"Violent Media is Good for Kids"
Exercise 2.1
Identifying the Elements of Argument
1. Thesis:
Violent media can have positive effects on children; allowing them an outlet to
deal with the loneliness and inferiority of childhood.
2. Evidence:
-
Superhero stories helps kids negotiate
the conflicts between the inner self and public self as they work through the
early stages of socialization.
-
Identification with a rebellious, even
destructive, hero helps children learn to push back against a modern culture
that cultivates fear and teaches dependency.
-
Gives children a tool to master their
rage
3. Counter
Arguments:
-
He states the viewpoint that violent
media contributes to violence in society.
-
He easily refutes this argument by then
stating that it has just as well helped hundreds of people for everyone its
hurt, and that it can help far more if we learn to use it well.
4. Conclusion:
In an attempt to shelter our children from the violence within the media, we
are taking away their power and selfhood, instead it should be encouraged.
Exercise 2.8
-
According
to Gerald Jones, violent media can actually have positive effects on young
people because it gives them an outlet in dealing with the loneliness and
inferiority of childhood. Jones also believes that violent media are a positive
influence on children because of the role superhero and villain stories play in
helping kids deal with inner conflict and fear. Jones makes some good points.
For example he says that Identification with a rebellious, even destructive,
hero helps children learn to push back against a modern culture that cultivates
fear and teaches dependency. However, violent media does have the power to
contribute to violence in society if not used well. All in all, instead of
sheltering our children from the media, we should instead show them the
positivity that can derive from its exposure.
"The Wife-Beater"
Exercise 12.1
Identifying the Elements of an Argument by
Definition
1. The popular clothing item- the wife beater is
an offensive term in aspect of origin and definition.
2. Stereotypes
of men wearing this style shirt as wife-beaters, teaches the wrong thing about
men, associated with gay and gang subcultures and rap music, it is unsure the
origin of the name.
3. Smith
gives dictionary definitions to get a bigger perspective on the term to the
audience.
4. The
author refutes his definition by stating; “the term was not to spousal abuse
per se but to popular-culture figures…” Yes it was refuted convincingly because it
stated why the position was valid however giving reason to why the term is
still a problem.
5. Yes;
it visually explains what the author is emphasizing in the essay. It shows male
dominance and edge- many associations linked to the term wife-beater.