STS3726: Technology, Experts, and Society
Dr. A.C
Final Essay Assignment
DUE:
Class Turnitin link
Worth: 7%
Feedback on Topics via email due: November 22 nd
o I am happy to give feedback on topics and discuss next steps for essays via email until
November 22 nd (one week before the essay is due). I will also be holding two Zoom
sessions on November 4 and November 18 at 2:30 to discuss essays specifically.
Final Essay Assignment STS3726
Your final paper assignment can be either:
1. An Argumentative essay. Please follow the guidelines set out here for an argumentative
essay:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumen
tative_essays.html
2. An Exploratory essay. Please follow the guidelines set out here for an exploratory essay:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/exploratory_p
apers/index.html
3. A Research essay. Please follow the guidelines set out here for a research paper:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/research_pap
ers/index.html
Note: The guidelines set out in each of the links above should also be taken as the marking
rubric. I will be posting rubrics for each of the three types of essays at a later date. There are
obviously overlaps between the three types. I want you to state which type of essay you are
writing at the top of the essay along with other criteria (detailed below).
Regardless of type, each essay should take one of the class readings/teachings as a “jumping
off point” to further explore the issue that it sets out. This could mean, for example:
1. An argumentative essay against Franklin’s thesis on communication technologies as
destroyers of reciprocity (ie. research those ways that communication technologies
increase reciprocity, and argue that Franklin is wrong)
2. An exploratory essay about Gieryn’s boundary making arguments (ie. read more of
Gieryn’s work, and anybody critical of Gieryn);
3. A research essay about Boyle and Hobbes’s argument about experimentalism versus
natural philosophy (ie. read “Leviathan and the Air Pump” and other works related to it).
4. An exploratory essay about the concept of agnotology (ie. start with the Agnotology
reading and delve deep into the subject – why it matters to study how we produce
ignorance);
5. A research essay on the concept of the quantified self and ethical questions with respect
to who owns the data;
6. An argumentative essay against the surveillance society as it is currently set out today,
either for or against.
A good essay doesn’t stray far from the following formula:
1) Introduction (500-750 words, can be broken into a couple of paragraphs). The introduction
to any type of essay should include
a) an overview of the topic from the course. Explain what you are writing about from the
course.
b) A research/thesis statement for clarity – regardless of whether you are writing an
argumentative, exploratory, or research essay, you should be able to clearly state what
you are writing about.
c) What you are going to talk about in the essay – either your arguments for an
argumentative essay listed out, or your different findings in an exploratory or research
essay.
2) Body Paragraphs: (1000-1500 words, should be broken into an argument or topic/research
finding per paragraph)
3) Conclusion (250-500 words): A conclusion should re-iterate exactly what you
argued/explored/researched in the essay. There should be no new ideas about your topic
introduced in the conclusion.
4) References: (not included in word count):
More information:
o The best essays are narrow in scope. Choose something very specific to write your
essay on, otherwise you risk giving a very basic overview that isn’t on anything. I am
looking for a deep dive rather than an overview. Regardless of which type of essay you
write, it should be on a specific topic rather than a general one.
o Eg. “How did the air-pump change the paradigm of natural philosophy in the late
1600s?” is a much better research question than “how did science change over
the years?”
o Total length of the paper should be 2000-2500 words (8-10 pages). Word counts are not
strict, they can be over or under by 10-15%. Anything more or less than that will be
reflected in the quality of your work and will be marked accordingly.
o There should be a minimum of 8 (there is no maximum) references from peer-reviewed
journals and academic press books. The minimum is exactly that, an absolute minimum.
You are unable to write this type of essay at this length without at least 8 references,
preferably more than that.
o While I don’t care about third person versus first person writing, the convention is that
it should be in third person, and most essays will adhere to this convention. Whatever
person you choose to write it in, it must be consistent: ie. If it is mostly in third person,
don’t slip an “I” into the conclusion.
o Your essay does not need a title page. There should be the following information at the
top of your essay:
o Your Name
o The Course
o My name
o Topic Week (not “Week 9”. Write the title of the week here)
o Type of essay: Argumentative, Exploratory, Research.
o Your essay will be marked on the following criteria in general, specific rubric to follow
for each type of essay:
o Clarity. If I can’t understand your essay, I can’t mark it.
o Concision. There isn’t a lot of room for fluff.
o Strength of Overview/Introduction. Must clearly lay out the issue, the
background, and any scientific jargon used must be defined and clarified. Write
for an educated lay audience.
o Quality of research. Must be at least 8 sources in your references, preferably
more. Each piece of research must be relevant to the
argument/analysis/research.
o Quality of argument/analysis/research. Must be well thought out, clear, and
convincing.