Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt
and the assignment below.
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt
and the assignment below.
Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for
leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace of technological innovation and
the split-second processing capabilities of computers that can work
virtually nonstop have made all of us feel rushed. We have adopted
the relentless pace of the very machines that were supposed to
simplify our lives, with the results that, whether at work or play,
people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better.
Adapted from Karen Finucan, “Life in the Fast Lane”
Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for
leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace of technological innovation and
the split-second processing capabilities of computers that can work
virtually nonstop have made all of us feel rushed. We have adopted
the relentless pace of the very machines that were supposed to
simplify our lives, with the results that, whether at work or play,
people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better.
Adapted from Karen Finucan, “Life in the Fast Lane”
Assignment: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily
make them better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop
your point of view on this issue. Support your position with
reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations.
Assignment: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily
make them better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop
your point of view on this issue. Support your position with
reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations.
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt
and the assignment below.
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt
and the assignment below.
Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for
leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace of technological innovation and
the split-second processing capabilities of computers that can work
virtually nonstop have made all of us feel rushed. We have adopted
the relentless pace of the very machines that were supposed to
simplify our lives, with the results that, whether at work or play,
people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better.
Adapted from Karen Finucan, “Life in the Fast Lane”
Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for
leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace of technological innovation and
the split-second processing capabilities of computers that can work
virtually nonstop have made all of us feel rushed. We have adopted
the relentless pace of the very machines that were supposed to
simplify our lives, with the results that, whether at work or play,
people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better.
Adapted from Karen Finucan, “Life in the Fast Lane”
Assignment: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily
make them better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop
your point of view on this issue. Support your position with
reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations.
Assignment: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily
make them better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop
your point of view on this issue. Support your position with
reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations.
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt
and the assignment below.
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt
and the assignment below.
Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for
leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace of technological innovation and
the split-second processing capabilities of computers that can work
virtually nonstop have made all of us feel rushed. We have adopted
the relentless pace of the very machines that were supposed to
simplify our lives, with the results that, whether at work or play,
people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better.
Adapted from Karen Finucan, “Life in the Fast Lane”
Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for
leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace of technological innovation and
the split-second processing capabilities of computers that can work
virtually nonstop have made all of us feel rushed. We have adopted
the relentless pace of the very machines that were supposed to
simplify our lives, with the results that, whether at work or play,
people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better.
Adapted from Karen Finucan, “Life in the Fast Lane”
Assignment: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily
make them better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop
your point of view on this issue. Support your position with
reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations.
Assignment: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily
make them better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop
your point of view on this issue. Support your position with
reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies,
experience, or observations.
Sample “6” level response to Karen Finucan prompt:
Unwelcomed Change
In an era where space exploration is possible and data can be processed in a fraction of a second,
technology plays a large role in people’s lives. Innovations continue to rapidly increase the pace of
everyday life, but Americans’ dependence on these shortcuts is potentially harmful. Karen Finucan,
author of “Life in the Fast Lane,” is correct when she issues a warning to the tech-dependent world.
Technology often makes life easier, but it does not necessarily make it better.
First, consider the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s, a time period in which technological
innovations were on the rise. England rapidly transitioned from a feudal, agricultural society to a
modern, industrial world. However, the same factories and machines that made jobs simpler replaced the
positions of many hard-working citizens. While technology gave England the promise of a successful
future, it did so at a huge human cost. Moreover, the increase in factories contributed to a rise in
pollution, affecting the health of not only the workers, but also the environment at large. The Industrial
Revolution represents the negative effects of seemingly positive inventions.
Next, consider Charles Dickens’ masterpiece Great Expectations, a Victorian-era novel focusing
on Pip, a penniless orphan living in a lowly blacksmith’s household. His life shifts suddenly one day
and he is thrust into the world of wealthy gentlemen and industrial tycoons. Soon, everything is handed
to him, from a successful career to social affluence. While this rapid social change to the wealthy class
creates a life of ease for Pip, he soon realizes that these superficial values are merely shortcuts in life. He
looks to Joe, the poor blacksmith who helped raised him, and sees that a day of hard, honest work is key
to achieving a fulfilling life. The social transition into a more modern, advanced world made Pip’s life
easier, but definitely not better.
Lastly, evidence from my own life demonstrates that the changes designed to make my life
easier often end up harming, rather than helping me. In English class, for example, I regularly use spellcheck as I complete my writing assignments. While this helps me earn a higher grade on my essays, an
unintentional consequence is that my spelling is awful and not getting better anytime soon. Similarly,
math homework is speeded along with the help of my calculator, which easily computes simple
equations. As a result, it takes me longer than most of my classmates to complete quizzes in which we
aren’t allowed to use our calculators. My laziness and the ease of technology have eroded a bit of my
basic human intelligence.
It’s natural for humanity to seek new ways to make life easier. However, as shown through
history, literature, and my own life, technology is not the cure-all to humanity’s problems. In fact,
technological advancements often solve an immediate problem while creating new, larger problems that
erode humanity’s happiness and self-improvement.