“A Day Without Electronic Mediaâ€
We live in a media saturated world, yet most of us don’t consider the effect
it has on our lives. According to Danna Walker, Professor of
Communications at American University, “Many of you are what
researchers call “millennialsâ€, those born between 1980 and 2000. Your
generation will constitute the largest generation in American history. You
will outnumber baby boomers by as much as 33%. Most of you grew up
with computers and television in your home. You started life with VCR’s,
CD’s, digital video, and MP3s. You were the first generation to link up to
cell phones, instant messaging, and texting. Personal computers came of age
when you were born and you grew up with the World Wide Web and e-mail.
Not to mention Nintendo, Game Boy, Sony PlayStation, GameCube and
Xbox. Yet although you are emotionally attached, educated, and savvy
consumers of electronic media you don’t think much about it.â€
INSTRUCTIONS
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For this assignment students will go without the use of electronic
media for 12 hours.
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Your 12 hour span starts the moment you wake up and continues
straight for 12 hours. At the end of your 12 hour “shift†you can use
whatever media you like.
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At the end of this time students will write a 3-page paper detailing
their experience and feelings regarding the experience.
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Students must discuss how they spent their day
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Students must discuss how the absence of electronic media effected
their communication with others. I want details.
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Students must discuss feelings, reactions, and thoughts regarding their
day and the assignment.
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No late papers will be accepted for any reason.
If you slip up or
cheat you must start the 12 hours over again.
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I will know from reading your papers whether or not you really did
the assignment. There are certain tell tale signs of those who really did
it and those who fake it and try to write it like they think it should
sound.
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If you fake it, I will give you an F.
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All papers must be a minimum of three full pages
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Use proper format, spelling, grammar, sentence structure and
paragraphs
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Must be typed in Times New Roman 12 point font
So, what do you have to go without? Here’s the list:
No Cell phones
No T.V.
No Movies
No VCR, DVD, DVR, TiVo etc… (Although you can set them up the night
before to record what you’ll miss in your 12 hours and watch it after your
shift is over)
No CD’s, iTunes etc…
No radio, no satellite radio
No Ipod or MP3 or like devices
No video games, or hand held games or like devices
Computers of any kind, e-mail, instant messaging, texting, cell phone, or
like devices
You can read (but not from a Kindle etc…) a book, newspaper, or magazine.
You can play live music (piano, guitar, drums etc…)
You can go to a live concert, play, comedy show.
If you have any questions please e-mail me and ask!