CRITICAL COMPARISON ESSAY 1
ENGL 1101: Introduction to University Writing COMPLETE NEW
Assignment 2: Critical Comparison Essay Open Learning, Thompson
Rivers University
Assignment 2: Critical Comparison Essay
Hayley Watson
Thompson River University
,CRITICAL COMPARISON ESSAY 2
Reverse Outline (Reference) – Bennett, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L.
Topic and Main Ideas:
% Capture the core purpose of the article.
% Why did the author write this article? What did they want us to know?
The article is about digital natives and how
their use of technology may be challenging
Topic:
education systems to meet their learning
needs.
The authors suggest that young people’s
relationships with technology are very
complex. They feel more empirical research
Main Idea: is required into whether or not education
systems needs to change. They argue that
previous articles in this debate are based on
assumptions, not empirical research.
Key Points:
1. Is there a distinct new generation of digital natives that grew up using technology?
2. Does the education system need to radically change to meet the learning needs of
digital natives?
3. Is the debate about digital natives a product of moral panic?
Key Point #1
Content: There is a new generation of digital natives who learn in different ways and
who are more technologically advanced than digital immigrants.
Function: The function of this key point is to provide background to develop the
authors’ argument.
, CRITICAL COMPARISON ESSAY 3
Key Point #2
Content: In previous articles in the digital natives debate, it has been stated that
“younger students are struggling with feeling disappointed, disengaged and dissatisfied
with the education systems curriculum and learning techniques” Tapscott (1999). They
have expressed the desire to give students the guidance they need to be successful in
what they are taught and how they are taught (Prensky (2001a) and claim that: ‘Our
students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our
educational system was designed to teach. (Bennett, S., et al, 2008).
The articles argue that the younger generation has advanced knowledge and skills with
information technologies and that they have different learning styles than previous
generations that challenge to teachers (digital immigrants). Digital immigrants are
encouraged to change their teaching methods. Educators must adapt and change their
ways or students will begin to lose interest and possibly fail.
Function: The function of this key point allows the authors to discuss their views on
whether changes to the education system are necessary.
Key Point #3
Content: The authors included cites to support their arguments regarding the need for
more empirical research/evidence pertaining to this debate. They state that a moral
panic is what is taking place in this debate. “Moral panics occur when a particular
group in society, such as a youth subculture, is portrayed by the news media as
embodying a threat to societal values and norms”. “In many ways, much of the current
debate about digital natives represents an academic form of moral panic” (Bennett, S.,
Maton, K., et al 2008. Pg. 782-783)
Function: The function of this key point is to allow the authors to discuss their
arguments regarding how moral panic has impacted the digital natives’ debate.
Critical Thinking Questions
The ideas from this practice activity will be used to build the sample critical
comparison essay later in the lesson.
Points of argument from Bennett, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L.
1. Point of argument: The authors argue in this article that the evidence and
claims that suggest educational systems must change to meet the needs of
“digital natives” is based on assumptions rather than scientific and empirical
evidence; therefore, they argue that there is not strong enough evidence and that
more scientific research needs to be done.
ENGL 1101: Introduction to University Writing COMPLETE NEW
Assignment 2: Critical Comparison Essay Open Learning, Thompson
Rivers University
Assignment 2: Critical Comparison Essay
Hayley Watson
Thompson River University
,CRITICAL COMPARISON ESSAY 2
Reverse Outline (Reference) – Bennett, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L.
Topic and Main Ideas:
% Capture the core purpose of the article.
% Why did the author write this article? What did they want us to know?
The article is about digital natives and how
their use of technology may be challenging
Topic:
education systems to meet their learning
needs.
The authors suggest that young people’s
relationships with technology are very
complex. They feel more empirical research
Main Idea: is required into whether or not education
systems needs to change. They argue that
previous articles in this debate are based on
assumptions, not empirical research.
Key Points:
1. Is there a distinct new generation of digital natives that grew up using technology?
2. Does the education system need to radically change to meet the learning needs of
digital natives?
3. Is the debate about digital natives a product of moral panic?
Key Point #1
Content: There is a new generation of digital natives who learn in different ways and
who are more technologically advanced than digital immigrants.
Function: The function of this key point is to provide background to develop the
authors’ argument.
, CRITICAL COMPARISON ESSAY 3
Key Point #2
Content: In previous articles in the digital natives debate, it has been stated that
“younger students are struggling with feeling disappointed, disengaged and dissatisfied
with the education systems curriculum and learning techniques” Tapscott (1999). They
have expressed the desire to give students the guidance they need to be successful in
what they are taught and how they are taught (Prensky (2001a) and claim that: ‘Our
students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our
educational system was designed to teach. (Bennett, S., et al, 2008).
The articles argue that the younger generation has advanced knowledge and skills with
information technologies and that they have different learning styles than previous
generations that challenge to teachers (digital immigrants). Digital immigrants are
encouraged to change their teaching methods. Educators must adapt and change their
ways or students will begin to lose interest and possibly fail.
Function: The function of this key point allows the authors to discuss their views on
whether changes to the education system are necessary.
Key Point #3
Content: The authors included cites to support their arguments regarding the need for
more empirical research/evidence pertaining to this debate. They state that a moral
panic is what is taking place in this debate. “Moral panics occur when a particular
group in society, such as a youth subculture, is portrayed by the news media as
embodying a threat to societal values and norms”. “In many ways, much of the current
debate about digital natives represents an academic form of moral panic” (Bennett, S.,
Maton, K., et al 2008. Pg. 782-783)
Function: The function of this key point is to allow the authors to discuss their
arguments regarding how moral panic has impacted the digital natives’ debate.
Critical Thinking Questions
The ideas from this practice activity will be used to build the sample critical
comparison essay later in the lesson.
Points of argument from Bennett, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L.
1. Point of argument: The authors argue in this article that the evidence and
claims that suggest educational systems must change to meet the needs of
“digital natives” is based on assumptions rather than scientific and empirical
evidence; therefore, they argue that there is not strong enough evidence and that
more scientific research needs to be done.
