Argumentative Essay

Rough Draft

The computer is such a great asset to today’s world. I am a college student and I cannot imagine my life without a computer at my fingertips. The computer helps students learn topics in a different way. I think that the computer allows students to do many things that teachers used to just be able to tell their students. Computers are a great resource for all students for many reasons. Three of these reasons are because there are so many great resources, the internet provides great ways to interact with others, and typing is a great way to write a paper.

Whenever my teacher assigns for me to write a paper or research a topic I am always thankful for my computer. I enjoy being able to read different articles and see which one I think are the best easily. Using the internet is easier and more beneficial than going to the library because of that precious thing that no one can seem to get enough of, time. There are not enough hours in the day to stop and take off to the library to try to find what is needed. There are books everywhere and who knows if you will even leave with what you came looking for. A great alternative is to go to the computer and look up the topic on the internet. This helps students develop the ability to discern which resource is most useful and then provides them to opportunity to learn all there is to know about the topic. There are also many resources and games on the computer that help students improve in all kinds of subjects.

Another great thing about the internet is all of the different ways that anyone can use to keep in touch with their family and friends. There is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or anyone could start a blog on Blogger. These websites are very useful for people who no longer live at home or for the person whose best friend just moved across the world. These social media websites are there to help make your life better, but they never would have been thought of if it wasn’t for the computer. Students can use Blogger to increase their ability to write and then share their writing with others and receive feedback. This is a great idea for all teachers in order to allow their students to express themselves and use their imagination.

The third reason that I believe the computer is a great asset to today is because of all of the documents that can be typed. I have written a ton of papers growing up and many times my teacher would tell me to type the paper. One day a kid in my class asked why she required that the paper be typed. She responded and said that whenever the paper is typed it appears more professional and she went on to talk about the benefits of spell check. We are able to catch our spelling errors with this great resource. I then remembered my cousin telling me that she had to write a paper in order to apply for a scholarship. In many cases it is better if the paper is typed. Many businesses use the computer as well to type papers. As students use this technology growing up they will be prepared to complete whatever the job they have wants them to accomplish.

In conclusion, computers are very beneficial to students everyday life by providing great resources, providing a way for people to stay connected, and giving us a professional way to write our papers. Computers are very beneficial in the development of student’s knowledge. They have the opportunity to put what has been taught into action.  I do not know where this world would be today without computers. I am so thankful that we have computers to help us in our everyday life.

Final Draft: Computers in the Classroom

The computer is changing the way students learn in today’s world. I am a college student and I cannot imagine my life without having a computer at my fingertips. The computer is creating many differences in people’s lives. Three of the differences that I will focus on are that the computer allows students to access a vast amount of information, computers provide them with a beneficial way to interact, and computers allow them to present what they have learned in more multimodal and interactive ways.

The first reason I believe computers are a beneficial asset to the classroom is because they allow students to access a vast amount of information; students do not only rely on the teacher as a primary source of information. According to Maya Simon, Mike Graziano, and Amanda Lenhart, “94% of youth ages 12-17 who have Internet access say they use the Internet for school research and 78% say they believe the Internet helps them with schoolwork” (1). Using the Internet helps students develop the ability to discern which resource is most useful and then provides them resources about their topic. When one of my teachers assigns a paper or a research project I am always thankful for my computer. I enjoy being able to read different articles and easily decide which one I believe is the most reliable easily. Using the Internet is easier and more valuable than going to the library because it saves time. Teachers have the opportunity to incorporate homework assignments for their students involving research on the computer. There are also many resources and games on the computer that teachers can use to help students improve in all kinds of subjects. For example, when I was in middle school one of my teachers showed me a game that I could play to teach me how to type.

Another aspect of the computer being involved in learning is that computers give students a way to interact. There are many resources that students can use that will help further their knowledge and connection to others. One of these resources is called Blogger. Blogger is a website that allows users to write about any topic. Students can use Blogger to increase their ability to write, share their writing with others, and receive feedback. Some teachers may argue that social networking sites should not be included in schools, but I believe that Blogger is a great asset for students in the classroom. Allowing students to have a blog opens the door for imagination and creativity.

The third benefit is that the computer allows students to present what they have learned in more multimodal and interactive ways. There are many different ways to present work by using a computer. I have constructed power points, written papers, and compared two categories by making an excel document. Even though typewriters existed before computers I believe that the computer has made the typing process more efficient. Whenever my teacher would assign a paper she would tell the class to make sure it was typed. Even though typewriters existed before computers I believe that the computer has made the typing process easier. One day a student in my class asked the teacher why it was required that the paper be typed. The teacher responded by saying that when the paper is typed it appears more professional and she went on to talk about the benefits of Spell Check. We are all made aware of our errors through Spell Check. I then remembered my cousin telling me that she had to write a paper in order to apply for a scholarship. In many cases it is better if the paper is typed. Many businesses use the computer as well to type papers and keep documentation. As students use technology, they will become better prepared for their job requirements.

In conclusion, computers are very beneficial to students’ everyday life by allowing them to access a vast amount of information, providing them with a beneficial way to interact, and allowing them to present what they have learned in more multimodal and interactive ways. I believe computers are very beneficial in the development of students’ knowledge. I am so thankful that we have computers to help us in our everyday life and further our knowledge so students never have to stop learning.

Works Cited

Simon, Maya, Mike Graziano, and Amanda Lenhart. "The Internet and Education." Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. N.p., 31 Aug. 2001. Web. 09 Mar. 2015. <http://www.pewinternet.org/2001/09/01/the-internet-and-education/>.

"One Account. All of Google." Blogger. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015. <https://www.blogger.com/>.

I really like this picture! I think that technology should be included in education, but I also like the idea of using just a piece of paper and a pencil.