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Rajan Patel Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1102 October 23, 2013

EIP Draft In Favor of Video Games: What Are The Psychological Benefits? (Think of a creative title) (Add a catchy sentence or story pertaining to video games having a positive impact on someone) Video games can be beneficial, thats merely how I feel though. I cant only say this and prove that video games are beneficial. In the following pages I will provide strong evidence (strong evidence is provided) to prove that video games are beneficial. I have to first state that Im in favor of video games and I want to find the psychological benefits. This statement will start off my argument towards proving that video games are actually beneficial. The reason for my argument is that the benefits of video games are not focused on as much as the negative effects of video games. People usually think of video games as being bad for you and in the following pages, Im arguing for the contrary; however I will mention the negatives only to demonstrate how the benefits outweigh them. Im allowing a chance to find the benefits of video games, instead of allowing the discussion of the effects of video games to be always dwelling on the negative. In the following pages Im arguing for the psychological benefits video games provide, while keeping in mind the negatives. -Argue rather than say what you will argue -Use better wording, take out the fluffy stuff, repetitive

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Video games can actually provide positive psychological functions. (What are psychological functions?) According to Jason Allaire of North Carolina State Universitys Gains Through Gaming Lab, Games can have a positive impact, particularly with psychological functions (qtd. in France-Presse). (Find another way to state this rather than restate your stance) Allaires statement is based from the work done in the Gains Through Gaming Lab (explain that this is the lab he works at). In reference towards the Gains Through Gaming Lab, Allaire states, We focus on cognition and learning, trying to understand the exact mechanisms, such as the impact on reaction time and memory (qtd. in France-Presse). A study conducted by Allaire demonstrated that college seniors who are gamers exhibited greater emotional stability than nongamers. The study doesnt show a causal relationship , nevertheless Allaire feels confident that the findings will eventually show this relationship. (find better argument/relationship) (New paragraph) Researchers thinking is being altered because of a mass of shootings. Allaire argued by stating, there is no evidence to show that playing a violent video game can cause you to engage in violent behaviors (qtd. in France-Presse). Allaire provides compelling evidence towards video games having psychological benefits. (WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE?) He appears to stand strongly in favor of this side of matter. Even if this is case, Allaire feels that video games have negative effects, according to him, If I say as a scientist I think games can have a positive effect, it would be hypocritical to say that they cannot have a negative impact (qtd. in France-Presse). (Might want to use this as topic sentence for this paragraph and go from there) Playing certain types of games can offer different specific benefits. For example, playing shooting or driving games enhances the ability to search for hidden a target, according to a University of Toronto study. (Good!!) Researcher Ian Spence said these visual skills can be useful (France-Presse). According to Ian Spence, Its necessary for baggage screening,

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reading X-rays, or MRIs, interpreting satellite images, defeating camouflage or even just locating a friends face in a crowd (qtd. in France -Presse). (WHY is this a good thing? WHY does is matter?) Northeastern University professor Magy Seif el-Nasr feels similarly about the effects of video games as Jason Allaire, who was mentioned earlier. According to Seif el-Nasr, Some games can promote a lot of thinking, this kind of problem solving promotes better cognition and better memory over time (qtd. in France-Presse). Hes been working on research on the effects of video games. (Rather than quote so much, summarize or add why these quotes are helpful in your argument.) ( New paragraph) Video games can positively influence the brain. University of Wisconsin learning sciences professor, James Gee and other researchers support this by actually implying that video games can be mentally stimulating. This is based on results from laboratory experiments, which allowed Gee and the researchers to realize that playing video games have cognitive benefits such as pattern recognition, system thinking, and patience. Lurking in this research is the idea that gaming can exercise the mind the way physical activity exercises the body.. (Johnson). (Good!!) Gaming requires a great deal of thinking such as focusing in the game, having patience, having the ability to delay gratification, and using resources wisely. Different games require different skills. For example, the game The Sims requires managing skills to control all in the characters? in a household and every aspect of their lives. The game Grand Theft Auto may be notoriously known for its violence, but this game requires learning to use characters, utilizing clues, and identifying patterns. Some games require a great deal of complex skills. For example, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory requires thinking on four distinct levels. These levels are manual interface, character view, internalized map, and balancing act. Manual interface involves controlling the movements of the character, by memorizing several

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button combinations on a game controller or a PC keyboard. Character view involves keeping track of what you see in the virtual world. Internalized maps involve remembering the complex map in each level. Playing video games can be like the processing that takes place in the brain. The way gamers explore video game worlds is similar to the way the brain processes, utilizes, and organizes vast information in real life. Gee contends that the way gamers explore virtual worlds mirrors the way the brain processes multiple, but interconnected, streams of information in the real world (Johnson). Gee states that, Basically, how we think is through running perceptual simulations in our heads that prepare us for the actions were going to take, by modeling those simulations, video games externalize how the mind works (qtd. in Johnson). This shows a true significance towards how video games can be beneficial. I find it compelling that playing video games is similar to how the brain processes information. Games provide steady advancements based on the players skill unlike other forms of entertainment like books and movies. The information beginning with involving James Gee is quite significant, since this information is from 2005. -Find more recent evidence -Use better quote sandwiching I stated that I would mention the negative effects of video games in the introduction. In the following paragraph, Ill begin to mention these effects. Violent video games are the type of games that are usually associated with negative effects. These games have this association unlike positive, creative games. According to Darcia Narvaez, a psychology professor at the University of Notre Dame, .violent videogames have an even more powerful influence than violent television and movies, whos detrimental effect have been documented for decades (Narvaez). When playing violent video games, gamers gain rewards for hurting another gamer,

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therefore they learn to associate violence with pleasure. Also, gamers repeatedly practice violent behavior while they play violent games. (Evidence?) In reference to Narvaez, Violent games teach children how to behave like a criminal and to intentionally hurt others (Narvaez). Although violent games have these negative effects, they also have benefits such as complex problem solving and coordination skills. Jason Allaire, who I previously mentioned and earlier I referred to him stating, there is no evidence to show t hat playing a violent video game can cause you to engage in violent behaviors (qtd. in France -Presse). The negatives of violent games that I stated above cant correlate to actually behaving violently. Violent video games may have a slight influence towards violent behavior, but that doesnt mean those games cause violent behavior. Generally speaking, video games can be addictive because gamers receive immediate gratification when they play. Theres also delayed gratification while playing video games, which I previously stated. If immediate gratification and delayed gratification are both involved, a balance would form, therefore gaming may not be too addicting. All the negatives I mentioned is significant but not as significant as the benefits I mentioned and will mention. Thus far, in my argument I feel that the benefits of gaming outweigh the negatives of gaming and there are more benefits to be discussed with a brief look at a few negatives. -Make your evidence more significant -Take out your opinion and actually convince the reader -Rather than state, SHOW More and more university research is demonstrating that gaming improves perception, decision-making, and creativity. There are many specific benefits including (NO COMMA) hand-eye coordination in surgeons and improved vision that helps when nighttime driving ability. (interesting!) Based on a study, playing action based video games can enable decision-

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making to be 25% faster. According to University of Rochester researchers, Moreover, practiced game players can pay attention to more than six things at once without getting confused, compared with the four that someone can normally keep in mind (Hotz). Theres also studies focusing on the negatives of gaming, for example Indiana University researchers reported that brain scans showed that violent video games caused healthy young men to have decreased activity in regions of the brain associated with emotional stability. Other studies found that excessive gaming associates with being overweight, introverted, and predisposed to depression. Even though these studies mentioned dramatic negatives of video games, they never touched upon the positives. Parents may worry about the violent action games; however these games benefited the brain the most. The violent action games can stimulate the brain more than any other type of games. The way video games affect the mind is similar to the way learning to read, playing the piano, or navigating through a city. (HOW?) Games combine the great potency of concentration and with the stimulating rush of neurotransmitters like dopamine to neural circuits. This is similar to how physical exercise builds muscles. In a three year study of 491 middle school children, the participants who played more video games performed better on a standardized test of creativity. The test used the Torrance Test of Creativity, which involves tasks such as drawing an interesting and exciting picture from a curved shape on a sheet of paper, then creating a title for the picture, and making a story for the picture. Utilizing technology in forms like using cellphones, surfing the internet, or operating computers doesnt affect creativity like video games do. Well it appears that video games are quite beneficial and this argument contains all the evidence and information to provide the foundation for this claim. (Reiterate some benefits) In this world where critics have backlash towards video games, its reassuring theres researchers

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advocating for the benefits of video games. Playing video games may have its drawbacks, but playing games does have many beneficial features. Playing video games is more beneficial than one might think. (Good)

The essay is a little scattered, make sure you make everything flow. I would create an outline to help organize it. Provide better specific evidence. And rather than talk about what you will be writing about it, just state it and show it. State more facts and statistics. Look at the grammar and sentence structure. Try and find cause and effect relationships. Make sure the negative effects of gaming dont look better than the positive effects. Look at quotes and quote sandwiching, make sure to explain each quote after you quote them.

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Works Cited
France-Presse, Agence. Researchers explore positive social and cognitive effects of video games. The Raw Story. Raw Story Media, 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. Hotz, Robert Lee. When Gaming Is Good for You THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. Dow Jones & Company, 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Johnson, Steven. Your Brain on Video Games: Could they actually be good for you? Discovermagazine.com. Kalmbach Publishing, 24 July 2005. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.

Narvaez, Darcia. Playing violent video games: Good or bad? Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.