Rhetorical Analysis: Article

Audience- The audience for this article are readers who want deeper knowledge on the effect of technology on developing counties children. The authors do not expect the read to have any prior knowledge about the topic. Evidence of this would be when the author says “In sum, prior research (conducted mostly in developed countries) suggests that using laptops could have positive effects on school engagement and technological skills.” The authors explain prior research and assuming the reader is not very educated in the issue.

Author- There are a couple authors all have written many articles on technological effects on many different disciplines. Nina Hansen, Namkje Koudenburg, Rena Hiersemann, Peter J. Tellegen, and Márton Kocsev are all the contributing authors to the article.  Nina Hansen and Peter J. Tellegen has been authors for a number of peer reviewed articles that pertain to pyschcology and its effects of many different aspects affecting ones learning ability. Namkje Koudenburg has also done a number of peer reviewed articles but their topics focus on human interactions. While Rena Hiersemann and Márton Kocsev have not been involved in. any or many other peer reviewed articles.

Tone- The authors tone is formal and serious. This is evident through their diction they use professional terms like “A field experiment provides the opportunity to test theoretical assumptions… (996)” So forth the authors tone here is formal and serious.

Purpose- The authors intentions are to inform readers on the effects of computer usage in developing country by stating the data that has been collected in this experiment and prior experiments. This is evident because the authors try to hook the reader by saying “Laptop programs for students recently have been proliferating in developing countries.” This showing the authors intends to educate the reader on laptop usage in developing college.

Genre/Medium- The authors form of writing is an article and medium is 1000 page journal.

Stance- The authors attitude toward the topic is informative, they do not choice an opinion but state facts that’s were presented through research. The authors conclude “Together, these findings comprise the first systematic evidence suggesting that laptops have positive learning outcomes on abstract reasoning abilities in one of the least developed countries.(996)”  Therefore the authors research “findings” have shown laptop usage has had positive effects on children learning.

Language- The authors word choice is sophisticated but simple. The authors use a lot of scientific language to further explain using statements like “In sum (990)” after providing examples from pervious experiments.

Rhetorical Analysis: Newspaper

Audience- The authors audience is people who read the newspaper but has of knowledge about children usage of technology. This is evident when the author states “Mobile phones and tabs are these days have become an inseparable part of our life.” Therefore, the author is proclaiming how “our” including the reader (the reader themselves) is attached to technology.

Author- The author of this newspaper article is from Knowledge Bylanes which is a worldwide publishing company. They are known to cover news in Africa and the middle east.

Tone- The tone the author uses in this article is a conversational but persuasive. An example of this is “In many popular schools they handover tab to children for learning which is so wrong for their health.” The author here uses terms like “wrong for their health” which gives a negative connotation to electronics.

Purpose-The authors purpose is to persuade individuals from using technology mainly children. The author expresses this by saying “But the disadvantages of it should also be given some thought before declaring what a complete boon they are.” Here the author is saying he wants us to think twice about how integrate technology has become into children’s lives.

Genre/Medium- The genre is an article that was presented (medium) in a newspaper. This is apparent because the document says so.

Stance- The authors stance is to stop individuals from allowing their children to use electronics. The author again uses negative connotations and phrases “…wrong for their health” and “…device which shoots microwaves into our head.” These are examples of the authors expressing his views toward technology.

Language – The author uses words and phrase to discourage the reader from the use of technology. The author uses words like “wrong” and “disadvantages” which have negative connotation attached.

Rhetorical Analysis: Magazine

Audience- The audience would be parents and educators of special need students. The article makes this transparent by saying in the first sentence “Ware County School District in Georgia has downsized its inventory of assistive technology.” This article obviously is going to pertains to technology in schools’ effects on students.

Author-The author of this article is Matt Zalaznick, he has written a couple other articles contributors to academic performance in students. He is also the senior editor of a magazine that covers issue from k-12.

Tone- The tone of the article positive and educational. The author has a balance of making the article very informative while showing the reader (educators) the positive aspects these new technological advances in schools are supplying. An example of this “The students, who were on the autism spectrum or who had been identified with emotional-behavioral deficits, programmed small robots after learning the basics of programming. (34)” Therefore this demonstrates how the authors highlights positive aspects “programming small robots” while beginning informative.

Purpose- The purpose of this article is to persuade educators and parents/ family to integrate technology into students with learning disabilities lives even further. Students benefit greatly from these additions to their learning environment. The author states “More elaborate technology has opened up even more possibilities for students with a wide range of need. In some schools, robots now help children develop social-emotional skills. (35)” This further explains the authors purpose of adding technology to benefit students.

Genre/Medium-The genre is articling the medium is a magazine article

Stance- The authors stance is technology is a positive addition to students learning and can help them in a multitude of ways. The authors makes this clear though his language stating “The activities built skills such as problem-solving, perseverance and communication … Parents have also reported improvements in behavior… They’re sharing and collaborating… (36)” This shows the author is pro technology by the positive language she uses to describe its effects on children.

Language- The author uses to encouraging diction to describe the benefits of technology is schools. The author uses phrase and words like “Blossom” “helpful” “Collaborating” “improved behavior” These examples all have positive connotations attached to them in the eyes of parents and educators.

Rhetorical Analysis: Website

Audience- The authors intended audience I believe to be individuals who do not actually live in households with children or encounter children on a day to day bases for long periods like teachers or caretakers. Although the authors do make it inclusive for these individuals (teachers, parents, caretakers, etc.) who could possibly be reading this article also.  The author makes these evident through the title of the article “Why Everyone Should Be Concerned About Technology’s Impacts On Kids, Even if You’re Not a Parent” The authors is making his audience obviously here.

Author-The author of this website article is Jon Rumes who has written a number of articles in about philosophy and human productivity. I would not say he is a very creditable source because this article is and outlier of what he normal specializes in.

Tone-The tone the author carries throughout this article is both optimistic and pessimistic. This is because he concerned with the negative effects of technology on the future generation and current young generation. But on the contrary he is hopeful when it comes to the possibilities and the channels technology can provide for children. An example of these tones “As a result, children do not learn how to control their own emotions. They lack the exploratory, unstructured play that’s critical to healthy development. It affects visual-motor and sensorimotor skill development, both of which are critical to science and math skills.” (Pessimistic) Alternatively he says “One study shows that an app called Martha Speaks increased the vocabulary of 13 five-year-olds by 27%. Another similar app showed a 17% improvement in the vocabulary of three-year-olds.” (Optimistic)

Purpose-The authors purpose is to enlighten the general public outside of parents and teachers the possible effects technology. Technology can have a list of effect on future generations and developing generations if they are not monitored. To conclude the article the states “Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or simply a hard-working citizen, how technology impacts our children impacts you, too… They need the right education, social skills, and psychological well-being to thrive in the adult world unimpeded by any negative lasting effects of technology.”

Genre/Medium- The genre is a website/blog article and the medium are a website/blog.

Stance- The writer’s stance is for people in general to be conscious of the technology’s effects on children because they are the future. This theme is present throughout the article but the writer states “But exercising good judgment when in the presence of children can ensure they understand the place of technology in our lives and how to use it in the best possible way.” Therefore, the writer is saying for the general public to be aware of our actions in company of children.

Language- The authors diction is concerning but motivating. The writer wants to initiate change in the reader so first he arises the issue using words to describe the current issue like “Unable to sled-regulate”, “misguided” and “damaging”. He then motivates the reader that by saying “You can help by setting a good example.” and highlighting positive effects of technology if used properly “…positive influence on learning.”

Work Cited

Bylanes, Knowlege. “Technology Is Hurting Children.” FocusMe, 22 Mar.2014, www.knowledgebylanesegypt.com/tag/justice/.

District Administration. Gale In Context: Middle School, https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/pub/0LZD/MSIC?u=cuny_ccny&sid=MSIC. Accessed 18 Sept. 2019.
Hansen. “Laptop Usage Affects Abstract Reasoning of Children in the Developing World.” Computers & Education, vol. 59, no. 3, 2012, pp. 989–1000.

Rumens, Jon. “How Technology Impacts Our Children.” FocusMe, FocusMe, 20 Nov. 2018, focusme.com/blog/how-technology-impacts-our-kids/.