Midterm Project: Algorithmic Autobiography
Course: Writing, Literacy, and Discourse
Due Date: Friday, February 27th, Midnight
Format: 3 Pages (Approx. 900–1,000 words), Double-Spaced, APA/MLA Citations.
Overview
As Ruha Benjamin argues in Race After Technology, “automated systems are not neutral, but reflect and reproduce social hierarchies.” This project requires you to step back from your role as a “user” and take on the role of an “auditor.” You will map your digital ecosystem, analyze it through a sociotechnical lens, and reflect on how these tools have reshaped your internal cognitive habits.
Assignment Structure
Page 1: The Map
Your goal for this page is to document the Invisible Architecture of your daily life. Do not simply list apps; categorize them by their algorithmic function.
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Identify at least three categories of algorithms you interact with daily (e.g., Predictive/Generative like LLMs, Curatorial like TikTok/Spotify, or Navigational/Logistical like Google Maps/Uber).
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For each category, identify what “help” or “convenience” are you receiving, and what specific data and privacy are you surrendering to surveillance in exchange?
Page 2: The Critique
Using Ruha Benjamin’s Race After Technology as your primary framework, analyze one specific tool from your first page
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How does this tool potentially “automate inequity”? Even if you feel the tool treats you fairly, analyze who the “Default User” is. Who is being excluded by its design?
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Move beyond the idea of “biased programmers.” Analyze how the data the algorithm was trained on might be replicating historical patterns of discrimination
Page 3: Personal Reflection
The final page is a personal reflection on your Cognitive Agency within the algorithmic information ecosystems of daily life.
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Has “Predictive Optimization” (i.e. your algorithmically curated content feeds) has narrowed your curiosity? Has the algorithm’s “Recommended for You” feature become a self-fulfilling prophecy for your tastes in music, news, or art?
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If you use LLMs or AI-writing tools, reflect on your epistemic stamina. Has the ease of automated drafting changed how you form original thoughts or handle complex research?
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Abolitionist Tools: In the spirit of Benjamin’s conclusion, propose one act of “Informed Refusal” or a “Subversive Design” habit you could adopt to reclaim agency from these systems.
Evaluation Criteria
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Synthesis: Ability to bridge personal experience with Benjamin’s theoretical concepts (e.g., The New Jim Code, Default Settings).
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Evidence: Depth of the Page 1 Map and the specificity of your examples.
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Critical Distance: Moving beyond “convenience” to see the political and cognitive costs of the tools you use.
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Citations: Proper academic citation of Race After Technology and any supplemental materials.