Progression 3: Exercise 3.2 - The Dialogue

Gibran Sheikh

Professor Macklin

English 115

29 October 2012

Exercise 3.2 - The Dialogue

The following is a fictional dialogue between Nicholas Carr, the author of the article “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, and James Paul Gee, the author of Why Video Games Are Good for Your Soul: Pleasure and Learning. Both authors are seated comfortably in a café on a chilly autumn morning, and the two have yet to await their coffees. Nicholas Carr will here-on be referred to as “Carr”, and James Paul Gee will be referred to as “Gee”.

Gee: Man, these guys take a long time to prepare a cup of coffee. At least it will be fresh, don’t you agree?

Carr: Yeah, I’ve been waiting a good five minutes and I’m starting to fall back asleep, heh. How are you Mr…?

Gee: Gee, James Paul Gee, and I’m fine, how are you, Mr….?

Carr: Carr, Nicholas Carr. Nice to meet you.

Gee: Hmm..Carr..It sounds like a familiar name. Are you some sort of writer?

Carr: Why yes, I am an author of an article that I titled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”

Gee: Ah, yes I remember reading that article, heheh.

Carr: Good sir, why do you laugh?

Gee: Well kind sir, I have to say I disagreed with your views upon certain technology, such as that of the internet.

Carr: But why? I have clearly assessed the factors that cause the Net, as I call it, to diminish an individual’s overall concentration. It is in my view as I stated in my article, that all “the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation”. You’d have to agree with that, right?

Gee: Why no, I wouldn’t as a matter of fact. I’d like to impose that the possibilities that are granted by technology are immense. It has come to my knowledge that technology carries out far greater outcomes rather than diminishing one’s concentration. I too am a writer; I have published a book that I called Why Video Games Are Good for Your Soul. It is a good read for one such as you.

Carr: Hmm, yes, I do believe skimming through that particular piece. That brings me up to my point, I skimmed it. You see? With a medium as colossal as the Net, we humans are forced to only take what we want and no more. We end up bored and inattentive.

Gee: Inattentive? My good sir, in my article media such as the internet does all but unamuse someone. In my book, I talked about video games, a medium that many know, and that many enjoy. In all honesty media is both a pleasurable and a learning experience for many individuals, and society as a whole. You see, a medium is some in some aspect good for your soul.

Carr: Soul?

Gee: Yes, your soul. I mean a part of an individual that will not perish, a part that can sympathize and grieve over death many times over, and still be shaped by morals. It is part of you that is able to feed of meanings and morals in the aspects of life. Video games prove to be a positive source towards an individual’s soul, simply because the meanings of culture, morality, and society are all introduced. The same can go for the internet; it holds many different meanings across the multiple societies that compose it.

Carr: I see what you mean, but still I have to disagree on how medium such as the internet and video games prove to be a positive factor. You may call me a skeptic, but the way I see it, is that mediums like the Net or video games only serve to belittle our potential. I would see video games as a way of manipulating an individual’s overall concentration, yet I see where you stand.

Gee: Yes, thank you. I do see how you may feel a bit skeptical on the Net. I know how you may see an individual lacking focus in certain situations.

Carr: Yes, thanks. I guess we’ll have to stand on our own separate positions..heh.

Gee: Yes, well our coffees seem to be ready.

Carr: Ah, yes. Finally. Mm, the fresh aroma of the coffee is starting to wake me up already, and it tastes great. Wouldn’t you agree?
Gee: Yes, I think we can both agree on that, heheh.

The two continue to enjoy their coffees on this autumn morning, both delightfully sipping their warm coffees. As they finish their coffees, they both shake hands and depart to continue with their daily lives.

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" TheAtlantic.com. The Atlantic Monthly Group, July-Aug. 2008. Web. 30 Oct. 2012. <http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/>.

Gee, James Paul. "Chapter 1." Introduction. Why Video Games Are Good for Your Soul: Pleasure and Learning. Melbourne, Vic.: Common Ground, 2005. 1-7. Print.

Progression 3: Exercise 3.1 - Analyzing Claims

Gibran Sheikh

Professor Macklin

English 115

24 October 2012

Exercise 3.1 – Analyzing Claims

            Nicholas Carr, the author of “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, presents a claim about the world-renown website Google. In his article, Carr describes how such a well-known site tampers with the minds of individuals. Carr explains how a famous site such as Google leads an individual to ultimately wander from link to link all across the internet. As he later states, the internet leads an individual to “scatter [their] attention and diffuse [their] concentration” (Carr). Carr informs certain individuals about the skeptics of the internet, and that a powerful search engine can, in the end, “tinker” with an individual’s mind. He continues to state that there is a seemingly uncomfortable vibe that is given by the internet, or Net, as he calls it. Inputting his own personal life, Carr states that he has spent countless hours searching the Net and even contributing to its database, and he agrees that the internet has become an essential factor of media in general. However, Carr comes back to his point of how the internet ultimately is “chipping away at [his] capacity for concentration and contemplation”. Carr also explains how the internet is a basis of distraction and how it serves to diminish an individual’s involvement in certain materials. Carr also argues that the Net is responsible for the alteration in the minds of many, different individuals. Carr climactically reestablishes his claim towards the end of his article; in his eyes, the internet eventually is responsible for the drop in the general intellect of certain individuals.

            The article presented by Carr is generally consistent, in terms of Carr’s main argument; however, Carr drifts from his main points, making it unclear of his final position. A skeptic, Carr takes in the internet as a medium of destruction. He claims it to ultimately diminish an individual’s thought process, making them “stupid”. As an analyzer of Carr’s claim, I find it evident that Carr’s logic is unreasonable. He is a bit too skeptical of the internet as a whole, only explaining how it is used for basic searches and compositions, even though the internet is of greater use: entertainment, current events, sports, and general information. In other words, an individual may decide to search for something in which he or she may already know the outcome or answer. Say an individual saw something on another medium such as television, and that individual wanted to inform others of what he or she saw; they would use the internet as a tool of reference, not necessarily for search. Carr’s use of citation and background for his claim go well with his argument; however, there are points in which Carr flows away from his topic. As Carr drifts from claims, it is understandable that Carr’s claim is indeed an opinion. As Carr explains his use for Google, “a few Google searches…and I’ve got the telltale fact or pithy quote I was after” (Carr) he seems to misunderstand the ultimate purpose of the search-engine. Google will give Carr that of which he searches for, but nothing more. It is merely a tool of the internet, and nothing more. It puzzles me as to why Carr did not thoroughly explain his point in this part of the article; nonetheless he fails to persuade me in particular. Carr’s skepticism towards the internet as a whole and not just Google is what makes his argument frail and dainty. As I see it, a search-engine such as Google is merely a tool, a cosmic spoon perhaps, for the internet, the universal bowl of soup. 

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" The Atlantic. Disqus, Aug. 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. <http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/>.

Greenfield Article - Brendan, Olga, Gibran

1) How would you describe the tone of Greenfield's essay? Are there specific words that stand out? What effect do you think this tone might have on readers who don't readily agree with Greenfield's positions?


We felt that the tone of the essay was informative. Greenfield uses strong, academic language throughout the essay. She says words like crisis, tragic, and vital that will make an impact on the reader. She also presents strong, interesting facts from resources. By using strong facts from sources like Harvard, she builds credibility for herself that may help her make gains in convincing people who don't agree with her view. Greenfield presents lots of good information and questions throughout the article in a calm, informative tone that ultimately may convince people who don't agree with her.

Progression 2: Essay 2 - Final

Gibran Sheikh

Professor Macklin

English 115

18 October 2012

Modern Chivalry: A Decline to the Gentleman’s Code

            Modern chivalry, the code of male ethics, is one of the abstract concepts in life that some males abide to. For those clueless as to what modern chivalry is, it is a simple gesture of courteousness. Modern day society claims it no longer has use for a man’s chivalry, but in reality, chivalry is the characteristic of certain men that distinguishes them from others. That is, chivalry is what gentleman display which not only brightens their day, but also brightens the days of other people. Presently the concept of chivalry has noticeably diminished, and as people are becoming much more self-sufficient, it leaves men to no longer be gentlemen. The abstract concept of chivalry should not be one to fall out of place in society; it is an idea that should not become obsolete.

            An image that displays the decline in chivalry depicts a couple, the man in the couple has his gaze fixed on another woman passing by, while the woman in the couple has a thought bubble; in it she thinks about a princely gentleman with a rose for her at her window (Precious Pat). Messages that emanate from the image are that men aren’t how they used to be and the knights in shining armor simply aren’t there anymore. Taking a look at history, it is stated that chivalry was the class that deemed a young man a knight (Encyclopedia Britannica). From there the term chivalry changed its definition to what most people in society understand it as today: courtesy (Encyclopedia Britannica). Going back to the image described, it is a princely gentleman whom the woman in the couple dreams of. In this case the male in the couple lacks chivalry, as he is not a gentleman in the eyes of his girlfriend. Modern chivalry, courteousness, is crucial to gentlemen because it is a factor amongst others which defines them, and in the case of women, it is chivalry that sparks a meaningful relationship. If society had forsaken chivalry, in turn gentlemen would also be forsaken; therefore chivalry should remain, as should gentlemen.

While some men choose to live with the so-called “swag”, a term manipulated by internet slang and modern society, others are aware that this is of no use to anyone; therefore, the men who understand the ultimate uselessness of “swag” display chivalry. Men with nothing but “swag”, as internet slang defines it, are men who display disrespect, inconsideration of others, and absolute discourtesy. These men are those among other people in society who are the cause of the decline in chivalry. Chivalry is a concept shadowed by other, negative concepts such as “swag”; however, it is able to be shown the light if brought up by other men, gentlemen. It is these men who, in reality, can fend for others and themselves in certain situations, order a bottle of Chardonnay wine if the occasion calls for it, or simply hold open a door for a passing pedestrian. These are the men that society needs for chivalry to brighten back to society, so that society may view courtesy once more.

Chivalry today is something that plays a strong part in marriage, the union of two select individuals. Chivalry is a positive additive in a marriage because not only does a man show respect to his wife, but the two learn to communicate better and learn to care for each other. In some cases there is, amongst other things, an absence in chivalry in some marriages. In this case there is a divorce, a split between the union of two individuals. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) states a divorce rate that is half as high as the marriage rate in the United States. With that statistic, it appears difficult for men and women both to find someone to their liking. Man’s chivalry towards others is a factor amidst others that are needed in a successful marriage, and without it, some married couples will struggle to work. Accordingly, chivalry is furthermore needed in marriage as well as a variety of reasons. With so many reasons accounted for, it is crucial that chivalry does not bleed out of society.

            As a society progresses, we can easily observe how men and women interact with one another, and thus it is surely apparent that a society’s dependence on man has slightly died down. For example, there is an increase in the number of stay-at-home fathers, nearly double that of what it used to be in the past decade (U.S Census Bureau). That being said, it is apparent that some men today aren’t the ones in the workplace; therefore, women are the ones being depended on, rather than the men. It used to be that the men bring home the bacon, the women cook the bacon, and the children eat the bacon; but this idea doesn’t seem to pertain to some families in the modern day society. It seems that in a modern society, dependence on man isn’t where it used to be. Dependence on a man was something that chivalry thrived on, but as modern society continues to grow on its own, it is evident that as independence of men increases, chivalry slightly decreases. It is up to society to view chivalry as a benefit to man and itself, so that the concept does not fall out of place.

            Formerly, it was proper that when men and women dined, women would be served first, and men last, giving the idea that the man was ultimately responsible for the bill. Presently, however, we see that while some restaurants may still follow this basis of servitude, others may choose to serve men and women in matters they choose. In other words, it is recognizable that women may actually be served last and may be responsible for the bill. In the case of a couple dining, where chivalry is most needed, a woman paying for the meal seems to take away from the man. It’s a nice gesture for a woman to pay for the meal, but if the man was looking for an opportunity to display chivalry, he has lost it. To many, paying the bill is a gesture of common courtesy; it’s the fact that counts, and in the case of men, it’s what defines their chivalry. If man could not be defined by chivalry, then the concept has concluded, and society has lost a valuable asset to the male characteristics.

            Modern chivalry is what men go by to make their lives easier and the lives of others a bit more meaningful. It is an abstract concept derived by “gentlemen” to serve as a basis for the male code of life. Not all men go by it, but those who do are those who warm the hearts of others; however, it is notable that modern day society has seen a decline and overall “death” in chivalry. It is up to modern day society to look into those who do display it and therefore change them from being defined as merely men to that of a gentleman. No longer can society blame men for the decline in chivalry, it must blame itself.

Works Cited

"2010 Census." 2010Census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://2010.census.gov/2010census/>.

"Chivalry." Britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/113409/chivalry>.

"Marriage and Divorce." Www.cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/divorce.htm>.

"Modern Chivalry." ChivalryNow.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://www.chivalrynow.net/articles/chivalry.htm>.

Williams, Alex. "Just Wait Until Your Mother Gets Home." Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 12 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/fashion/dads-are-taking-over-as-full-time-parents.html?pagewanted=all>.

Progression 2: Essay 2 Draft

Gibran Sheikh

Professor Macklin

English 115

14 October 2012

Modern Chivalry: A Decline to the Gentleman’s Code

            Modern chivalry, the code of male ethics, is one of the abstract concepts in life that some males abide to. While some men choose to live the so-called “thug life”, others are aware that this “thug life” is of no use to anyone; therefore, these men display chivalry. These are the men that society depicts as “gentlemen”, or simply men with respect and the consideration of others. The concept of modern chivalry is known throughout the world by men and women as “the gentleman’s code” and such a code is known to be useful in the presence of other men and women, “the fair ladies”. It used to be that a man was only worthy of being such a gentleman if  he showed honor, loyalty, and respect towards others; however, it seems that to this day men have become lesser than that of what they used to be. It seems that a modern day society no longer has use for a man’s chivalry, but in reality, chivalry is one of those male codes that call for gestures pleasant to others. In other words, chivalry is what a gentleman goes by to make his day and the days of others brighter. Nowadays some people do not need the respect of others, let alone men, to function with their everyday lives, but that doesn’t mean a person should stop being courteous towards another. Evidently nowadays the concept of chivalry has noticeably diminished, and people are becoming much more self-sufficient, leaving men to be displayed no longer as gentlemen but should the concept of man’s chivalry really subside?

            An image that displays the decline in chivalry depicts a man and a woman together, the man in the couple has his gaze fixed on another woman passing by, while the woman in the couple has a thought bubble; in it she thinks about a princely gentleman with a rose for her at her window. Some of the messages that emanate from the image are that men aren’t how they used to be, or the “knights in shining armor” simply aren’t there anymore. This being said, it is clear that certain women aren’t finding what they want. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) states a divorce rate that is half as high as the marriage rate in the United Sates. With that statistic, it appears difficult for men and women both to find someone to their liking. Marriage is defined as the union between couples; who have decided to spend the rest of their lives with each other. Sometimes the part of “spending the rest of their lives with each other” doesn’t come across the couples minds, and that may lead to a divorce, other times it’s for other reasons.  Usually a divorce is not due to the lack of physical appeal or wealth; it is due to the couple’s incompatibility to communicate. Chivalry is important in a marriage because not only does a man show respect to his wife, but the two learn to communicate better and learn to care for each other easily. A man being a gentleman with his spouse is something women look forward to in a marriage because it makes them happy, it makes them feel like “queens”, and everyone knows that if a man’s wife is happy, that man is happy. Man’s chivalry towards others is something that is needed in a successful marriage, and without it, most married couples will struggle to work. Perhaps in some cases it is not always the man who makes the mistake, but this does not mean such a man should stop his display of courteousness. An honorable man should not be tempted to completely lose all his respect about a certain situation, especially one that calls for divorce.

            As a society progresses, we can easily observe how men and women interact with one another, and thus it is surely apparent that a society’s dependence on man has slightly died down. For example, there is an increase in the number of stay-at-home fathers, nearly double that of what it used to be in the past decade (U.S Census Bureau). That being said, it is apparent that some men today aren’t the ones in the workplace; therefore, women are the ones being depended on, rather than the men. It used to be that the men bring home the bacon, the women cook the bacon, and the children eat the bacon; but this idea doesn’t seem to pertain to some families in the modern day society. It seems that in a modern society, dependence on man isn’t where it used to be. Dependence on a man was something that chivalry thrived on, but as modern society continues to grow on its own, it is evident that this is something chivalry can no longer thrive on. Formerly, it was proper that when men and women dined, women would be served first, and men last, giving the idea that the man was ultimately responsible for the bill. Presently, however, we see that while some restaurants may still follow this basis of servitude, others may choose to serve men and women in matters they choose. In other words, it is recognizable that women may actually be served last and may be responsible for the bill. In the case of a couple, where chivalry is most needed, a woman paying for the food seems to take away from the man. It’s a nice gesture for a woman to pay for the meal, but if the man was looking for an opportunity to display chivalry, he has lost it. Now some may say that a woman paying a bill is really no different than a man paying a bill, and honestly, that is true, but it’s the fact that counts, and in the case of men, it’s what defines them.

            Modern chivalry is what men go by to make their lives easier and the lives of others a bit more meaningful. It is an abstract concept derived by “gentlemen” to serve as a basis for the male code of life. Not all gentlemen go by it, but those who do are those who warm the hearts of others; however, it is notable that modern day society has seen a decline and overall “death” in chivalry and the men who display it. It is up to modern day society to look into those who do display it and therefore change them from being defined as merely men to that of a gentleman.