Objective:
To
summarize and analyze the effectiveness of two arguments presented in the
article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”
Directions: Read
the article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Then, write a three-paragraph essay
(approximately 500 words) following the organizational pattern described below:
Paragraph
One: Write a paragraph summarizing Nicholas Carr’s
argument.
Paragraph
Two: Write a paragraph summarizing Peter Norvig’s argument.
Paragraph
Three: Write a paragraph explaining
which argument you found more convincing and why, discussing specific methods
(appeals, types of evidence, counterarguments, etc.) used by the author that
make his argument so effective.
General
Requirements:
1.
Format your essay in standard MLA style (See
the MLA format resources in the Unit 1 folder).
2.
Organize your essay into three complete
paragraphs of approximately 500 words for the total essay.
3.
Provide specific details and quotes from both
arguments to support your ideas. When using the exact words from the article,
you must enclose them in quotation marks. Introduce your quotes with signal
phrases such as Carr writes, or Norvig asserts, before the quotation. You do
not need citations for this essay.
4.
Proofread carefully for grammar and spelling
errors.
5.
All essays must be typed and saved in Microsoft
Word and submitted to the dropbox for the assignment as a .docx, .rtf, .pdf, or
.odt file.
6.
Only use the primary source (“Is Google Making
Us Stupid?”) for this assignment. No secondary sources (websites, use of AI
such as Chat GPT allowed). Any evidence that secondary sources have been used
for the assignment may result in a disciplinary referral for academic
misconduct.
Tips on Writing Your Argument
Analysis
For paragraphs
one and two,
1.
Start by writing your topic sentence. Use
phrases such as the following: Carr believes that…, Norvig argues that…, Carr asserts
that…, Norvig insists that…Always refer to authors by their full name or last
name only, never by their first name by itself.
2.
Cite evidence from the text using starter stems
such as these: “Norvig states,” “According to Carr,”.
Explain
the how/why of the evidence and how it connects to the topic sentence using one
of the stems: “Basically, this means…,” “In other words,” “The point is, …”
3.
Write out the concluding sentence. This
sentence should summarize the author’s perspective on the topic.
For
paragraph three,
1.
Provide a topic sentence that states your
opinion regarding which argument is more effective. You should on which
argument is more well-supported, not whose opinion you agree with.
Use phrases
such as “Ultimately, I believe ____’s argument is more convincing because
______.”
2.
Explain methods used by the authors to support
their claims that you found to be effective or ineffective (types of appeals,
evidence presented, counterarguments, etc.). Provide specific details and
quotes from each author to support your opinions.
3.
Provide a concluding sentence that summarizes
and reinforces your opinion of which argument is more convincing.
