ENG 111 Assignment 4 - Developing An Argument - Final Draft

Raymond Prescod
Professor - Dr. David R. DiSarro
ENG111 Critical Reading and Writing I
December 21, 2016

Looking at Carrs, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" and Thompsons, "Smarter

than You Think: How Technology Is Changing Our Minds for the Better" one may think
that there is absolutely no correlation in the writings. The contrast of the two titles allows
the reader to explore from two different points-of-view and at the same time realize that
there could be some correlation in the two opinions after all.
It took a while to determine which of the readings would work well together and
after much deliberation, I thought that choosing two titles that steered in a similar
direction would provide a challenging contrasting comparison over one that was more
complimentary. Carr suggested that the internet is weakening our capacity for the kind
of deep reading - once promoted by print media but has now fallen to shallower mode
of information processing. This information is obtained by way of quick browsing without
the thorough engagement of the mind allowing for any kind of sustained reflection or
analysis. (Carr, N. (2015). Alternately, in Thompsons Smarter than You Think, he
speaks of smart amateurs that could even outplay a supercomputer on the level of
Deep Blue. (Thompson C. 2013). The opposite approaches to human interaction with
the computer, was a perfect design for contrast.
Carr anecdotally sited his own experience explaining that his reading habits
changed due to the internet and was now experiencing difficulty focusing. He uses this

experience as evidence to conduct a study of online research habits through the

University College London. He had hypothesized that the modified reading habits
represented deeper changes in our cognitive architecture. He continued to present this
argument by highlighting new research showing that brain structure is more plastic than
was previously thought and he reinforced that these changes can follow into adulthood.
Carr was able to look at the negative impact and effectively delineate the many sides of
this issue in order to get the reader to see effects of the dependency of computers and
technology have on our brain; how our critical thinking skills and our attention spans
have deteriorated..He gives a very thorough researched account of how information
from the internet has been tailored to make the browsing experience faster, user friendly
and profitable. He elaborates by describing how the internet is geared toward making
money for others. He summed up his argument by describing the loss incurred as we
migrate toward the internet as our go-to information resource. He laments about the
prospect of the mind being seen as a computer and regrets the loss of deep reading
and the stimulation that comes along with it..
Thompson on the other hand looked at the interaction with computers and
determined that there was a benefit to us to maintain that interaction. He pondered
about the possibilities where instead of competing against each other, humans and
computers collaborated. He theorized that there could be some mutual benefit because
the strengths of each could complement each other where the computer would bring the
speed into the equation while the human would bring intuition and insight. Thompson
documented how all technological innovations have promoted repeated anxieties where
we panic that life will never be the same and yet we adapt. We learn how to use the

new tools and develop based on past successes. In his argument, he was able to
introduce the reader to a number of persons we have augmented their minds in
innovative ways. He referenced a seventy-six-year-old millionaire who digitally records
his every moment who gave perfect recall of events and ideas of his life spanning
decades. Then there were the Chinese students who orchestrated an online movement
that was able to shut down a $1.6 billion toxic copper plant. He used experts and
amateurs pecifically a set of gamers who solved a puzzle in one month that took HIV
scientists a decade.
These comparisons may introduce the question of whether or not the population
chosen can be compared to each other. The selection includes a set of intellectuals who
play chess and could be considered anomalies whereas the other is represented by the
average person. Can you make a fair comparison in this case? I believe that it is a
matter of how much dedication and time that is available. One party uses the computer
to advance while the other depends on it for everything. By doing so, the brain becomes
more and more used.
So the question is - Is Google really making us stupid? The irony is that Google
gives us direct access to all genres of information and having that access we are
certainly smarter for it. This is not Carrs point of view as he was quick to point out the
problem - he cant focus on reading. He used the early part of the article to establish
credibility and examine the causes using mostly rhetorical proof. Smarter Than You
Think on the other hand isn't just about pioneers, nor is it simply concerned with the
world. It is about the future and how computers are improving our memory. He

addressed which tools are boosting our intelligence and which ones were hindering our
progress.
Although the differences are clear, the similarities are also present. In each case
the computer is available as a tool and therefore like any tool it is only as good as the
user that is operating it. According to Carr, the dependency and easy access to the
internet and quick information is stunting the growth of the brain. Thompson on the
other hand believes that the ease and power of the computer should be harnessed and
used to improve our lifestyle. Having to read the pieces repeatedly in order to
understand and justify the comparison, allowed me to identify with each of the writers
perspective on the issue. We have become slaves to our devices and are more inclined
to skim across emails and gather quick information so that we can move onto the next
task.
This behavior is reminiscent of the youth today and perhaps Carr should not
generalize but pin point where the problem is. Ironically, the youth is our future, so Carr
may not be so far from the truth after all. I am more inclined to agree with Thompson
because the technology is a tool and we should use the tool to enhance or aid in our
development. We should remove the dependency and embrace the information that we
have at our finger tips. I am also guilty of skimming over my emails and require
technology to maintain my life balance. I have to slow down and allow the same tool
that allows me to have ease of access, to also enrich my mind by utilizing the resources
for growth and development.

There are some areas where the skeptic may refute Carrs point of view. Yes, he
shared the problem but he also gave a lot of rhetorical evidence. He was able to satisfy
the ethos by simply stating that hes not the only one with the problem. He made
mention of credentialed bloggers and his colleagues or literary types who also struggle
with this problem. He did also concede that it wasnt really enough to convince everyone
so he appealed to the logos and cited a few studies of internet practices. This info
suggested that there may be a possibility that internet might be changing the way we
think in hope that the reader would come to a logical conclusion that he may have value
in his position. Thompson actually also used a number of techniques in an effort to
convince the reader that people today are smarter than people of the past as a result of
technology. He reached out to both logos as well as pathos and referenced many
events as evidence in an effort to build his credibility. Thompson successfully brings
facts and hard evidence to the table in order to support his ideas.

References

Carr, N. (2015). Is Google making us stupid? In G. Graff, C. Birkenstein, & R. Durst

(Eds.),

They say/I say: The moves that matter in academic writing, with

readings (3rd ed.,

pp. 313329). New York: Norton.

"New Nonfiction: Excerpt from Smarter Than You Think by Clive Thompson." Penguin
Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.