How Mechanical Engineering Inventions Have Changed Society

Instead of having a group ME 195b session to cover this topic, we have some materials for you to check out online. We could spend weeks delving into this subject. In this module, we’ll look at an overview of some inventions that changed society and also look in more detail at one invention as a case study.

• Start by reading the introduction and prologue to the book “Great Inventions That Changed the World,” by James Wei at Princeton University (John Wiley and Sons, 2012)

It can be found here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118342749.fmatter/pdf (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

• Next, for an overview of multiple inventions that changed society, watch Inventions that Shook the World Part 1 – Discovery (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.There are many videos about inventions that changed society. This particular video from Discovery World looks at inventions from the earlier parts of the 1900’s.
• Finally, let’s focus on one mechanical invention in particular. We’ll read an article about how the washing machine changed life for women here in the US. (Green, C, 2016, “Agitated to Clean: How the Washing Machine Changed Life for the American Woman, McNair Scholars Research Journal, Vol 12, No 1.) It can be found here: http://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/cgi/viewcontent…

Assignment: Consider a technology in the Mechanical Engineering field invented outside of the U.S. (a) Describe the cultural and social factors in that country that led to this technology’s invention. (b) Describe how this invention has evolved and influenced the culture of the U.S. You must include at least two references. Minimum word count: 300

This covers GE learning outcome 2 for area V: “Students shall be able to identify the historical context of ideas and cultural traditions outside the U.S. and how they have influenced American culture.”

Correct use of English is a fundamental requirement for your papers to be graded. If errors in English make it difficult for a grader to understand your sentences or is off-topic, your paper will be returned to you for further work on its English, and your grade for the paper will be a zero until it is resubmitted with corrected English. If your assignment is returned for an excessive number of grammatical errors, you will be allowed to rewrite and resubmit it within two weeks of the original return date. If not resubmitted by the date set by your instructor, you will receive a zero (0) for the writing assignment.

ME 195b Writing Assignment 1

ME 195b Writing Assignment 1

Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThesis Statement	10.0 pts Clearly stated and appropriately focused. 8.0 pts Clearly stated but focus needed to be sharper. 6.0 pts Thesis stated but not appropriately focused. 4.0 pts Thesis is inferred but not stated. 0.0 pts No statement of thesis or objective	10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization and Paragraph Construction	10.0 pts Information is logically organized. All paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, concluding sentence with a transition. 8.0 pts Information is adequately organized. Most paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, concluding sentence with a transition. 6.0 pts Information is somewhat organized.Paragraphs included related information, but were typically not constructed well. 4.0 pts Obvious lack of organization. Paragraph structure was not clear and sentences were not typically related within the paragraphs. 0.0 pts No observable organization.	10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanics	10.0 pts No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors observed. 8.0 pts Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors observed. 6.0 pts A few grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors observed. 4.0 pts Many grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors observed. 0.0 pts No observable effort in the area of mechanics.	10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContentStudent describes cultural and social factors that led to this technology’s invention.	35.0 pts Student describes cultural and social factors in that country that led to this technology’s invention. Discussion is compelling and supported by research with at least two references (between both content items). 25.0 pts Student describes cultural and social factors that led to this technology’s invention. Discussion may not be thorough but is supported by research with at least two references. 15.0 pts Student describes a cultural or social factors that led to this technology’s invention. Discussion is cursory and supported by perhaps only one reference. 0.0 pts This essay does not address this topic.	35.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDescription of criterionDiscussion of how this invention influenced the culture of the US.	35.0 pts Student thoroughly describes how the US culture changed as a result of this invention. Claims are supported by at least two references (between both content items). 25.0 pts Student describes how the US culture changed as a result of this invention, but the discussion is not as thorough as it could be. Claims are supported by at least two references. 15.0 pts Student describes how the US culture changed as a result of this invention, but discussion is cursory and supported by perhaps only one reference. 0.0 pts This essay does not address this topic.	35.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSLO 2: Influences on U.S. cultureview longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	5.0 ptsExceeds Expectations 3.0 ptsMeets Expectations 0.0 ptsDoes Not Meet Expectations	—