Prompt: Most teenagers carry cell phones everywhere with
them, and even sleep with them at night. Some people argue that smartphones
help teenagers build relationships, while others argue that teenagers are so
addicted to using their phones that their face-to-face interactions suffer. Are
cellphones helpful or harmful to teenagers? Write a multi-paragraph argument
essay in which you make a claim, address a possible counterargument, and
support your thinking with evidence from both texts.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Is Teenagers' Smartphone Obsession Really Bad? (Text
#1)
Adapted
from an article by Vishwa Gujarat
1 Parents'
fears about their teenagers' heavy use of cell phones and social media may be exaggerated
as the youngsters' online worlds may be an extension of their offline lives, a new study suggests.
2 "We
see young people constantly on their phones and assume negative effects, but
much of the research to date tells a more positive story," said lead
researcher Candice Odgers from Duke University.
3 "When
we look closely, we see similarities between online and offline communications
and activities," Odgers explained.
4 Rather
than connecting with strangers, most adolescents use digital media to interact
with friends and acquaintances in their face-to-face social networks.
5 "The
overlap between offline and online connections is so striking that viewing what
happens online as somehow separate from teenagers' ‘real lives' is a false
distinction," said co-researcher Madeleine J. George.
6 Although
cell-phone use may take away time spent with parents, if the existing
relationship is strong, the new technology can allow more frequent, positive
parent-child contact, researchers suggested.
7 However,
parents' fears about sleep loss are well founded, the authors noted. Those who
use their phones after lights out were twice as likely to report being tired
the next day as those who did not.
8 "Watching
people who get their first smartphone, there's a very quick progression from
having a basic phone you don't talk about to people who love their iPhone, name
their phone and buy their phones outfits," said Lisa Merlo, director of
psychotherapy training at the University of Florida. Merlo, a clinical
psychologist, said she's observed a number of behaviors among smartphone users that she labels
"problematic." Among them, Merlo says some patients pretend to talk
on the phone or fiddle with apps to avoid eye contact or other interactions.
Others are so genuinely engrossed in their phones that they ignore the people
around them completely.
9 "The
more bells and whistles the phone has," she says, "the more likely
they are to get too attached."
10 "As
the first generation of digital natives progress through young adulthood, we
need to move beyond our fears and design studies that can test whether, how and
for whom online worlds are creating new risks, presenting new opportunities, or
both," Odgers said.
How Cell Phones Are Killing Face-to-Face Interactions (Text #2)
Adapted from an article by Mark Glaser
1 Whether
you are dating someone, interviewing someone, or just meeting someone for the
first time, there is a special quality about face-to-face interactions. You can
catch the subtle tone in their voice, see their expression as it changes from
sad to outraged, and you can look them in the eye to see if you trust them.
2 So it’s
unfortunate that real-life interactions are on the outs as cell phone
conversations, texting, instant messaging and Facebook start to take up more of
our time. For young people especially, having a cell phone in hand and at the
ready is the default mode while walking the streets. That means much less
chance of conversation with the people who populate their real lives.
3 Of
course, I am not anti-technology and am in awe of the iPhone just like the next
gadget freak. But when my friend chooses to tap on his iPhone while we are out
having dinner, I feel like I’m having dinner for three: me, him and the iPhone.
We often joke about his techno-habit and how hard it is to break, but the joke
gets old when it becomes reality.
4 In many
cases, having a cell phone around can be a huge help. In emergencies, you can
call the police or a friend quickly. If you’re running late, you can tell
someone where you are. And having music is great when you’re out exercising or
if you have a long cross-country flight.
5 The
problem is that despite all our raging against bad cell phone habits, they
continue to happen. People talk on cell phones out at restaurants, and they
text while driving.
6 There
have even been studies showing that cell phones are causing the same problems
as other addictive behavior. According to a University of Florida news story, a
Japanese study found that children with cell phones often won’t make friends
with other children who don’t have cell phones. Plus, a British study of
college students found that 7% of students had lost a relationship or job due
to cell phone usage.
7 That’s a
warning sign that we as a society are giving in to our electronic addiction,
and putting more faith in technology than in our own real-world concerns. I
wonder whether more electronic communication will mean less face-to-face
conversations, and we’ll have generations of people who are more comfortable
texting their friends than talking to them in person.
8 What do
you think? Are we as a society becoming obsessed with cell phones, texting and
social media? Is that a good or bad thing and what’s the best way you find to
balance tech usage and unplugging?
Practice
#1: Prompt attack. Pull out the question and come up with the two possible
claims you could argue.
Prompt: Most teenagers carry cell phones everywhere with
them, and even sleep with them at night. Some people argue that smartphones
help teenagers build relationships, while others argue that teenagers are so
addicted to using their phones that their face-to-face interactions suffer. Are
cellphones helpful or harmful to teenagers? Write a multi-paragraph argument
essay in which you make a claim, address a possible counterargument, and
support your thinking with evidence from both texts.
Question: ____________________________________________________________________
|
Claim
A:
|
Claim
B:
|
Practice
#2: T-chart. Based on the question and claims you pulled from the prompt, find
relevant evidence from both texts and take notes in the chart below.
Prompt: Most teenagers carry cell phones everywhere with
them, and even sleep with them at night. Some people argue that smartphones
help teenagers build relationships, while others argue that teenagers are so
addicted to using their phones that their face-to-face interactions suffer. Are
cellphones helpful or harmful to teenagers? Write a multi-paragraph argument
essay in which you make a claim, address a possible counterargument, and
support your thinking with evidence from both texts.
Question: Are cellphones helpful or harmful to teenagers?
|
Claim
A:
Cell
phones are helpful to teenagers.
|
Claim
B:
Cell
phones are harmful to teenagers.
|
|
ITS
2: can be positive
"We see young people constantly
on their phones and assume negative effects, but much of the research to date
tells a more positive story," said lead researcher Candice Odgers from
Duke University.”
HCP
4: ___________________________________
“In many cases, having a cell phone around
can be a huge help. In emergencies, you can call the police or a friend
quickly. If you’re running late, you can tell someone where you are.”
|
|
Practice
#3: Notes to #reasons
Based
on the notes and text evidence in the chart below, hashtag your #reasons.
Remember, you need 2-3 for the claim you’ll be arguing.
Prompt:
Most teenagers carry cell phones everywhere with them, and even sleep with them
at night. Some people argue that smartphones help teenagers build
relationships, while others argue that teenagers are so addicted to using their
phones that their face-to-face interactions suffer. Are cellphones helpful or
harmful to teenagers? Write a multi-paragraph argument essay in which you make
a claim, address a possible counterargument, and support your thinking with
evidence from both texts.
Question:
Are cellphones helpful or harmful to teenagers?
|
Claim
A:
Cell
phones are helpful to teenagers.
|
Claim
B:
Cell
phones are harmful to teenagers.
|
|
ITS
2: can be positive
"We see young people constantly
on their phones and assume negative effects, but much of the research to date
tells a more positive story," said lead researcher Candice Odgers from
Duke University.”
#positive research
ITS
4: used to support existing relationships
“Rather than connecting with
strangers, most adolescents use digital media to interact with friends and
acquaintances in their face-to-face social networks.”
#good for relationships
ITS
6: can support relationships with parents
“Although
cell-phone use may take away time spent with parents, if the existing
relationship is strong, the new technology can allow more frequent, positive
parent-child contact, researchers suggested.”
HCP
4: helpful for communication
“In many cases, having a cell phone around
can be a huge help. In emergencies, you can call the police or a friend
quickly. If you’re running late, you can tell someone where you are.”
|
ITS
7: phones can cause sleep problems
“However,
parents' fears about sleep loss are well founded, the authors noted. Those
who use their phones after lights out were twice as likely to report being
tired the next day as those who did not.”
ITS
8: make people disconnected from those around them
“Merlo says some
patients pretend to talk on the phone or fiddle with apps to avoid eye
contact or other interactions. Others are so genuinely engrossed in their
phones that they ignore the people around them completely.”
HCP
2: make teenagers cut off from face-to-face conversations
“For young people especially, having a cell
phone in hand and at the ready is the default mode while walking the streets.
That means much less chance of conversation with the people who populate
their real lives.”
HCP
6: cell phones are addictive and hurt relationships
“There have even been studies showing that
cell phones are causing the same problems as other addictive behavior.
According to a University of Florida news story, a Japanese study found that
children with cell phones often won’t make friends with other children who
don’t have cell phones. Plus, a British study of college students found that
7% of students had lost a relationship or job due to cell phone usage.”
|
Practice
#4 Speed Introduction: Using the prompt ONLY, write an introduction paragraph
as fast as you can.
Extra
Help: You may use your introduction cheat sheet.
Prompt: Most teenagers carry cell phones everywhere with
them, and even sleep with them at night. Some people argue that smartphones
help teenagers build relationships, while others argue that teenagers are so
addicted to using their phones that their face-to-face interactions suffer. Are
cellphones helpful or harmful to teenagers? Write a multi-paragraph argument
essay in which you make a claim, address a possible counterargument, and
support your thinking with evidence from both texts.
Question: Are cellphones helpful or harmful to teenagers?
|
Claim
A:
Cell
phones are helpful to teenagers.
|
Claim
B:
Cell
phones are harmful to teenagers.
|
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stop time: ______________
Practice
#5: Speed Body: Using the claim, #reason, and notes below, write a body
paragraph as fast as you can.
Extra
Help: You may use your body cheat sheet.
Claim: Cell
phones are helpful to teenagers.
#Reason: #good
for relationships
Notes:
ITS 4: used to support existing relationships
“Rather than connecting with strangers,
most adolescents use digital media to interact with friends and acquaintances
in their face-to-face social networks.” #good for relationships
ITS 6: can support relationships with parents
“Although cell-phone use may take away time spent with
parents, if the existing relationship is strong, the new technology can allow
more frequent, positive parent-child contact, researchers suggested.” #good for relationships
Source: “Is
Teenagers' Smartphone Obsession Really Bad?” Adapted
from an article by Vishwa Gujarat
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Stop time: ______________
Practice
#6: Speed Counterargument.
