Length: 4-5 pages
Choose one of the following essays to respond to in a thesis-driven essay of your own:
Steven Johnson, “It’s All about Us”
Brian Williams, “Enough About You”
Zach Waggoner, “Videogames, Avatars, and Identity”
Write an evaluation of the essay you choose, with the aim of demonstrating whether or not you found the article persuasive. Criteria for evaluation might include clarity of thesis, representativeness of examples/evidence, effective use of rhetorical techniques, consistency of logic, consideration of opposing positions. If your evaluation is positive (e.g., you find the argument persuasive), support the article’s thesis with examples of digital texts you’ve encountered. If your evaluation is negative, use examples of digital texts you’ve encountered to either a) refute the author’s thesis or b) support the article’s thesis more accurately or clearly.
Structuring your essay:
There are many possibilities; here is one suggested outline:
I. Brief summary of article (author, thesis, examples provided)
II. Statement of your positive or negative evaluation (this is your thesis)
III. Support for your evaluation: particular examples from the article that explain your reasoning for your evaluation. For example, if you’re writing a positive evaluation, you might point to particular examples the article’s authors provide, noting how they are effective.
IV. Inclusion of your own evidence to support or refute the author’s position. Bonus: provide a semiotic analysis of one or more digital texts.