Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1

Annotated Bibliography

Alexis N. Mena

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

MWF 9:30-10:20

May 8, 2018
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Annotated Bibliography

Dwelling into the use of the internet and its addictive properties, many questions may be

raised about the subject. Discovering how the internet and its addictive properties affects English

and American Literature students in their educational studies at The University of Texas at El

Paso is a preeminent concern. Additionally, researching the many advantages and disadvantages

of utilizing the internet as college students in the English and American Literature department,

and what makes the internet an appropriate and/or irresponsible tool is a promising find. In order

to do so, many actions must take place to affirm the roles in which the internet and the

dependency upon it has gained. The first course of action in to study and become educated on the

functions of the internet on the students to gain a better understand. The next step is to evaluate

and determine whether the internet proves to be a useful and powerful tool, or a problematic

machine.

Research Questions

1. Where would there be an affect concerning the internet in regards to the English and

American Literature department at the University of Texas at El Paso?

2. Is there a benefit of using the internet in the English and American Literature department

at the University of Texas at El Paso?

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Annotated Bibliography

Abrami, P. C., Savage, R., Wade, C. A., Hipps, G., & Lopez, M. (2008). Using technology to

assist children learning to read and write. In E. Wood, & T. Willoughby (Eds.), Children's

learning in a digital world (pp. 129-172)

 Abrami et al. informs about the technological advances in modern day and introduces

how the internet benefits children in learning. Abrami et al. introduces and explores

system that helps children read and write the American English language. It is explained

through research conducted on literacy systems that promote learning in Canada, such as

ABRACADABRA, that the data was collected. One school was selected in which the

students would be chosen at random to be a part of the ABRACADABRA literacy

system, the students that were not chosen had to resort to traditional ways of learning to

read and write. It was through the research that Abrami et al. discovered that the children

who interacted with the literacy systems had an overall higher success rate in learning to

read and write than the children who were not a part of the online system. It was

concluded that although more research had to be done in order to be conclusive, the

literacy systems to teach children to read and write through technology showed a vast

improvement.

Clayton, M. (1997, 10/27). Term papers at the click of a mouse. (cover story). Christian Science

Monitor.

 Clayton introduces how the internet is expanding at a rapid rate and how it is affecting

students. The effects that Clayton introduces is the purchasing and plagiarizing of essays

and term papers. He provides the many sites that students are using to purchase pre-made

essays, or increasingly popular custom-made term papers that may not be recognized
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from the instructors as plagiarism. Clayton strongly believes that these sites and students

who are becoming dependent of these websites are problematic and must be stopped.

However, he indicates that it is easier said than done as there are websites that cannot be

proven to earn profit off of students looking for an easy grade. Despite there being sites

that have been shut down, it has become increasingly hard to keep up with every website.

For each plagiarism website that goes down, another website takes its place.

Jenkins, H. (2008). Media literacy- who needs it? In T. Willoughby, & E. Wood

(Eds.), Children's learning in a digital world (pp. 15-39) Malden, MA : Blackwell Pub.,

2008.

 Jenkins articulates about all the benefits that come with learning how to properly utilize

the internet and use it for advantages purposes. He describes that media literacy is a must

in modern day as it is everywhere, and if people do not pick it up they will be left behind.

He talks about how it is mainly younger generations, generations that are growing up at

the same rate technology is growing, that are prospering the most from the internet while

older generations are lagging. Jenkins describes through personal experience as an

American media scholar that he witnesses the division in media literate generations

versus hardcopy book generations. He promotes literacy in technology in every

generation; he advocates for its advantages and that people will prosper with the

knowledge and usage of technology. Jenkins determines that with technology, there is

much success wherever it reaches; in socialization, communication, and in education.

Ma, H. J., Wan, G., & Lu, E. Y. (2008). Digital cheating and plagiarism in schools. Theory into

Practice, 47(3), 197-203.

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 Ma et al. introduces how the expansion of the internet is allowing easier access for

students to receive work that is not of their own. They inform of the statistical data of

how many students cheat in their academics and for what reason. The reasons include a

lack of interest, the ease of which it is accessible, and how they do not get caught. Ma et

al. explains that because the topics that professors give to their students do not peak the

students’ interests, it leads them to not care for originality. When it comes down to doing

something that is boring, the students do not want to do it, so they resolve to plagiarizing

or buying it off of a website. Then the students are able to find many essays, or even

purchase custom-made essays, on the internet so readily at their disposal. Prices are

cheap or can be found for completely free, allowing them to take quick picks of whatever

they need. Lastly, there is a lack of consequence from their teachers. Either they don’t get

caught, or their instructors do not care to go through the hassle of taking it up to the

proper authority, this allowing the students to get away with work that is not their own.

McCarroll, C. (2001, 08/28). Beating web cheaters at their own game. Christian Science

Monitor, pp. 16.

 McCarroll introduces that through plagiarism academic integrity is at risk. Students are

not caring for their academics anymore and proceed to steal or purchase work that is not

theirs. McCarroll argues that students are being dishonest and urges for instructors and

schools to take action against plagiarism. She then introduces a few of the websites that

students are using for obtaining their essays and presents some of the websites that

instructors may use to combat plagiarism. McCarroll strongly promotes finding ways to

bring plagiarists forward in order to keep originality and academic honesty.

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Scanlon, P. M. (2003). Student online plagiarism: How do we respond? College Teaching, 51(4),

161-165.

 Scanlon talks about the ever-growing amount of plagiarism and unoriginal work in

universities. Scanlon argues that all work should be original and not taken from authors

who created their own papers through hard work. He talks about how rapid plagiarism is

spreading through universities at all levels, and how it must be stopped from spreading

further. He explains that brining awareness to the issue is not good enough, that students

are still plagiarizing despite being informed of its negative connotations. Scanlon

explains that using software to detect when a student is plagiarizing is a must and to have

instructors split essays into parts as to keep up with the students’ work.

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

(2003). Internet education: Exploring the benefits and challenges of web-based

education: Hearing before the committee on health, education, labor and pensions,

United States senate, one hundred seventh congress, second session on examining the

benefits and challenges of web-based education, September 26, 2002 Washington: U.S.

G.P.O. : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., Congressional Sales Office], 2003.

 In the hearing, [many people] come forward talking about all the benefits that come from

learning through the internet and that it needs to be integrated in all classrooms and of all

ages because the educational effects are profitable. They introduce that much can be

achieved from revolving education around technology, making it easier to learn.

However, the main issue that occurred is mostly about the Title IV programs, or financial

aid. While they agree that the internet is most favorable, they worry that financial aid

would not cover students anymore if learning was revolved more around online learning.