When things go wrong, often one may look for a scapegoat, or some other reasoning behind an issue. This is psychological phenomenon in which something, or someone, is blamed for the sins or problems of others (Mathews). During the course of Jeff Greenfield’s essay on the influence of the television “Don’t Blame TV” he makes a persuasive argument attempting to prove the point that the television is not the thing causing some of the issues seen in America today, but rather just a scapegoat. Greenfield devises his thesis in the first few paragraphs, including a list of objects that society has blamed on the influence of the television inside the home (279). This list is then used as a guide for the different points that Greenfield will bring
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This logic can be seen when Greenfield presents a situation that has been blamed TV, and uses a logical argument to dismiss the claims. Many of the issues brought up in the essay are easily shot down, but some are harder to tackle, such as the influence of TV on divorce. Divorce, Greenfield claims “it was changes in American society that made divorce more acceptable on television” (281). Another part of the essay that is key to the persuasion of the reader, is that the author must compliment sincerely (Nazar). This has to do with addressing the opposition, something that Greenfield does when he lists many of the different ways that TV has influenced people, from wardrobes to catchphrases (280). The issue and main weakness of this essay, is that some of those wardrobes and catchphrases are now warn out, whereas they would have been widely known when the essay was …show more content…
While some college students have been cultured by their parents or have watched some of the older shows, even they might not get the references on first pass. This makes it very hard for a reader in a college composition class who is likely under the age of 21 and some that might be younger than 18 when they begin, to understand these references without looking them up. Being able to look up these references through the increased availability of technology does make the examples better. A student can simply google some of the catchphrases or characters mentioned, and at least get a simple understanding of the reference, enough to continue reading. Even the United States Department of Education agrees that the use of technology can support teaching and learning (Use of Technology). This is not going to have the same effectiveness if the student were to fully know the references, but Greenfield was not likely writing for college students in 2015, 29 years after the article was first
This logic can be seen when Greenfield presents a situation that has been blamed TV, and uses a logical argument to dismiss the claims. Many of the issues brought up in the essay are easily shot down, but some are harder to tackle, such as the influence of TV on divorce. Divorce, Greenfield claims “it was changes in American society that made divorce more acceptable on television” (281). Another part of the essay that is key to the persuasion of the reader, is that the author must compliment sincerely (Nazar). This has to do with addressing the opposition, something that Greenfield does when he lists many of the different ways that TV has influenced people, from wardrobes to catchphrases (280). The issue and main weakness of this essay, is that some of those wardrobes and catchphrases are now warn out, whereas they would have been widely known when the essay was …show more content…
While some college students have been cultured by their parents or have watched some of the older shows, even they might not get the references on first pass. This makes it very hard for a reader in a college composition class who is likely under the age of 21 and some that might be younger than 18 when they begin, to understand these references without looking them up. Being able to look up these references through the increased availability of technology does make the examples better. A student can simply google some of the catchphrases or characters mentioned, and at least get a simple understanding of the reference, enough to continue reading. Even the United States Department of Education agrees that the use of technology can support teaching and learning (Use of Technology). This is not going to have the same effectiveness if the student were to fully know the references, but Greenfield was not likely writing for college students in 2015, 29 years after the article was first