have to accept to find his design humorous? Can you think of reasons in support of and in rebuttal to the argument made by the design? What role can satire play in advancing or detracting from the critical development of a complex issue, and how does this graphic affect your thinking on social media's value and use?

What problem is Roth addressing and what actions is he recommending the government and businesses take? What reasons and examples of users' danger and means of protecting them does Roth offer to give focus, depth, and urgency to his recommendation? According to Roth, what is hopeful about the role the mainstream media is playing in relation to social media with regard to digital rights? How do Roth's authority and policy position affect his contribution to the public discussion of digital rights and the progressive potential of social media? On the other hand, where might readers find this piece lacking or what questions might linger after reading it?

An article with excellent use of statistics.

A "report" that uses statistics.

Maybe I am getting old, but the You Tubers that this article cites are absolutely ridiculous! Are these really teen's new role models? Would love to hear your comments.

Does social media create a "dummy down" culture?  Where is our time and attention spent? 

Can Twitter become a vehicle for honest and reliable information in places like China?

Take a look at the line of reasoning of this article.  Although it does not have to do with social media directly, there are certain hints to the power social media plays in our lives.  Look at the use of pathos.  Brilliant.