Baron

Before You Read

Technology can be anything that helps a human being with another thing. It is something that usually brings us knowledge or helps us achieve knowledge. Some examples of technology are computers, phones, cars, or appliances. Almost anything can be considered a technology if it has helped improved human life. 

Summary

In Dennis Baron's article "From Pencils to Pixels: The Stages of Literacy Technologies", he discusses how technology has influenced and changed writing. He discusses the different ways that technology has been used in writing. The audience of this article is anyone who is interested in the development of technology and writing. Baron talks about how we have transformed from using pencils and talking in person to using pixels and communicating online. 

Synthesis

After reading Baron's article I can compare it to Berger's article about how women are seen in pictures in the media. These articles are similar because they both talk about how their topics have changed and developed over the years. In Baron's article, he discusses how the pencil has evolved into the use of the computer and typing. In Berger's article, he discusses how oil paintings are now things like digital images. These articles are similar because even though the technologies around the topic have changed and evolved, the main message and point is still the same. Baron's article can also be compared to Bryson's article about the development of the english language. In Bryson's article he talks about how people have different views on words and how the english language is seen. These articles are similar because they both talk about change in writing and the english language. 

Dialectical Notebook

Response	Quotation
I like this quote because it gives the reader an insight on how the author feels.	“I readily admit my dependence on the new technology of writing.” (pg. 423)
This quote is important because it talks about what makes an invention work. It stresses that the invention must have all of these qualities to be successful.	“After their invention, their spread depends accessibility, function, and authentication.” (pg. 424)
I found this quote interesting because it shows Baron’s personality and wit.	“While I was glad not to be a direct target of this mad bomber, I admit that I felt left out.” (pg. 425)
This quote is important because it stresses the importance of the history of writing. It says how that even though writing can be complex with all of the new technologies, it still comes down to the basic idea of writing.	“Of course the first writing technology was writing itself.” (pg. 426)
I like this quote because it explains that although people may have different views on things, we all can be similar and compare things to what we used to have.	“Both the supporters and the critics of new communication technologies like to compare them to the good, or bad, old days.” (pg. 427)

Questions for Discussion

1. The Unabomber is Theodore John Kaczynski and he used his writing to target computer scientists for elimination. He only used paper and pencil when he targeted these computer scientists. He would do this and write threatening letters to them. 

Thoughts

After reading Baron's article, I have a new knowledge of how technologies have been important in writing. My favorite part of the article was the part about how the Unabomber would write threatening letters to the people who would create new technologies.