Point by Point Comparison/Contrast Paper

Introduction

In the last century, the development in different technologies has grown progressively. Our society has progresses a lot further then it was a century ago. Humans have built different tools to make the daily jobs easier and faster. Over the past century, different inventions have and are still emerging from all over the world. The lives of the people in the 19th century and the early 20th century were altered by the latest innovation of that time like the automobiles, telephones and television. There has been much debate about the impact of television; some argue that it has a positive impact while some say that it doesn't. In this paper, I would like to compare and contrast two article, “Thinking outside the Idiot Box” by Dana Stevens with “Watching TV, makes us Smarter” by Steven Johnson. Johnson argues that television is having a positive effect on society and in fact is making us smarter, while Stevens believes that television merely make the individuals think more about future episodes and in turn also disengage the viewer from the social inequalities and violence that the show may possess.

Thesis Statement: My argument is that the ideas of Johnson have presented more authentic examples and views regarding how the television makes us smarter.

Comparison Chart

S.No.

Watching TV, makes us Smarter

Thinking outside the Idiot Box

1.

Emphasizes that TV is increasing people ability to think and enhance the sense of awareness.

Argues that television ought to be watched for entertainment purpose only as show do not in any way offers enhancement in mental abilities.

2.

If, human does not pay attention to the worst programs of TV, then it is very useful to increase one's ability to be connected with his society.

Watching TV doesn't make you smarter, and who is to decide which shows are considered worthy of watching or not

3.

He presented some evidence that is really helpful in increasing the ability to think beyond the things by comparing Starsky &Hutch to Hill Street Blues to the newer generations Sopranos.

Argues that the intelligence's definition provided by Johnson of is solely based on cognitive science, mentioning the commercials bombardment, and how you should experiment on TV turnoff week.

4.

He uses the term of “Sleeper-Curve”, and represents that term as his belief to increase the humans' cognitive faculties.

Provides the example of the Television program 24, stating that it intricate rapid-fire and plotlines information whilst actively discourage he audience from thinking ...