The topic that my research paper is based off of, Internet plagiarism, is a relatively new topic since the Internet and online databases has not been around for too long. But already we are seeing trends in what the direction of Internet plagiarism is. The definition of plagiarism has worked for many years. But in all actuality I believe it has only worked for written forms of writing. I believe Internet plagiarism is in a class all by itself. And for that reason, and the fact that there have been so many studies, surveys, and case studies on it, that my research paper is an argument of fact.
The argument for my research paper has been based on fact that has been proven time and time again. Internet plagiarism is on the rise and teachers need to develop new methods to curve this growing trend. More and more students are becoming either lazy, bored, or they generally don’t care about the assignment. My argument essentially has two parts. The first part discusses the growing trend of Internet plagiarism. But what is Internet plagiarism?After googling the term it seemed that there was no definition. So after looking at mounds of research on the topic the facts are that Internet or online plagiarism is the unlawful use of someone else’s work that has been published on the World Wide Web. This is much like the term of digital literacy as discussed in Wysocki and Johnson-Eilola. In their article they discussed how we were using literacy as a very flexible term when in fact it is not. There are many different types of literacy. As shown in various research people can be digitally literate, or even mathematically literate. This is the same case for plagiarism. There are many different types of plagiarism as shown by different research studies. The research that I am focusing on is the plagiarism that is done online. My argument is meant to challenge the belief and ideals of others, as a factual argument should do (as described in Lunsford). My argument is that this type of plagiarism is on the rise because of its easy accessibility and the fact that more and more students are digitally literate and thus it is becoming easier for people to unlawfully use online publications.
The fact is that there is no definition for Internet plagiarism. Much like digital literacy, there are only years of research performed on the topic and various opinions and experiences of teachers and students. The argument that I will be making in my research paper will be an argument of fact and not of definition. With no concrete definition to go on, this seems like the most logical choice to base my argument of off.
Personally I feel that my research is going quite well. Even though I have found plenty of research to use in my argument paper I still periodically search for more research being done on my topic. The conversation in the academic community about my topic, the rise of internet plagiarism, is going quite well. Most of the views on it are in accordance with my own; my own views being that Internet plagiarism is on the rise and we need to find ways to curve this growing trend, not just identify it. So overall I'd have to say that I am pleased about the conversations around me.
On the subject of concerns or problems I have with the research process, I only have one problem about my research process. The problem I have is that I have to complete the CITI training in order to conduct a survey of my own. I mean I personally don't see the point as to why the University requires us to complete it! I completely understand why they are having us do it, which I'm assuming is for legal purposes, but I fail to see what could go wrong. And does a Facebook survey count as a type of survey that I have to complete CITI training for? But I digress; nevertheless I still have to complete it in order to move forward with my research. There's nothing I can do about it. But other than that I feel my research is going fine.
On May 12, 1941 the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computing machine, the Zuse Z3, was unveiled in Berlin, Germany (Wikipedia).This marked a great achievement in technology as it was yesterday.Today, the world knows a plethora of different technologies such as the Internet, cell phones, televisions, artificial intelligence, etc. But the computer was the first, and arguably the central catalyst to the development of what is known as digital literacy. Digital literacy is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and create information using digital technology (Wikipedia). Being able to use a computer is quintessential to being digitally literate. For me, this has been true for the majority of my life. The computer has done many things for me. It has helped shape who I am today as a smart, curious college student with a slight addiction to the computer. It has improved my digital literacy with other technologies such as cell phones and the Internet. And it will continue to be an important aspect of my future life in the science field when I’m using advanced technologies such as centrifuges.
I first learned to use a computer when I was around the age of 6 years old. I learned to use the computer the same way Danielle DeVoss did in the article The Future of Literacy. She learned to use the computer by looking over her brother’s shoulder and then quickly jumping onto it when he was gone. I learned to use the computer in a similar manner. The way I learned to use a computer was by watching my brother play video games on our Apple Macintosh. I would watch him move the mouse and type in commands on the keyboard and I would mimic what he did. When I learned how to play games on the computer, the computer became one of my primary forms of entertainment. From then on the computer became a basic element in my life. I can’t remember a time where my house had less than two computers. Being exposed to computers for such a long time has developed my familiarity and ease at which I use computers. It has also developed into something that is central to my life.
To say that I need a computer would be an understatement. One would instead most likely say that I am dependent on the computer. I cannot even think of not having access to a computer. The computer has become more than a machine to me, it has become part of my life. One could even say that I am addicted to the computer. I use it for everything. I use the computer to play video games, do homework assignments, socialize with friends, and many other things in between. Although I do not like to admit it, this is a very bad addiction to have. Just like drugs and alcohol, being addicted to the computer can destroy your social life, mess with your sleeping and eating habits, and damage your health and general well being.
One example of how much time I spend at the computer would be when I spent almost 10 hours on the computer doing homework, then playing Virtua Tennis 2009, and then going on my Facebook to chat with friends. That is why nowadays I try not to go on the computer unless I have a school assignment to complete. But even though the computer is my bad habit, it has also helped shape who I am today.
The computer is a wonderful entity. You have access to so many things such as the Internet, games, social network sites, music, etc. This contact with so many different features has contributed to many distinctive aspects of me. I am a very curious person and ask a lot of questions. Having a computer has shaped me into an even more inquisitive person by allowing me to go on the Internet and have all my questions answered. Because out of all these answered questions just spawns more and more questions. These endless sessions of Q&A also contribute to my mental power and help expand my intelligence. The computer has also helped me become a better tennis player. It allows me to go online and look up videos of how to properly hit certain strokes.
Thus it has let me grow physically and make me a healthier person. The computer has also helped me become more versed in other forms of technology.
In this technological world we live in, one needs a plethora of skills in order to compete in today’s market. Reflecting on my exposure to the computer for so long, I found that being well versed in using a computer has contributed to me being able to use other technologies such as cell phones, calculators, and navigating the Internet. This has also contributed to me being able to use more complicated programs such as playing computer games, Webcourses, Apple products, movie editing, and Microsoft Office. Despite being able to use all of these modern programs and technologies, there are still other products that just having a computer have not been able to help me operate.
Although I have had a computer most of my life, there is still computer knowledge with which I am not very familiar with and would like to learn more about. These include things such as webpage design, how to use a Blackberry, how to use the new iPad, movie making, and blogging. For all my life, the operating I have used the most has been the Mac operating system. Ever since I was old enough to even use a computer, an Apple Macintosh was always in front of me. I have learned how to use Windows operating quite effectively, but there are other operating systems that I feel would greatly heighten my technological knowledge such as Windows Vista, the new Windows 7, and even the seemingly complicated Linux. By adding these technologies to my repertoire, not only will I be more technologically sound, but maybe I will have to use some of these technologies in my future in the science world.
As Charles F. Kettering puts it, “My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” In regards to technology in my future, I feel that I should be familiar with as much technology as possible because it is going to be there and ever growing in my future. There’s no denying it, unless there is a massive apocalypse in 2012, technology will continue to advance forever and after. That being said, I haven’t a clue what technologies I’m going to be using in my future. As a Molecular Biology & Microbiology major I will most likely be learning to use various types of technology I didn't even know exist.
Most of the technologies scientists use nowadays are things like gel electrophoresis, centrifuges, and microscopes. But who knows if these things will still be around 20 years from now. This is why I believe technology education is so important in all fields. With new technologies coming out almost daily now, we need to keep people up to date with these advances. But who will teach people like me to use new technologies? In Chapter 1, Reimagining Computer Literacy, of his book, Multiliteracies for a Digital Age, Selber cites how too few teachers are not computer literate. If this is so then whom do we have to teach us more advanced computations? I believe that in educating the student, we first need the make sure that the educator is educated. This ensures that we use new technologies to their full potential, and that technological knowledge keeps growing.
It’s difficult to surmise what the inventors of the very first computer imagined their invention would become in 60 years or how much of an impact it would make on peoples lives.But I know one thing is for certain, the computer has made a significant impact on who I am, what I do, and how I do things. It’s hard to imagine what my life would be like if I never had a computer. But I do know that I would not be as digitally literate, knowledgeable, or as curious as I am today, had the computer been absent from my life.
Works Cited
Selber, Stuart A. "Reimagining the Functional Side of Computer Literacy." CCC National Council Of Teachers Of English 55.3 (2004): 470-503. Print.
Selfe, Cynthia L., and Gail E. Hawisher. Literate Lives in the Information Age Narratives of Literacy From the United States. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2004. Print.
The author of my article spoke of how audience awareness is only possible at a certain cognitive level. The author starts off by claiming that being able to speak to a certain audience is only possible after all other writing processes have become automatic. Once the basic writing processes have become second nature, the writer is free to adapt their writing to target a specific audience. According to the author audience awareness in writing is an important feature that has to be considered when one wants to distinguish between a novice from expert writer. Thus, the author compared to different groups of students, fifth graders and ninth graders. After the study the author concluded that the "texts written by ninth grade students have a higher degree of suitability to the audience than those written by fifth graders." The results published with the article support the authors in his claim.
As a Molecular Biology & Microbiology major I will most likely be learning to use various types of technology I didn't even know exist. Most of the technologies that Scientists use that I know about are things like gel electrophoresis and centrifuges. I believe that I will be using these technologies to a great extent in the future and that I will learn to use many different technologies. As a doctor I would be exposed to a whole wide array of new technologies to help diagnose patients and save lives. This is why I believe technology education is so important in this field. With new advances in research and development, we need to be able to teach the people who would benefit most from these new technologies how to use them to their full extent.
In a technological world, one needs a plethora of skills in order to compete in todays market. On reflecting on my own personal skills with various forms of technology I feel that I am slightly above average than most people when it comes to technological savvy. I am good at many basic technologies such as how to use a computer, cell phones, calculators, and navigating the internet. I am also skilled in more complicated programs such as playing computer games, Webcourses, Apple products, movie editing, and most importantly Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office is the most used program in the world. And this skill is most likely the most significant skill to offer a potential employer when going into working society.
However, there are some technologies with which I am not very familiar with and would like to learn more about. These include things such as webpage design, how to use a Blackberry, how to use the new iPad, movie making, and blogging. For all my life, the operating I have used the most has been the Mac operating system. Ever since I was old enough to even use a computer, an Apple Macintosh was always in front of me. I have learned how to use Windows operating quite effectively, but there are others that I feel would greatly heighten my technological knowledge. Other operating systems such as Windows Vista, the new Windows 7, and even the seemingly complicated Linux. By adding these technologies to my repertoire, not only will I be more technologically sound, I will be a more complete individual.
In my article, "Connecting the Digital Dots: Literacy of the 21st Century, the authors, Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne Flannigan, are two educators who argue that in this new millennium the concept of literacy has changed to take on two new meanings: visual and digital. In addition to a new meaning, the authors argue that, in light of their research, institutions need to promote better teaching of how to harness the use of digital media in this age. The purpose of their argument is to show the audience, educational institutions, what it means to be literate in the 21st century and how important it is.
Jones and Flannigan use arguments about the past, present, and future and proposal arguments to impart on the audience how necessary it is to be digitally literate nowadays. The authors begin by showing the audience that literacy is different today than it was 10-20 years ago. They follow that by describing the future of literacy and how it is the next wave of communication. The authors then introduce the problem with teaching classes that use technology. They propose enhancing learning how to utilize this technology so that faculty will have the skills needed to combine the digital world and the classroom. Stemming from the classroom, the authors argue how important digital literacy is in every other aspect of society; leading to their central argument of, "it seems far better to have the skills and competencies to comprehend and discriminate within a common language than to be left out, unable to understand."
