Visual Argument
To express my topic of technology and its effect on critical thinking skills in a visual way, I chose a comic that depicts a school setting. This image is in fact an argument because, as many comics do, it is using sarcastic humor to send a message to an audience and persuade them to shift their views on how we use technology today.
This comic applies to my issue because I am arguing that technology has negative impacts on critical thinking skills, and this comic shows that these kinds of skills cannot be attained by visiting a website, as the digital age sometimes suggests for the acquirement of many other skills. This idea is conveyed by a couple different elements in the comic, one of which is the teacher’s quote, “Just go to www.criticalthinking.com and click on answers!” Clearly, critical thinking skills are not something that can be found by merely clicking a button on a website; they involve deep processing and analysis of information. The cartoonist hence states the opposite of the truth to show its absurdity. Another component of the comic that makes this concept convincing is the facial expressions of the teacher and the student. The teacher wears an enthusiastic grin whereas the student looks perplexed. These emotions could be reflective of the different attitudes toward technology. On one side are those who favor technology and believe it can solve any problem, and on the other side are those who are dislike technology and are skeptical of its abilities. This comic also uses emotional and logical appeals to make its point. Being a comic, it has a humorous facet which is an example of pathos. The words spoken by the teacher cause the viewer to logically conclude that critical thinking skills cannot be derived from the Internet, thus an example of logos.
After evaluating this comic, I would determine that it is a successful visual argument. Its sarcastic humor draws the viewer in, and its simplistic and straightforward nature ensures that the viewer does not misunderstand the message. The boldness of the comic’s text emphasizes the ridiculousness of the opposing side of the cartoonist’s point, which would surely cause the viewer to undergo at least a slight change in perspective – the mark of a successful argument.
Works Cited
Austhink. “Critical Thinking on the Web.” Austhink. 22 Nov. 2008. Web. 1 Dec 2013.
This comic applies to my issue because I am arguing that technology has negative impacts on critical thinking skills, and this comic shows that these kinds of skills cannot be attained by visiting a website, as the digital age sometimes suggests for the acquirement of many other skills. This idea is conveyed by a couple different elements in the comic, one of which is the teacher’s quote, “Just go to www.criticalthinking.com and click on answers!” Clearly, critical thinking skills are not something that can be found by merely clicking a button on a website; they involve deep processing and analysis of information. The cartoonist hence states the opposite of the truth to show its absurdity. Another component of the comic that makes this concept convincing is the facial expressions of the teacher and the student. The teacher wears an enthusiastic grin whereas the student looks perplexed. These emotions could be reflective of the different attitudes toward technology. On one side are those who favor technology and believe it can solve any problem, and on the other side are those who are dislike technology and are skeptical of its abilities. This comic also uses emotional and logical appeals to make its point. Being a comic, it has a humorous facet which is an example of pathos. The words spoken by the teacher cause the viewer to logically conclude that critical thinking skills cannot be derived from the Internet, thus an example of logos.
After evaluating this comic, I would determine that it is a successful visual argument. Its sarcastic humor draws the viewer in, and its simplistic and straightforward nature ensures that the viewer does not misunderstand the message. The boldness of the comic’s text emphasizes the ridiculousness of the opposing side of the cartoonist’s point, which would surely cause the viewer to undergo at least a slight change in perspective – the mark of a successful argument.
Works Cited
Austhink. “Critical Thinking on the Web.” Austhink. 22 Nov. 2008. Web. 1 Dec 2013.