Tang's: Social Networking Enhances The Free Exchange Of Ideas
When writing to persuade, it is important to use solid and credible information in order to gain support from others. Along with that, it is essential to provide a reasonable solution that anyone can follow (such as moderating the use of technology instead of eliminating the usage). This seems to be the case with the two essays: Tang’s: Social Networks are Time Bandits, and Wood’s: Social Networking Enhances the Free Exchange of Ideas. Wood’s essay explains the benefits of social networks to students today using credible examples, while Tang’s essay lies mostly on opinionated thoughts. In Wood’s essay, she writes of how technology today has connected students and teachers outside of class. This means that even while on the go, students
can continually find out information, homework, and ask questions to their instructors at home. These benefits are alluring to the readers, its logos. Woods is using logic to convince her reader; by using the internet to connect with instructors for learning purposes outside of the classroom can allow for a better learning experience. Wood’s brings on examples of social networking between students and teachers as stated, “Social networking tools also facilitate intellectual engagement... Racism Review, a multiauthor blog produced by Jessie Daniels (Hunter College) and Joe Feagin (Texas A&M University) explores issues of racism in politics and culture from a sociological perspective, with active, intelligent conversation in the comments on each post. The American Sociological Association publishes blogs alongside its Contexts magazine. Scienceblogs.com hosts more than 70 well-researched and documented blogs with numerous contributors and commenters” (3). By having Wood’s include credible websites where students and instructors unite outside of class, makes her argument stronger for the reason that these are safe websites used for educational purposes. On the other hand, Tang’s essay doesn’t rely on any reliable sources to support her argument. Tang’s essay is about the dangers of social media, she believes that social networks take time away from students and deprive them from a better education. Although there are many articles and journals that can be found dealing with the topic of the dangers of technology, Tang doesn’t include any. This makes her argument seem more opinionated, for example, “Moreover, the possibility of immediate interaction that these sites offer poses a huge distraction. As long as users have access to the Internet, they can be plugged in 24/7—literally: whether they are in class, writing up assignments in the lab or studying late at night. This can cause serious time management issues” (2). Here she provides no outside sources to support her idea that the reason college students procrastinate is due to social networking. There can be many reasons for students not doing well in school (such as personal issues, poverty, drug use, partying) and social networking can have little effect compared to those other issues. Tang does use an example of Michael Phelps’s career downfall due to a Facebook post, but again it wasn’t the main reason for his failure, his use of drugs had a larger effect than social media. To sum up, Tang doesn’t provide solid information to make her argument seem more persuasive. In conclusion, Wood’s provided a better argument compared to Tang. Wood’s use of bringing outside sources into her essay allowed it to be more reasonable, while Tang’s mostly relied on opinions and the theory that students may not be doing well in school due to social networks(without bringing in articles or research to support this claim).
can continually find out information, homework, and ask questions to their instructors at home. These benefits are alluring to the readers, its logos. Woods is using logic to convince her reader; by using the internet to connect with instructors for learning purposes outside of the classroom can allow for a better learning experience. Wood’s brings on examples of social networking between students and teachers as stated, “Social networking tools also facilitate intellectual engagement... Racism Review, a multiauthor blog produced by Jessie Daniels (Hunter College) and Joe Feagin (Texas A&M University) explores issues of racism in politics and culture from a sociological perspective, with active, intelligent conversation in the comments on each post. The American Sociological Association publishes blogs alongside its Contexts magazine. Scienceblogs.com hosts more than 70 well-researched and documented blogs with numerous contributors and commenters” (3). By having Wood’s include credible websites where students and instructors unite outside of class, makes her argument stronger for the reason that these are safe websites used for educational purposes. On the other hand, Tang’s essay doesn’t rely on any reliable sources to support her argument. Tang’s essay is about the dangers of social media, she believes that social networks take time away from students and deprive them from a better education. Although there are many articles and journals that can be found dealing with the topic of the dangers of technology, Tang doesn’t include any. This makes her argument seem more opinionated, for example, “Moreover, the possibility of immediate interaction that these sites offer poses a huge distraction. As long as users have access to the Internet, they can be plugged in 24/7—literally: whether they are in class, writing up assignments in the lab or studying late at night. This can cause serious time management issues” (2). Here she provides no outside sources to support her idea that the reason college students procrastinate is due to social networking. There can be many reasons for students not doing well in school (such as personal issues, poverty, drug use, partying) and social networking can have little effect compared to those other issues. Tang does use an example of Michael Phelps’s career downfall due to a Facebook post, but again it wasn’t the main reason for his failure, his use of drugs had a larger effect than social media. To sum up, Tang doesn’t provide solid information to make her argument seem more persuasive. In conclusion, Wood’s provided a better argument compared to Tang. Wood’s use of bringing outside sources into her essay allowed it to be more reasonable, while Tang’s mostly relied on opinions and the theory that students may not be doing well in school due to social networks(without bringing in articles or research to support this claim).