Chapters 7 & 8 Quiz

I believe my core four will be an argument of both fact and definition. In the Lunsford book, it says that what factual arguments all have something in common and it is “an attempt to establish whether something is or is not so – that is, whether a thing exists or whether claims made about something are true”. (pg 178) I feel that this statement applies to my topic of research. I am trying to establish the claims made about how the quality of a child’s education is affected by the use of technology in the classroom. One might think that it would be hard to argue fact, but “facts become arguments when they’re controversial in themselves or when they’re used to educate people, challenging or changing their beliefs”. (pg 178) I find this statement very true from my own experience; I have found that my topic is very controversial, even though a lot of the research I’ve found has proven that technology actually improves the quality of a child’s education. As the book said, when trying to change people’s beliefs, it becomes a very controversial topic. I also find that my topic falls under serious factual argument. These arguments can “touch on public issues”. (pg 179) The books states that most of the public need “well-reasoned factual arguments on subjects…in order to make well-informed decisions”. (pg 179) I agree with this statement whole heartedly. I think that if you wish to make a decision, you would hope that you would have a well-reasoned argument presented to you. That way you can learn all of the facts and make a well-informed decision for yourself. My topic can also be used to “correct or challenge beliefs and assumptions held widely within a society on the basis of inadequate or incomplete information.” (pg 179) I have found that a lot of people think that technology is having a negative impact on the quality of a child’s education. My argument is here to help change these views, off of well researched fact. The book states that “operational definitions identify an object or idea…by what it does or by the conditions that create it”. (pg 225) I feel that technology can be an operational definition when it is applied to being used in schools. I have had an argument arise from this operation definition because “people debate what the conditions are that define something or whether these conditions have been met”(pg 226) People have long debated what the conditions should be to having technology in schools, whether it is a good idea or whether it will just deplete the child’s education. I truly feel that my topic touches in both pools of argument, it might be more so in the factual argument, but none the less has its definition side. I think I will certainly use more fact in my core four, but reading more into it I might use more definition in my final paper.