Argumentative Essay
Clive Thompson in his article, “Smarter than You Think,” argues that technology is changing our lives for the better. Nicholas Carr in his article, “Is Google Making us Stupid,” Has a different view about the way technology is shaping our lives.
Who do you tend to agree with more? Who do you think is right? Using these articles as your base, write an essay in which you argue for one position or the other. Be sure to cite both. The key thing is to be very specific. You can’t talk about EVERY TYPE OF TECH, so maybe you focus on just one–like Social Media–or something like that. Whichever side you take, the other article can be important as a “naysayer,” or to show an opposing “they say.” You may also use any of the other articles from class and outside the class, personal experience, interviews etc, to to help support your argument. Also, be sure to point out Logos, Pathos, Ethos, as well as fallacies etc if appropriate.
HERE IS THE THING: YOU MUST USE at least one of the other readings (and you can use even more if you wish) to help support your argument. So for example if you are arguing on Carr’s side, what information or illustration can you take from Gladstone that might help you better understand or argue for Carr’s point.
Final Clarification: Note that this essay is MAINLY based on an evaluation of your source as your argument rather than a more personal feeling.
Evaluative Criteria
1. Essay must be in MLA Format with Works Cited Page.
2. Use several in-text citations in the form of quotes and paraphrases to help support your points.
3. You should have at least 3 sources but likely you will have more than 2
4. Paper must be relatively free of grammatical and mechanical errors.
5. Length requirement is 1000 words.
6. You must use at least one template from Chapter 5 and 6…(Found on next page) Put a box around them.
7. Underline your Thesis Statement.
READINGS
· “Is Google Making Us Stupid” N. Carr
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/
· “IMHO” Is Digital Communication Good or Bad—or Both? by Gerald Graff
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://compcourseblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/imho.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjt5MvZ-aTcAhVoiFQKHa0DDk8QFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2dPL5xe8kcZsISAD55ZyNP
· Smartphone Addiction The Slot Machine in Your Pocket: Your personal slot machine: Tristan Harris on Smartphone addiction
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/smartphone-addiction-is-part-of-the-design-a-1104237.html
-“Smarter Than You Think” Clive Thompson
Templates
-Most athletes will tell you that ___.
-Politicians, X argues, should ___.
-Adding to X’s arguments, I would point out that ___.
– X is right that ___.
-The evidence shows that ___.
-Anyone familiar with ___should agree that ___.
-I wholeheartedly endorse what X calls ___.
Templates for entertaining objections
-Yet some readers may challenge my view by insisting that ___.
-Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that ___.
Templates for naming naysayers
-Biologists, of course, may want to question whether ___.
-Nevertheless, both followers and critics of Malcolm X will probably suggest otherwise and argue that ___.
More Templates
· On the one hand, I agree with X that ___. But on the other hand, I still insist that ___.
· While it is true that ___, it does not necessarily follow that ___.
