Question
UNIT 3 INTRODUCTION
Launch Activity
Conduct a Walk-Around Debate Consider this statement:
Technology improves our lives by providing us with access to
large amounts of information quickly.
• Prepare for the debate by thinking about the topic. Consider how
access to smartphones and the Internet affects your life and the lives
of people you know.
• Jot down your ideas about the topic.
• Decide whether you agree or disagree with the statement, and write
your opinion on a sticky note that you stick to your clothes.
• Walk around the room, and share your ideas about the topic with at
least two people who do not hold your opinion.
• At the end of the debate, determine how many people in the room
changed their opinions, and why.
Summary
Write an objective summary of “That’s Not Progress!” An objective
summary is a concise, complete, and accurate overview of a text. It
should not include a statement of your opinion or an analysis.
support it?
188 UNIT 3 • MODERN TECHNOLOGY
! WORD NETWORK FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Vocabulary A Word Network
is a collection of words related
to a topic. As you read the
selections in this unit, identify
interesting words related to the
impact of modern technology,
and add them to your Word
Network. For example, you might
begin by adding words from
the Launch Text, such as stress
,
status, and community. Continue
to add words as you complete
this unit.
Tool Kit Word Network Model
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How is modern technology helpful and harmful to society?
NOTES
upload unflattering photos and post mean comments, it can
seriously damage a person’s self-image,” says one mental health
expert. In addition, getting no response to a post or not being
“friended” can also be very painful.
The effects can be physical, too. Frequent users of social media
often suffer from pain in their fingers and wrists. Blood vessels in
their eyes and necks can narrow. Their backs can ache from being
hunched over phones and computers for hours at a time.
Texting is another problem created by technology. Half the
nation’s youth send 50 or more text messages a day. One study
found that young people send an average of 34 texts a night
after they get into bed! This loss of sleep can affect the ability to
concentrate, problem-solve, and learn.
Not all experts agree with this analysis. Some point to the
benefits of social media. Dr. Megan Moreno is an assistant
professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine. She believes
that social networking helps develop a young person’s sense of
community. She also believes that it can be used to identify youth
who are most at risk for depression. “Our studies have found that
adolescents often share feelings of depression on Facebook,” she
says. “Social media is a tool; it cannot in and of itself cause mental
illness,” says Dr. Moreno. She insists that young people had
problems before computers came into being.
Maybe so. In the past, however, young people found ways to
escape from their problems. Now, smartphones and other high-
tech devices have made escape impossible. Is that progress?
Technology should simplify life, not complicate it. The danger
of social media is that young users can eventually lose their ability
to focus on what is most important in life—no matter what path
they choose to follow. ❧
WRIT LIKE A 6TH GRADER
Launch Activity
Conduct a Walk-Around Debate Consider this statement:
Technology improves our lives by providing us with access to
large amounts of information quickly.
• Prepare for the debate by thinking about the topic. Consider how
access to smartphones and the Internet affects your life and the lives
of people you know.
• Jot down your ideas about the topic.
• Decide whether you agree or disagree with the statement, and write
your opinion on a sticky note that you stick to your clothes.
• Walk around the room, and share your ideas about the topic with at
least two people who do not hold your opinion.
• At the end of the debate, determine how many people in the room
changed their opinions, and why.
Summary
Write an objective summary of “That’s Not Progress!” An objective
summary is a concise, complete, and accurate overview of a text. It
should not include a statement of your opinion or an analysis.
support it?
188 UNIT 3 • MODERN TECHNOLOGY
! WORD NETWORK FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Vocabulary A Word Network
is a collection of words related
to a topic. As you read the
selections in this unit, identify
interesting words related to the
impact of modern technology,
and add them to your Word
Network. For example, you might
begin by adding words from
the Launch Text, such as stress
,
status, and community. Continue
to add words as you complete
this unit.
Tool Kit Word Network Model
Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How is modern technology helpful and harmful to society?
NOTES
upload unflattering photos and post mean comments, it can
seriously damage a person’s self-image,” says one mental health
expert. In addition, getting no response to a post or not being
“friended” can also be very painful.
The effects can be physical, too. Frequent users of social media
often suffer from pain in their fingers and wrists. Blood vessels in
their eyes and necks can narrow. Their backs can ache from being
hunched over phones and computers for hours at a time.
Texting is another problem created by technology. Half the
nation’s youth send 50 or more text messages a day. One study
found that young people send an average of 34 texts a night
after they get into bed! This loss of sleep can affect the ability to
concentrate, problem-solve, and learn.
Not all experts agree with this analysis. Some point to the
benefits of social media. Dr. Megan Moreno is an assistant
professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine. She believes
that social networking helps develop a young person’s sense of
community. She also believes that it can be used to identify youth
who are most at risk for depression. “Our studies have found that
adolescents often share feelings of depression on Facebook,” she
says. “Social media is a tool; it cannot in and of itself cause mental
illness,” says Dr. Moreno. She insists that young people had
problems before computers came into being.
Maybe so. In the past, however, young people found ways to
escape from their problems. Now, smartphones and other high-
tech devices have made escape impossible. Is that progress?
Technology should simplify life, not complicate it. The danger
of social media is that young users can eventually lose their ability
to focus on what is most important in life—no matter what path
they choose to follow. ❧
WRIT LIKE A 6TH GRADER
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Launch Activity: Walk-Around Debate**
The statement we discussed was: "Technology improves our lives by providing us with access to large amounts of information quickly." I decided to AGREE with this statement. Here’s what I think:
1. **Access to Information**: With smartphones and the Internet, I can look up any information I need for school or personal interests within seconds. This helps me learn more easily and quickly.
2. **Staying Connected**: Technology allows me to talk to friends and family who might live far away. I can send them messages or video chat, which makes us feel closer even when we aren’t near each other.
3. **Learning Resources**: There are many online resources like videos and educational websites that help me understand my homework better. This makes studying more fun and engaging.
During the debate, I shared these ideas with two people who disagreed with me. They mentioned that too much technology can be distracting and can take away face-to-face interactions. They argued that sometimes people are so focused on their screens that they miss out on real-life experiences and relationships.
At the end of the debate, I learned that one person changed their opinion. They realized that while technology has its downsides, it can also provide opportunities for learning and connection when used wisely.
---
**Objective Summary of “That’s Not Progress!”**
The text discusses the effects of technology on young people's lives, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects. Mental health experts warn that social media can harm self-image and cause physical pain due to excessive use. Many young people send numerous texts daily, leading to sleep loss, which can impair concentration and learning. However, some experts, like Dr. Megan Moreno, argue that social media can help develop a sense of community and identify youth at risk for depression. She believes that social media itself does not cause mental illness but can be a tool for communication. The text concludes with a question about whether modern technology really represents progress or complicates life.
---
**Word Network for Modern Technology**
1. Technology
2. Social Media
3. Smartphone
4. Information
5. Community
6. Mental Health
7. Concentration
8. Distraction
9. Connection
10. Learning Resources
The statement we discussed was: "Technology improves our lives by providing us with access to large amounts of information quickly." I decided to AGREE with this statement. Here’s what I think:
1. **Access to Information**: With smartphones and the Internet, I can look up any information I need for school or personal interests within seconds. This helps me learn more easily and quickly.
2. **Staying Connected**: Technology allows me to talk to friends and family who might live far away. I can send them messages or video chat, which makes us feel closer even when we aren’t near each other.
3. **Learning Resources**: There are many online resources like videos and educational websites that help me understand my homework better. This makes studying more fun and engaging.
During the debate, I shared these ideas with two people who disagreed with me. They mentioned that too much technology can be distracting and can take away face-to-face interactions. They argued that sometimes people are so focused on their screens that they miss out on real-life experiences and relationships.
At the end of the debate, I learned that one person changed their opinion. They realized that while technology has its downsides, it can also provide opportunities for learning and connection when used wisely.
---
**Objective Summary of “That’s Not Progress!”**
The text discusses the effects of technology on young people's lives, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects. Mental health experts warn that social media can harm self-image and cause physical pain due to excessive use. Many young people send numerous texts daily, leading to sleep loss, which can impair concentration and learning. However, some experts, like Dr. Megan Moreno, argue that social media can help develop a sense of community and identify youth at risk for depression. She believes that social media itself does not cause mental illness but can be a tool for communication. The text concludes with a question about whether modern technology really represents progress or complicates life.
---
**Word Network for Modern Technology**
1. Technology
2. Social Media
3. Smartphone
4. Information
5. Community
6. Mental Health
7. Concentration
8. Distraction
9. Connection
10. Learning Resources