Essay: A World Without Work Overview: Derek Thompson’s “A World Without Work” discusses the impact of technological advancement on the present and future job market. In this article, Thompson provides several possibilities for the future of jobs, the economy, and life itself. In “The End of Men”, Hanna Rosin contends that the current academic world and job market favor skills women rather than men are likely to have, whereas the job market of the former American assembly line economy favored men’s skills. Rosin’s article provides an opportunity to consider the workplace and employment in terms of gender. Yuval Harari’s article “The Meaning of Life in a World Without Work” offers an ample discussion of the way people can create meaning for life in the absence of work. Cohen and Schmidt discuss the pros and cons of technology’s impact on society, but believe that it can lead to improved quality of life on a global scale. Prompt: Respond to the issues raised in Thompson’s article. Begin with a thesis that highlights your argument, by considering the following: Does automation via technological advancement mean more poverty? More freedom? More happiness? A workforce with different skill sets? Utilize Thompson’s examples in considering your answer. Support your argument in the body paragraphs. Summarize the information Thompson discusses in each section of the article Incorporate at least one additional source from the module to support your argument Incorporate at least three additional sources from your independent research (Library Database or other credible site) Audience: Write for an audience that is not in this class. That means you’ll need to spend some time summarizing key ideas, defining any terms that might be unfamiliar, choosing short quotes from the reading selections to help your reader get a sense of the authors’ arguments.
