Select an idea/invention related to science and technology from early modern period (beginning 1650) to the present day. You will use this as the focus of your second major project, the research paper.
Think outside of the box for this. While things like the automobile, the computer, and the cell phone are obvious examples (and should they be chosen, their impacts will, therefore, need to be analyzed in greater depth than less obvious choices), consider the various elements of culture you will study this term and the forces that shape them.
If we think about food, for example, we have to think about trade and what has made the buying and selling of food on the world market possible. The invention of containerization as a means of transporting perishable commodities in the 1960s not only redefined foodways across the world, but it also reconfigured the economies (and thus the lifestyles, languages, and daily practices) of entire regions.
Another approach is to think about how technology is itself made. The modern car, for example, is no longer the product of a single space or economy–manufactured in total in industrial cities like Detroit, but produced in parts manufactured from different parts of the world. Why is this the case? How has this breakdown in production impacted the cultures where they are now made in and how has this impacted the cultures where they were formerly from?
After your topic has been approved by your instructor, you will research your idea/invention and describe its impact on world culture.
Content/outline
-Introduction: (1-2 pages)
Grab the reader’s attention with a strong hook.
Present a clear thesis statement including the idea/invention selected.
Preview the main points in the body of the paper.
-Body: (6-8 pages)
Summarize the idea/invention, its origin, and history.
Based on your research, generate 3-4 additional points about your idea/invention.
For each of your body points, discuss the idea/invention as well as its impact on world culture.
-Conclusion: (1 page)
Provide a summary of the main points in the body of the paper.
Re-state the thesis statement of the paper.
End with a final thought that will resonate with the audience.
References: (1-2 Slides)
You will also include a title page and a “References” page in accordance with current APA formatting guidelines. These pages do not count toward your page length. Please learn more about the research and APA formatting requirements of this assignment in the proceeding sections.
You will include a minimum of five (5) total scholarly sources from the Hunt Library in your research paper. This means you will have at least five (5) in-text citations from five (5) different scholarly sources in the body of your paper as well as at least five (5) different entries on your “References” page.
