Online and Anonymous: The Writing Task

Online and Anonymous

The Writing Task

Gabriella Coleman writes that “we should...consider what we would lose were we to ban, or even discourage, the use of anonymity on the Internet. Debates about trolls routinely conflate anonymity with incivility but a broader look at online activities reveals that public good can come when users can hide their identity.”

Review your collected notes, your chart and annotations to see how they are relevant to the question of anonymity and democratic values.

• Do you think that anonymity is an important right in online communities, or do you think it invites harassment or worse?  In the style of “Room for Debate,” write well-developed and organized editorial of between 600-750 words in which you present your thoughts on the issue of Internet anonymity, and then utilizing the sources, your observations, and your experience, take a position that explains the extent to which you believe anonymous identities should be protected from censorship.

Draft 1	Paper copy, In class Friday, 12/11	A careful look at citation:  Using the words of others in academic writing:  A “They Say/I Say” workshop
Draft 2	Paper copy, In class Tuesday, 12/15	Revision workshop -- a close look at thesis statements, organization, syntax, and diction
Final Draft	Due on Thursday, 12/17 by 5:00 p.m.	Drafts 1 & 2 turned in Final draft:  Uploaded to Turnitin.com

Additional Requirements:

• In-text citation:  In your final paper, you must correctly (1) quote, (2) paraphrase and (3) summarize at least four of the sources provided (Workshop on 12/11/15). These are three different moves in academic writing.  
• Note that the seven articles included in “Room for Debate” include hyperlinks. The use of hyperlinks create a more dynamic text, and provide readers with additional information to deepen or enhance their understanding, Your paper will include two hyperlinks that should be purposeful and useful to your reader.  Please do not merely repeat sources already provided or rely solely on definitions or Wikipedia articles.  
• A printable version of the writing prompt is here.