Lindsi McClellan Dr.

Andrew Brown English 1102-103 25 April 2013 The Health Benefits of Video Games

I. Introduction General: Gaming is currently one of the most popular leisure activities in the world. They may be popular, but they are often looked at in a negative light due to the stigma that playing video games decreases a persons daily activity level or harms their emotional state. However, scientists have found that video games can have a variety of commendable health benefits. Basic Context: Video games were the seventh most used method of relieving stress for Americans in 2008, with the percentage falling slightly in 2009 and coming back in 2010. The advancement in gaming technology has drastically increased, and video games have become the top hobby for most children and young adults. With this in mind, Dr. Bavelier from the University of Geneva has found that gaming can benefit a person by improving their eyesight and attention span, yet parents are still worried that their children are developing aggressive behavior by playing violent video games. Perspectives: The perspective that is wholeheartedly against video games is that of parents and some scientists claiming that playing the violent genre of games will make children act more aggressively than those that did not play games. My argument is that video games can benefit a person but only if they are played in moderation. Children and young adults having such a desire to play video games could be advantageous to schools if educators can make a game that grabs the attention of their students, teaching them the material without as much of a hassle. Thesis Statement: The usage of video games in a persons life can be beneficial if only used in controlled doses of game time. II. Opposition Perspective Restate Opposing Perspective: Some parents and scientists believe that a child will develop aggressive behavior and be more prone to violence after playing a violent video game. The games that are the worst are the war games that are realistic and immersive into sometimes graphic situations. Details: Today, the games that are realistic and based on war are mostly rated M. However, there are a few war games that are rated T, giving adolescents access to these games

McClellan 2 that should be rated M. Younger children that are impressionable may imitate what they see in a game as a good thing if their older sibling is playing it. That is why parents are afraid of violent video games and think there are no benefits to gaming. Accepted Context: If there were consistent studies from scientists finding that video games did in fact make children violent, there may be validity to the claim that playing violent games makes children violent. Another condition that would make this theory plausible is if numerous children that played video games started developing clinical emotional issues. If children became violent at home after playing violent games and developed harmful behaviors, the belief by many parents that video games are harmful may actually be true. III. Writer's Perspective Restate Writer's Perspective and Position: My belief is that video games can have health benefits if used in moderation. The video games that are beneficial are not limited to the violent genre of games. Re-emphasize Claim: Dr. Bavelier found that playing video games in moderation can help a persons eyesight and attention span by changing the way a persons brain is wired, similar to learning to play the piano. McGill Universitys Dr. Baldwin found that, using a game to increase a persons self-confidence and change their perception of social threats, games can also be used to reduce the stress hormone cortisol in the brain. If used correctly, these games could potentially be used to benefit children in schools while teaching them the curriculum they need to learn. Details: Gaming has become very big among teenagers in the past few years, making it the new preferred activity with their friends to do in their spare time. I believe video games help the vision and dexterity of a person, because I play them on a daily basis, and have helped my vision and increased my dexterity since I started playing six years ago. The other benefits found in my research I have not personally experienced, unless I have not noticed them, but they sound like plausible if some scientists have found those results. Accepted Context: My view would be most accepted if the media coverage of research found about video games was not so negative. Also, there would have to be more long term research, such as a ten year timeframe, rather than a studys short term results. If there was not such a stigma about video games being harmful to children thanks to the media, video games may be accepted as a hobby that children could benefit from if played for a couple of hours a day. Refutation of Opposition: The violence or aggression that has been seen in a few children after playing video games does not define the whole of video games for all children. Like an allergy, video games may not be good for a few children, not the majority of children that play games.

McClellan 3 There are also not enough studies with aggressive results to outnumber the studies that found benefits after playing video games. If a child wishes to play a video game, then the only known way to limit negative effects is to play in moderation or not at all. IV. Common Ground Proposed Solution/Resolution as Common Ground: I propose that any findings from research on how video games benefit or harm people be taken down and not presented by the media for right now. Unless there is concrete, long term studies done with results that can be taken to the public without any controversy, there should be no information released. Studies that are not completed should not be released lest they add fuel to the fire for people on both sides of the subject. Context: Scientists need to not release any information that could possibly be proven false in future research. Not releasing information about the results found would give neither party an advantage over the other. This would also be considered common ground because there would be no evidence for or against the argument that video games have health benefit for the public to see. Implementation: An extreme measure would be to seal the scientists studying this subject in a building with limited communication outside of the building. Then when they find out for sure what the verdict is, they would be allowed out. A more acceptable approach would be to keep the media out of what is found by the scientists before testing is complete. Resources: A law may have to be signed in by the government stating that news crews cannot harass or confront a scientist about the work they are doing before research is complete. There could also be a law signed in stating that any research that does not have concrete evidence cannot be released to the public. This law would prevent citizens from hearing the results and taking as the truth, when in reality, it may not be close to it. V. Alternatives Alternative Methods: Other methods could be to stop all research and leave the public to decide what they think. Even if a scientist says something does not mean it should be taken as a concrete truth. Parents should be able to regulate what video games their children play at their own discretion and not based on what the science community or media claims. VI. Concluding Statements Predictions: My prediction is that the subject of whether video games are good for you or not will never truly go away. The media loves controversy, and that is what they will continue to present unless there is concrete evidence found. Young adults that will soon become parents in a

McClellan 4 few years will have to decide on their own what they believe about the topic. If no one can prove or disprove the health benefits of video games, well, life will go on with or without the answer. Other Concerns or Rhetorical Questions: I really do hope that there are a few benefits to playing video games that are found rather than gaming simply being a hobby. I also wonder parents do not use as much discretion as my parents did in regard to what games I played growing up. Why has the level of child monitoring fallen so low for parents compared to the level of attention 20 years ago? Has the nation grown lazy, or is too much taken away from the media as a guideline for parenting? VII. Works Cited

APA. Stress in America Findings. N.p.: n.p., 2010. American Psychological Association. APA, 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Enayati, Amanda. "Do Videogames Cause Stress in Kids? It's Complicated." Media Shift. PBS, 15 Mar. 2013. Web. 04 Apr. 2013. Griffiths, Mark. "Video Games and Health." PMC. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 16 July 2005. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Hotz, Robert Lee. "When Gaming Is Good for You." The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal, 5 Mar. 2012. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Hult Labs. "Why Video Games Are Good For You Really Good For You." Hult Media. Hult International Business School, 6 Dec. 2012. Web. 04 Apr. 2013. Nauert, Rick. "Video Game Lowers Stress Hormone." Psych Central. Ed. John M. Grohol. Psych Central, 24 Oct. 2007. Web. 04 Apr. 2013.