Module 3 Assignment - 20%
Due: Sun, Dec 10th by 11:55PM
Word count minimum: 1000 words (maximum 1500)
In this module's assignment, we continue to learn about the intersections of humans and digital
technologies. In module three, we'll explore how our digital practices impact our physical
wellbeing. We will also consider how we foresee future intersections of our physical body and
the digital world. The broad question you are examining for the assignment: What role do digital
technologies play in my physical wellbeing?
For this assignment, physical wellbeing speaks specifically to the physical human body, and
encompasses the following aspects (Chisholm & Hartman-Caverly, 2020):
Eating habits/diet
Fitness
Sleep
Relaxation
Environment
Appearance
You are going to choose three (3) of these aspects to focus on in your essay. You will be writing
an essay that tackles the impacts of digital technologies that you use on the three aspects of your
physical wellbeing and physical body. Use these questions to help you brainstorm some draft
notes for your essay:
What digital technologies do I utilize to care for my: (eating habits/diet, or fitness, or sleep,
or relaxation, or environment, or appearance)?
What digital technologies do I use to maintain control of the status of or information about
my (eating habits/diet, or fitness, or sleep, or relaxation, or environment, or appearance)?
In what ways have digital technologies positively and/or negatively impacted the care and
control of my: (eating habits/diet, or fitness, or sleep, or relaxation, or environment, or
appearance)?
In what ways do I foresee digital technology helping and/or hindering my: (eating habits/diet,
or fitness, or sleep, or relaxation, or environment, or appearance)?
When you look at your responses to the questions, do you see an overarching theme or pattern?
Ask yourself: 'What kind of statement or argument can I make and support with personal
experience when I look at my responses to these questions for these three aspects?' This will help
you shape the premise and purpose of your essay.
You'll use the previous questions to help shape the premise and purpose of your essay:
Main/Key Question:
o What role do digital technologies play in the three health aspects I selected (eating
habits/diet, or fitness, or sleep, or relaxation, or environment, or appearance)?
Points to discuss for each aspect you chose (based on previous questions):
o the digital technologies used (at least one and up to three)
o positive or negative impacts (pick one)
o what I foresee about helping or hindering (pick one)
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Digital technologies can include: Smartphone apps, browser platforms for tracking, web
searches, Health platforms for health stats/test results (LifeLabs), AI assistance (Alexa, Siri,
Google), Smart watch or Fitness trackers (Fitbit & others), Digital planners, and more. Posting
questions in forums or online communities is another example (Reddit, HealthCentral). We can
also consider things like digital devices for diabetes, Smart pacemakers, digital oncology, and so
forth.
If you do not use any digital technologies for your physical wellbeing, that's okay - you can still
complete this assignment. You'll discuss this, the 'why not' and/or what you are doing instead.
Most people have used a search engine to search for something related to their physical bodies -
whether a recipe, playing music for relaxation, query for weather, humidity, and air quality
levels, or to search for health info. You'll consider the impacts of not utilizing these digital
technologies for your physical wellbeing (what am I missing that could be of benefit to me?).
Help with Essay Structure:
Your Introduction will give some context/background for your essay and then gives a clear
sentence (or two) that tells the reader what this essay is going to assert/argue and why (like a
thesis statement). Another way of phrasing this: what is the purpose of the essay and why is this
important for me to discuss? Your introduction must clearly tell the reader what will be
discussed in the essay and why. Use the right vocabulary to lead the reader to the first discussion
paragraph. Be sure to thread this purpose into each discussion paragraph.
Your Discussion section/body of essay addresses the three aspects (it is possible that you will
have more than one paragraph per aspect, and that's okay - this essay is a bit longer and asking
for a bit more content). Your topic sentence of the paragraph reminds the reader of the
argument/assertion/purpose that you're making in the essay and why. Your discussion content for
each aspect will cover the digital technologies used, positive OR negative impacts (depending on
the purpose of your essay. You don't have room for both), and future predictions of help OR
hinder (again, depending on the essay's purpose, pick one). Note: you can't include all your
responses to the questions, which would frame this more as a descriptive report style and
probably put you way over the max word count.
Your Conclusion restates your thesis/argument/direction/purpose from the introduction and the
why; it recaps the points you made to support this in the discussion section. It reminds the reader
of what the purpose of the essay is and how you supported your assertions. It should also provide
some 'so-what?' thoughts and considerations for wider social implications and the future.
Submitting your Assignment
Once you have completed your assignment you will submit it to Brightspace in the
Assignments tab. Click Module 3 Assignment and and click ‘Add Attachments’ .docx or
.PDF is best for grading.
Files that cannot open and/or incorrect files will receive a grade of 0.
Check and double check to ensure that the file is attached and is the correct file. After
submitting, log out and back in and review your submission so you can see/confirm the file.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have uploaded your file correctly into Brightspace.
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Important Notes
Please be sure to follow all of the instructions very carefully to make sure you're including
everything you are required to.
Do not include all of the brainstorming responses in your discussion section - be sure to
choose three aspects, discuss negative or positive, not both; help or hinder, not both - this
will help you focus and develop an essay with focused clear intent.
There is a .5 penalty for written submissions that are under the minimum of 1000 words.
If you feel you need to use readings or outside sources than you need cite and reference them
correctly (APA or MLA), and include a reference list. Don't use direct quotes in this written
assignment, instead reword key premise and cite.
Late Policy
Note that the assignment is due: Sun, Dec 10th by 11:55PM, which means the late penalty
begins AT 11:55pm.
Late assignments receive 5% per day penalty, and will only be accepted up to seven days
past the due date. At that time the assignment closes on Brightspace.
If you are a student with accommodations and need to use them for the assignment, please
reach out to your assigned teaching assistant as soon as you can.
Grading Template
This is the template your TAs will be using to grade your work, which stems directly from the
instructions. This is meant to help articulate where you are building your grade and where you
are weak in doing so.
Introduction
gives sufficient context/background to set up the essay's purpose
clearly tells the reader what essay is going to assert/argue and why
gives the essay clear direction & purpose
Discussion
topic sentences are used effectively and connect to argument/thesis;
the paragraphs flow together & connect to argument/purpose
three aspects are discussed well & effectively; digital technologies used, negative or positive
impact, predict help or hinder
the section asserts/argues/has clear purpose rather than only describe/report/answer
questions/tell a story
Conclusion
recaps key argument/thesis noted in the introduction; reminds the reader of the purpose of the
essay and how assertions were supported
gives a bigger picture 'take-away' or 'so what?'
Writing Style
proper essay style with clear introduction, body, conclusion; tone & vocabulary is
appropriate
minimal grammar & punctuation errors; proper paragraph structure
/20
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Framework of Grading
Exceeds Expectations 90 A+
Submission reflects a robust and mature level of discussion and analysis that goes beyond what
is expected at a first year course level. No errors with writing style, essay format, or grammar.
Meets Assignment Criteria 80s A
Submission follows guidelines and meets all the assignment requirements in a coherent way. The
discussion demonstrates analytical sophistication. The writing is clear and concise; very minor
writing errors; there is very little to critique. Nothing is missing.
Needs Some Work 70s B
Submission mostly follows requirements but has areas that need improvement: the introduction
needs more precision, the discussion leans to descriptive reporting rather than asserting/arguing.
The assignment is mostly good and mostly follows instructions, but needs some additional depth
and/or analytical focus. Minor grammar/punctuation errors.
Inaccuracies 60s C
Submission is weak in key components of the assignment guidelines. The introduction is not set
up correctly. The discussion is vague or mostly general and descriptive without connecting to
argument or assertion or purpose. Connections between the discussion sections are not clearly
made. Considerable grammar and punctuation errors.
Incomplete 50s D
Submission does not follow assignment guidelines or requirements. It is seemingly off-topic or
unrelated to the instructions, and/or missing content and components of assignment. The
discussion is very disjointed or unrelated. Considerable grammar/punctuation errors and
problems with essay format and style.
