Jane McGonigal: Did she make a good argument?

Dr. Jane McGonigal has devoted her work to try and solve real world problems through virtual gaming.  She finished her PhD and has created games with real life situations in order to build a main goal for everyone to work together to achieve.  She made a convincing argument as to how gaming can help escape real world problems like hunger, obesity, poverty, climate change, and global conflict.  Dr. McGonigal states that 3 billion hours a week are spent playing games, and that number needs to increase to 21 billion hours.  Gamers put trust into people they have never met in order to work together to achieve a main goal. People that play games are motivated to do something that matters.  They have intense concentration and deep focus which results in motivation to tackle their problems.  Gamers experience what is called an “epic win” which is an outcome in which they had no idea it was possible until they achieve it.  Dr. McGonigal goes off of the idea of an epic win, and believes that we can experience this in real life to solve actual problems.  Game makers never give you a challenge that is impossible to achieve, which is why the population of gamers spends so much time gaming. There is no “unemployment” phase in gaming, and she thinks that this helps people set their goals high and not be shut down by society.  I believe that Dr. McGonigal has made a very convincing argument about how gaming can help to solve real world problems.  She backed up her arguments with facts, and made very valid points.  Although she made a persuasive argument, I don’t necessarily agree with it.  I like her idea of trying to change the world through gaming, but I think it’s far-fetched.  When an oil shortage actually occurs in the world, the population won’t be prepared for it just by playing a game that is along the same lines.  The world will have to face it’s problems as they come, and not try so hard to prepare for them when they don’t know exactly what is coming.

Writers On Writing Precis

In Writers on Writing (2000), Kent Haruf explains that all writers have their own customs, rituals, and surroundings when they begin their writing. He gives examples of different authors and the atmosphere they surround themselves with when they begin their writing process.  In order to make a personal connection with his audience, he gives insight to his own writing environment.  Haruf describes the room in which he does all of his writings and how it inspires him.  He provides a wide variety of examples in order to motivate young writers to develop a personal atmosphere in which to do their best writing.

Chapter 1 Precis

In Chapter 1 of Choices 2.0 (2010), Joe Marshall Hardin claims that the “writing process” is the best way to arrange your writing in order for your final product to be clear and concise.  He introduces the idea of the rhetorical triangle, which has three points – the writer, the reader, and the text.  He makes it clear that in order to provide an effective argument you must see things from each point of the triangle. In order to do this, you make choices on how to relate to their audience better and how to write about the subject to engage the reader. By giving a sample argument, Hardin provides an example to educate college students on how to improve their writing.

Introduction Precis

In the introduction to Choices 2.0 (2010), Joe Marshall Hardin claims that some individuals are gifted writers, but everyone has the ability to creatively express themselves if they learn to understand the ways of a writer and work hard to be a successful writer.  The author believes that whether or not someone is destined to be a writer, everyone has the capability to produce an exceptional piece of writing.  He states that in order to become a successful writer you have to look at your writing from multiple perspectives, be able to focus on your writings, and stay interested in your topic.  Joe Marshall Hardin is focusing on teaching not only college students, but anyone who wants to improve their writing skills.  He includes many tips that are easy to interpret and help advance your writing.