So as I was reading through The Shallows I found myself getting more and more annoyed with Carr. I understand that the structure of the book was purposefully crafted to further push the point – what with the (otherwise useless) historical anecdotes – but come on. He’s so condescending. Even when he apologizes, when he brings first-person narration back into play, it felt like he was trying to elevate himself above his audience.
So I’m going to channel that frustration into my essay. I’m taking the pro-internet stance to stick it to the man.
My thesis will probably be some derivative of the following:
The learning process is an extension of neuroplasticity, in that we learn only after our brains have adjusted to make room for new experiences and information. Neuroplasticity allows us to adapt to technology and move forward — in the same way Generation Y is doing so today. The millennial generation learns differently from previous generations because the internet is such a prominent force in our lives — and no technology before the internet has ever been quite as momentous. The internet is structured in a way that allows its users to search for information quickly, effectively, and with little effort. This has changed the way we learn, and as a result, the way we do research. As a result, the internet is changing the face of not only libraries, but also the field of Library Science itself. However, there’s something that Carr overlooks in The Shallows — and that’s the idea that change isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, change is good. Today’s youth learn differently, but that doesn’t mean that we’re vapid and incapable of thought. We rely on the internet for our educational needs, but that doesn’t mean libraries across the globe are doomed to fail due to lack of patronage. We, the members of the internet generation, are hyperconnected — and we’re getting along perfectly fine, thank you very much.
Obviously this is due to change but that’s the basic form. I hope it’s not too long, but the introduction is supposed to be a page to a page and half anyway so I think the length of my thesis is proportionate to that.
So, there are a number of ways I can go about structuring the essay. I think after the introduction, I’ll take a paragraph to further delve into the idea of neuroplasticity and the way we learn, and then try and transition that into the neuroplasticity has allowed the internet to change the way the millennial kids think. After that I’ll talk about how the fast-paced nature of the internet has affected the way we do research, and therefore our library use. And then after that I’ll transition into libraries research institutions. And then finally, I’ll conclude my essay by dismantling general claims that Carr made in The Shallows.
Here are a few supporting details and claims I plan to use in my body paragraphs:
- The millennial generation is hyperconnected, which means we are team-oriented multi-taskers. We are programmed to play off of each other strengths, and thus we are constantly improving ourselves. Though we are unable to concentrate for long periods of time, that doesn’t mean we are incapable contemplation. The way we think is, essentially, a game of association; we connect what we know and what we want to know to build something better. We, as a whole, are greater than the some of our parts.
- Libraries are used less for research and more internet and public services. However, most librarians recognize the need to adopt more electronic and web resources. The fault lies within the system, not within the patrons. The transformation of the Library Sciences will make information more accessible — and more reliable, as reliability tends to be an issue with internet sources.
- The internet seems to be much more detrimental to our learning abilities than it actually is because we are in a constant state of flux. We have changed, and there is more change yet to come. Even I am more in the transitional stages of “internetization.” (I’m sorry I know that’s not a word but it’s like 1 AM and I cannot think of a better one right now.) The finished product will be much more tangible than it is right now, and there is really no need to have a conniption about the fact that it takes me longer to read Jane Eyre than it would have taken a college student in the 1950’s.