Engl 101 Fall 2011
Paper #1 Edison's Most Important Invention(s)
Write a 2-3 page paper (typed and double spaced) on what you
believe
was
Edison's most important invention.
Begin by describing the invention and how it worked as well as how Edison
developed it (i.e. his methods). Then discuss the need(s) it met, the
alternatives available at the time, and why Edison's was (or was not) the best solution to the problem.
Then make a detailed argument for why the invention you chose was (and remains?) important. In your conclusion,
you may want to discuss what enabled Edison to achieve
the results he did. In your introduction, make sure to set up your
argument about the invention's importance. Note: if you prefer, you can
write about a related group of inventions or the process of invention rather than one
particular device. Also note that you should write about the importance of
the invention at the time but you can also emphasize its more long-range
importance.
You should cite several sources in your paper including Jonnes’
Empire of Light and the resources on the syllabus for Sept 6-15. Jonnes
doesn’t cover everything Edison did and we’ve only read part of the text but you
can look up subjects in the index to find other material you can use.
Because we are so used to computers and databases we often forget that the book
is a sophisticated information management technology with several ways to find
things. To see how your paper should look, check the
sample papers in your spiral bound writing handbook on pp. 151-154. The
online version of Hacker's Research and Documentation Online is at
http://dianahacker.com/resdoc/ For MLA, click on Humanities,
Documenting Sources and Sample Papers. The paper
is due at the beginning of class on Sept
20th. The paper is a historical argument based on course reading
and some research. The audience is made up of educated non-specialists,
although you can use technical terms and explanations as long as you explain
your terms. I will be meeting with you
individually to talk about your drafts and plans.
You will exchange and comment on each others' papers in class using an
editing
sheet I will provide.
Before you write your paper, think about how Edison solved problems. In
your later career, employers will be as interested in your ability to solve
problems as in what you know. A key point here is how you formulate
questions and set up problems to work on. How did Edison define the
problems he was working on? Scholars like Paul Israel believe that
Edison's capacity to see analogies and quickly visualize many possible solutions
was a key element of his creativity. Do you see evidence of that in
Edison's work on the invention(s) you write about? Also consider how
Edison drew on the talents and skills of others and organized a fluid but
disciplined workplace. In American popular culture he is often seen as a
folksy individualistic inventor, but as Paul Israel has argued, his success was
closely tied to the fact that he developed the first corporate research lab in
America.