2000 Fall Common Final

Common Final Assignment
Fall, 2000
CELL PHONE USE

Less than ten years ago, only a few people ran around with a cell phone as an essential body part. That has all changed.   According to one source, an estimated 80 million people now own and use wireless telephones, and 85 percent of these people use their phone while driving ("Phones and Automobiles" 2). But these handy devices aren't just used in cars.   They are ringing in the boardroom, the classroom, and during the Sunday sermon.   They serenade the arrival of a filet mignon and do "bird calls" as people seek some quiet moments in the park.

The wide acceptance and use of cell phones have spawned controversy.   Research has determined that the risk of automobile collisions is four times higher when such a telephone is in use. Their low-power radiation emissions are alleged by some to cause brain cancer. Soon they will invade our privacy even more as tracking devices, enabling 911 operators (as well as anyone else who has the technology) to pinpoint the user's exact location. Over 20 states have introduced measures to control their use in automobiles. Can courtesy and cell phone etiquette be mandated?   The more basic question might be, are they a danger that needs to be controlled or just a nuisance to which everyone will soon adjust?

PREPARATION FOR IN-CLASS WRITING OF ESSAY
To argue a position on this issue, you need to become informed on all points of view.   You must build an understanding of what you believe and what opponents might believe.   A place to start is to read the attached articles and excerpts.   They offer a wide-ranging set of approaches and options toward the cellular phone issue.   But don't stop with these articles.   Once you have evolved some possible thesis sentences, search for additional sources to support your ideas.

As students you can approach this topic in a number of ways, but the following five strategies will help you generate discussion and develop ideas about the use of cell phones.

Free write for five or ten minutes about your experiences and thoughts on cell phone use.   Have you ever been involved in an accident while using a cell phone?   How would you feel about regulations restricting its use in cars?   What rules of etiquette need to be followed when using them?   Are they as intrusive as second-hand smoke?

Read the attached articles about the controversies surrounding cellular telephones.   Summarize the main points of each article.

Find more information on the subject by searching one of the library databases (collections of full text magazine and newspaper articles found on the library's periodicals page) at http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/LMC/PERIODICALS.html Or, see the English department's Internet Resources page for internet/web page search engines and other site options at http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/English/enga3.html

Focus on the information in the box above and then compose some possible thesis sentences derived from the issues mentioned. Work in groups and compose summaries of the articles.

Bibliography of Attached Sources
This is a bibliography of the attached full text articles. As you work with these sources, notice the differences in content depth and writing style between the newspaper articles and the magazine articles.This will help you understand how important it is that you use a variety of sources to do balanced research.

Bahls, Steven C. and Jane Easter Bahls. “Dead Man’s Curve.” Entrepreneur July 2000:   115.

     Expanded Academic ASAP.   Infotrac. 12 Sept. 2000. 3 pages.

Bass, Gordon. “Radar: Is Your Cell Phone Killing You?” PC/Computing Dec. 1999: 62. Expanded

     Academic ASAP. Infotrac. 12 Sept. 2000. 3 pages.

Ehrenreich, Barbara. “From Stone Age to Phone Age.” The Progessive Sept. 1999: 17. Expanded

     Academic ASAP. Infotrac. 12 Sept. 2000. 3 pages.

“Even No-Hands Cell Phones in Moving Vehicles Hazardous: Researchers Point to Distraction of

     Conversation Itself.” Insurance Advocate 26 Feb. 2000: 43. EBSCO MasterFile Premier.

     8 Sept. 2000. 2 pages.

Ford, Tracy. “Funny Facts.” RCA—Radio Communications Report 16 Aug. 2000: 12. Expanded

     Academic ASAP. Infotrac. 12 Sept. 2000. 1 page.

Friend, Tim. “Using Cell Phones to Reach Out and Find Someone: Evolving Technology          Will

     Soon Be Able to Pinpoint all Mobile Dialers.” USA Today 16 Dec. 1997: D6. NewsBank

     Newsfile. 7 Sept. 2000. 5 pages.

Golway, Terry. “Life in the ‘90’s.” America 7 Nov. 1998: 6. Expanded Academic ASAP. Infotrac.

     12 Sept. 2000. 2 pages.

Grace, Kevin Michael. “Reach Out and Bug Someone: A Fracas Ensues After a Student Checks Her

     Cell Phone Messages in Class.” Report/Newsmagazine 24 April 2000, Alberta ed.: C1. EBSCO

     MasterFile Premier. 8 Sept. 2000. 2 pages.

Kenefake, Mary. “Wireless Phone Etiquette: Don’t Leave Home Without It.” Houston Business

     Journal 7 July 2000: 35. EBSCO MasterFile Premier. 8 Sept. 2000. 3 pages.

Lowe, Judy. “All Hung Up About Cell Phones.” Christian Science Monitor 16 Feb. 2000: 15.

     EBSCO MasterFile Premier. 8 Sept. 2000. 2 pages.

Quittner, Joshua.   “We’re Already Living in Cell Hell.” Time 23 Aug. 1999: 44. Expanded

     Academic ASAP. Infotrac. 12 Sept. 2000. 1 page.

Additional Sources
This is a bibliography of additional sources, some of which are excerpted in the following pages.   To see the full text of the articles, you’ll need to access the data base from the library page with the following web address: http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/LMC/PERIODICALS.html .

Alpert, Mark.   "Worrying About Wireless.”   Scientific American Sept. 2000: 20-1. EBSCO

     MasterFile Premier.   9 Sept. 2000. 3 pages.

Andolsek, Kathryn M.   "Use of Cellular Telephones and Motor Vehicle Accidents."   American

     Family Physician   1 May 1997: 2308.    Expanded Academic ASAP.   Infotrac.   12 Sept. 2000.

    2 pages.

Battle, John D.   "Will the 'Cell Cops' Dictate How We Run Our Lives and Business?"   Aftermarket

     Business   Oct. 1999: 4. EBSCO MasterFile Premier.   8 Sept. 2000.   2 pages.

"Cellular Phones and Road Safety."   USA Today (magazine)   Jan. 1994: 9.    Expanded Academic

     ASAP.   Infotrac.   12 Sept. 2000.   3 pages.

Conover, Kristen A. “Discretion Is the Better Part of Cell-Phone Etiquette.”   The Christian Science

     Monitor 11 June 1998: 3.   Newsbank Newsfile.   7 Sept. 2000. 3 pages.

Greenwald, John.   "Do Cell Phones Need Warnings?"   Time 9 Oct. 2000: 66-67.

Holmes, Charles W.   “Crusade Grows to Ban Talking on Cell Phones While Driving.”   The Palm

     Beach Post 23 April 2000: A2.   Newsbank Newsfile.   7 Sept. 2000.   3 pages.

Excerpts from Additional Sources
“The driving force behind the new law is the town’s Mayor John M. Coyne.   It is his belief that cell phone users do not have their full attention on the road and thus are more prone to cause accidents because they do not have both hands on the wheel” (Battle 4).

“Take for instance the sleepy suburb of Brooklyn, Ohio, a small burg on the southwest side of Cleveland.   This progressive city recently passed a law saying it is illegal for a person to drive and talk on a cell phone at the same time.   Enforcement of the law began Sept. 1 and Brooklyn’s finest started pouncing on these scofflaws who dare to flagrantly flaunt the law” (Battle 4).

"The law doesn’t ban the use of cellular phones in a vehicle.   It states that a driver must have both hands on the steering wheel while driving, so the driver can use a hands-free phone.   Other exceptions are that the driver may talk while the vehicle is in 'park' or for emergencies” (Battle 4).

“The risk of a collision was determined to be four times higher when a cellular telephone was in use.   This degree of risk was similar to the hazard associated with driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit. The relative risk was similar for drivers who differed in personal characteristics such as age and experience using cellular telephones.   Telephone calls close to the time of the collision were particularly hazardous.   The hands-free cellular telephone had no safety advantage when compared with the hand-held telephone.   Cellular telephones did have benefits such as the ability for drivers to access emergency care quickly. Thirty-nine percent of drivers called emergency services immediately after the collision” (Andolsek 2308).

“ . . . authors conclude that using cellular phones while driving appears to enhance an individual’s risk of a motor vehicle collision.   However, no causal relationship between the use of a cellular telephone while driving and subsequent motor vehicle collision was proved by this study.   It is prudent for drivers who use cellular telephones, as for all drivers, to abstain from alcohol, avoid excessive speed and minimize distractions.   In addition, they might eliminate unnecessary calls, interrupt conversations when necessary and keep calls brief, especially in hazardous driving situations” (Andolsek 2308).

“Like bursts of annoying static, questions about the safety of cellular phones have popped up repeatedly over the past decade.   The controversy began in earnest in 1993, when a Florida man appearing on the television talk show Larry King Live claimed that his wife’s brain cancer had been caused by the low-power radiation emitted by her cell phone. Other cancer victims soon made similar allegations in lawsuits against the phones’ manufacturers.   The Cellular Telephone Industry Association (CTIA) vigorouslydenied the claims, but at the same time it agreed to sponsor a six-year research program that would investigate whether cell phones pose any health risk” (Alpert 20). “Unfortunately, that question is still unanswered.   The CTIA’s research program, completed last year, yielded few worthwhile studies in return for the $25 million spent.   The research on cell-phone safety has been wildly haphazard, and the results have created more confusion than ever . . . .” (Alpert 20). “Some biophysicists speculate that the electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones could interfere with the body’s sensitive electrical activities.   For instance, one hypothesis proposes that the fields induce small movements in the positively charged calcium ions that activate key receptor sites on cell membranes.   Under the right conditions, even a weak field could significantly increase or decrease the membrane’s permeability. This would alter the concentrations of ions and free radicals in the cell and possibly lead to higher rates of DNA damage” (Alpert 20).

“Cellular telephone users have emerged as modern-day 'Good Samaritans' on the nation’s roads and highways. According to a Gallup survey conducted for Motorola, 90% of the 11,000,000 Americans who own the instruments are more willing to lend a helping hand to a stranger because they can call for aid without having to leave their vehicles” (“Cellular Phones and Road Safety” 9).

“While 13% of respondents indicate they have used their cellular phones to assist in their own medical or health emergencies, 28% have done so to assist someone else.   In addition, 34% have used their cellular phone to call for their own disabled vehicles and 40% for roadside assistance for someone else.   Twenty-eight percent have purchased an additional phone for another family member as a safety precaution” (“Cellular Phones and Road Safety” 9).

“With recent natural disasters and increasing violent crimes, more and more Americans are realizing cellular phones are an essential personal safety device,” maintains Robert N. Weishappel, senior vice president and the general manager of Motorola’s Cellular Subscriber Group.   Ninety-one percent report feeling safer and more secure with the phone in reach, up 12 percent from two years ago.   A similar 1991 survey found women better appreciated the personal safety value of cellular phones, while males and females are equally as receptive today” (“Cellular Phones and Road Safety” 9).

“Brooklyn, Ohio.   The first ban in the nation was created a year ago and since last September 1, nearly 300 citations have been issued.   The law allows drivers to use hands-free speaker phones while driving or to use their cell phones in the case   of emergency” (Holmes 2A).

“Hilltown Township, Consohocken, and Lebanon, PA.   These three cities enacted bans on using cell phones while driving this year after a much publicized accident last fall in which a 2-year-old, Morgan Lee Pena, was killed by a driver talking on a cell phone” (Holmes 2A).

“New York City prohibits taxicab drivers from using cell phones while driving” (Holmes 2A).

“This year, legislatures in 24 states considered bills to ban or restrict cell phone use while driving.   But so far, no state has passed a law prohibiting cell phone use while driving” (Holmes 2A).

“As a safety measure, 13 foreign countries have banned or restricted the use of cell phones by motorists” (Holmes 2A).

“To Marjabelle Young Stewart, author of The New Etiquette (St. Martins), . . .

‘You have to respect people’s public space,’ she urges” (Conover 3).

“Cell phone etiquette is really just common courtesy, Ms. Stewart says.   As a rule one should use a soft, low voice (you can still be firm), she says, and if you’re seated next to others, act as if they mind. It’s courteous to respect those who share the space around you.   In short:   Be discreet” (Conover 3).

“While the idea of discretion may be understood, many establishments see a need to lay down ground rules. Fine restaurants, for example, have strict policies concerning cell phone use, sometimes considered as taboo as cigar-smoking.   The Cheesecake Factory, with restaurants across the United States, requests, right on its menu, that patrons refrain from using cell phones” (Conover 3).

“Beginning this fall, Motorola, Nokia and all other cell-phone makers will bow to mounting concerns about safety by disclosing just how much radiation their phones emit.   The once hard-to-find data--measured in "specific absorption rates," or SARS--will come packaged with the latest models, some of which could hit stores by Christmas.   That is likely to launch a scramble by concerned shoppers to find the cell phones that put out the lowest levels of radiation" (Greenwald 66).

"In the U.S., cell-phone users spend an average of 150 min. a month yakking into their beloved mobile phones.   'This is the most popular product known to man,' says Ed Snyder, who follows wireless technologies for the Chase H&Q investment firm. 'More cell phones will be sold this year than all the computers, TVs, personal digital assistants and pagers combined'" (Greenwald 66).

"The data [comparison of radiation levels] first appeared on an obscure FCC website in June and has since become available on a more consumer-friendly Internet venue (www.sardata.com/sardata.htm).   According to these figures, users of an Ericsson T28 World digital phone absorb an SAR of 1.49 while owners of a Motorola StarTAC 7860 get just 0.24" (Greenwald 66). "The big problem is that scientists still haven't reached any definitive conclusions about cell-phone radiation . . . .   Given that, consumers may grasp at whatever data are available when deciding what to buy.   That will be true especially for purchases made for children, whose developing brains absorb more radiation than adult brains and who could be exposed to potential harm for decades to come" (Greenwald 66).

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