When Samuel F. B. Morse sent the first telegraph message in 1844 it read, “What hath God wrought”, suggesting that the telegraph would change the world forever — and maybe not for the best. This eerie message marked the beginning of electronic media.
From your perspective, 177 years later, what do you think about this statement? Do you think electronic media has changed the world for the better? Or has it devastated the human condition?
I’d like you to write an informal rhetorical essay on the topic. This response SHOULD NOT EXCEED THREE PAGES, double spaced, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins. There is no minimum length, but if your response is inadequate you will lose points.
DO have a thesis (i.e. I think electronic media has improved our quality of life because… OR I think electronic media has destroyed our quality of life because…). Instead of a conventional three point argument, I want you to use one example from the the text (Chapters 1 and 2 only) that supports your argument, one example from your own life and experience that supports your argument, and then one point from the text (Chapters 1 and 2 only) that supports the opposing viewpoint’s argument.
Your essay should look like this:
1st paragraph: Introduction and thesis
2nd paragraph: First supporting argument/example from text
3rd paragraph: Second supporting argument/example from your own life
4th paragraph: Demonstrate understanding of counter argument (viewpoint opposite of your own) with example from the textbook
5th paragraph: Brief conclusion, reiterating your argument
You don’t need to cite your sources, I know you’re pulling from the textbook, but please state in text which page your example can be found on (blah, blah, blah (page 3) is sufficient). Please be conscious of spelling, punctuation, and grammar because sloppy writing will lose points too. This is less of a formal essay and more of an exploration of the ethics and value of mass media.