Challenge: Are Video Games Bad For You Or Not?

Good Effects of Video Games
•Video games give your child’s brain a real workout. In many video games, the skills required to win involve abstract and high level thinking. These skills are not even taught at school. Some of the mental skills trained by video games include:
o Following instructions
o Problem solving and logic
o Hand-eye coordination, fine motor and spatial skills. In shooting games, the character may be running and shooting at the same time. This requires the real-world player to keep track of the position of the character, where he/she is heading, their speed, where the gun is aiming, if the gunfire is hitting the enemy, and so on. All these factors need to be taken into account, and then the player must then coordinate the brain's interpretation and reaction with the movement in their hands and fingertips. This process requires a great deal of eye-hand coordination and visual-spatial ability to be successful. Research also suggests that people can learn iconic, spatial, and visual attention skills from video games. There have been even studies with adults showing that experience with video games is related to better surgical skills. Also, a reason given by experts as to why fighter pilots of today are more skillful is that this generation’s pilots are being weaned on video games.
o Resource management and logistics. The player learn to manage resources that are limited, and decide the best use of resources, the same way as in real life. This skill is honed in strategy games such as SimCity, Age of Empires, and Railroad Tycoon
o Multitasking, simultaneous tracking of many shifting variables and managing multiple objectives. In strategy games, for instance, while developing a city, an unexpected surprise like an enemy might emerge. This forces the player to be flexible and quickly change tactics.
o Quick thinking, making fast analysis and decisions. Sometimes the player does this almost every second of the game giving the brain a real workout. According to researchers at the University of Rochester, led by Daphne Bavelier, a cognitive scientist, games simulating stressful events such as those found in battle or action games could be a training tool for real-world situations. The study suggests that playing action video games primes the brain to make quick decisions. Video games can be used to train soldiers and surgeons, according to the study.
o Strategy and anticipation - Steven Johnson, author of Everything Bad is Good For You: How Today's Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter, calls this "telescoping." Gamers must deal with immediate problems while keeping their long-term goals on their horizon.
o Developing reading and math skills – Young gamers force themselves to read to get instructions, follow storylines of games, and get information from the game texts. Also, using math skills is important to win in many games that involves quantitative analysis like managing resources.
o Perseverance – In higher levels of a game, players usually fail the first time around, but they keep on trying until they succeed and move on to the next level.
o Pattern recognition – Games have internal logic in them, and players figure it out by recognizing patterns.
o Estimating skills
o Inductive reasoning and hypothesis testing - James Paul Gee, professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says that playing a video game is similar to working through a science problem. Like students in a laboratory, gamers must come up with a hypothesis. For example, players in some games constantly try out combinations of weapons and powers to use to defeat an enemy. If one does not work, they change hypothesis and try the next one. Video games are goal-driven experiences, says Gee, which are fundamental to learning.
o Mapping – Gamers use in-game maps or build maps on their heads to navigate around virtual worlds.
o Memory
o Reasoned judgments
o Teamwork and cooperation when played with others – many games are played online and involve cooperation with other online players in order to win.
o Simulation, real world skills. The most well known simulations are flight simulators, which attempt to mimic the reality of flying a plane. All of the controls, including airspeed, wing angles, altimeter, and so on, are displayed for the player, as well as a visual representation of the world, and are updated in real time.

•Video games introduce your kid to computer technology and the online world. You should recognize that we are now living in a high-tech, sophisticated world. Video games make your kid adapt and be comfortable with the concepts of computing. This is particularly important for girls who typically are not as interested in high technology as much as boys.
•Video games allow you and your kid to play together and can be a good bonding activity. Some games are attractive to kids as well as adults, and they could be something that they share in common. When your child knows more than you, he can teach you how to play and this allows you to understand your child’s skills and talents.
•Video games make learning fun. Your kid likes games because of the colors, the animation, the eye candy, as well as the interactivity and the challenge and the rewards of winning. The best way to learn is when the learner is having fun at the same time. That’s why video games are natural teachers. Having fun gives your kid motivation to keep on practicing, which is the only way to learn skills.
•Video games increase your kid’s self-confidence and self-esteem as he masters games. In many games, the levels of difficulty are adjustable. As a beginner, your kid begins at the easy level and by constant practicing and slowly building skills, he becomes confident in handling more difficult challenges. Since the cost of failure is lower, he does not fear making mistakes. He takes more risks and explores more. Your kid can transfer this attitude to real life.
•Games that involve multiple players encourage your child to work cooperatively to achieve his goals. Your kid learns to listen to the ideas of others, formulate plans with other kids, and distribute tasks based on skills. Some online games are even played internationally, and this can introduce your kid to players of different nationalities and cultures. This fosters friendships among different people.
•Video games that require your kid to be active, such as Dance Dance Revolution and Nintendo Wii Boxing give your kid a good workout. When playing these active games for 10 minutes, your kid spends energy equal to or exceeding that produced by spending the same amount of time on a three miles an hour threadmill walk.
•Kids are not necessarily drawn to video games because of their violence. The attraction lies in their being rewarded by awesome displays of explosions, fireworks, and yes, blood splattering. Also, violent games have the most emotional appeal for kids. But these factors are only secondary to what kids actually enjoy in these games - the opportunity to develop and master skills and have the freedom to make choices in the game universe.
•Violent video games may act as a release of pent-up aggression and frustration of your kid. When your kid vents his frustration and anger in his game, this diffuses his stress. Games can provide a positive aggression outlet the same way as football and other violent sports.
•Playing video games is safer than having your teens do drugs, alcohol and street racing in the real world.
Bad Effects of Video Games
•Most of the bad effects of video games are blamed on the violence they contain. Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial helping, according to a scientific study (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). The effect of video game violence in kids is worsened by the games’ interactive nature. In many games, kids are rewarded for being more violent. The act of violence is done repeatedly. The child is in control of the violence and experiences the violence in his own eyes (killings, kicking, stabbing and shooting). This active participation, repetition and reward are effective tools for learning behavior. Indeed, many studies seem to indicate that violent video games may be related to aggressive behavior (such as Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004). However, the evidence is not consistent and this issue is far from settled.
•Too much video game playing makes your kid socially isolated. Also, he may spend less time in other activities such as doing homework, reading, sports, and interacting with the family and friends.
•Video games do not exercise your kid’s imaginative thinking. Using imagination may be important in developing creativity.
•Some video games teach kids the wrong values. Violent behavior, vengeance and aggression are rewarded. Negotiating and other nonviolent solutions are often not options. Women are often portrayed as weaker characters that are helpless or sexually provocative.
•Games can confuse reality and fantasy.
•Academic achievement may be negatively related to over-all time spent playing video games. Studies have shown that the more time a kid spends playing video games, the poorer is his performance in school. (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004)
•Video games may also have bad effects on some children’s health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome.
•When playing online, your kid can pick up bad language and behavior from other people, and may make your kid vulnerable to online dangers.
•A study by the Minneapolis-based National Institute for Media and the Family suggests that video games can be addictive for kids, and that the kids' addiction to video games increases their depression and anxiety levels. Addicted kids also exhibit social phobias. Not surprisingly, kids addicted to video games see their school performance suffer.

Academic Autobiography

There has been allot of teachers & a pretty fine amount that have helped me grow as a student and as a young man. The most important has to be my 8th grade teacher who inspired me to work hard and don’t give up. His name is Mr. Alexander he was my pre-algebra teacher, he was not just a teacher he was also a good friend and led me to the right path in life. My other teacher is Ms. Bison, she was a nice and awesome teacher she really helped me out in the academic studies in reading and math skills. There have been many schools I have had the pleasure to go to first of all; I went to La Cienega Elementary. It is located in La Brea & Washington. My little sisters go there and also some cousins go there. I did not finish my elementary years there though; after 4th grade I went to a catholic school which was opening right next to my elementary school. The school’s name is Stella Bright star Academy. This school was extremely hard, hard long hours from 7:00am to almost 8:00pm if you were behind in your school works. Ultimately, this was a fun school to go too because we would have field trips, not just any field trips but fun adventurous field trips. The field trip I remember the most is camping! This was a weeklong field trip, & it has been the best I’ve had so far as a young teen. Too bad I only went too this school for 1 year because my mom got into an argument with the principal. So after 5th grade in Stella I moved on to Marina Del Rey Middle School in Culver City. This school was pretty good for me because I had good grades througout my 3 years in Middle school, I graduated from Marina in the 2008 class. After Marina I went on to West Adams Preparatory High School. I am still enrolled in West Adams and currently finishing my senior year here.
My favorite subject will have to be history because I love learning about the past and how things work back in the 1900s or even before. I really enjoy it because I like to learn what happened in the past with wars and conflicts countries have. An influential teacher too me is one who simple teaches and helps the students when they are in need of help. A project I have done in the past that I remember is a project we did in cooking. As a group we had to make a delicious dish in less than 60 min. My group made lasagna with a nice hot soup on the side. What I learned from this was its always better to work together as a team and learn how to share. My group aced the project with teamwork and effort in order to finish on time.
In the future, I don’t really know what will be my academic in the future. I am planning to go to college but I still got to figure out what I'm really interested in, and obviously the major. As a student I think I am lazy; if I'm interested in a subject or class, I shine and have a high grade. But most of the times I get passing grade NO "D's"! In my early years I would only speak Spanish because of my parents but then after school started for me I learned to speak English. I have passed mostly all of my classes with "B's" but I know I can do better. My G.P.A for high school is 3.3. My specific goals for this class are to excel in my English writing skills and to have an A! I expect Ms. Erudite as the same teacher I've had 2 years ago. Very nice and energetic. I'm glad I have Ms. Erudite as my 12th grade English teacher!

Found Poem

Gang Shooting Victim Must Overcome Pain To Walk Again

10 year old girl shot 3 times
playing basketball
four days later a physical therapist tells her its time to get up
she looks around,everyone looking at her
mom,dad & nurse
A lanky 4th grader with braids
speeling bee champion & outstanding player in basketball
may take months to walk again
March 2
in compton a young man
handgun shoots her in the back,knee & hip.
two other males shot and both survived.
"she understands" dad says.
"its a long process & she understands that"
doctor puts a sock on her foot and tells her to sit up
she been laying for a long time
with the help of her parents and a single sob
Erica began to move.

Linthecum,Kate,"Gang shhoting victim must overcome pain to walk again"The Los Angeles Times, March 14,2010

Stream of Consciousness

I would really like a new dog such as a german sheperd,a pittbull,or even a bulldog.My favorite dog from these is the sheperd because they are very big when they grow up and most of all they are very friendly with people.The reason why I want a new dog is becuse my dog "Jacky" is very old,I mean to us in human years he is only 10 years old but in dog years he is 70!!The other day he had a big bloody ball on his leg,at first I didnt think it was serious because I thought it was a cut but as the days went on I started to see something strange about him.So,I told my dad and he said "Take him to the vet and see what Jacky has."The next day my mom picked me up from school and we took Jacky to the vet.The vet was very smelly and had differnt type of dogs and different sizes.I signed in and I waited for the vet to call Jacky's name.After 30 minutes of waiting in the lobby they finally called his name so I went inside the examination room with my mom.At first I was worried that he would not let himself get examined or even let me put the muzzle on his mouth but I was wrong he didn't do anything crazy that would make the vet get scared.The vet came inside and he saw the big bloody ball which wasn't really bloody anymore because it was dried up for not being taken care of in time.I remember him saying this after seeing him "Jacky will need surgery on his leg."I was scared he would not make it surgery because he is old.We left him and so the next day we took him home and we were happy that he made it.Now Jacky is healthy and happy.

The Cask Of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe -Expository Essay

This story from Edgar Allan Poe is pretty much talking about revenge.There is a guy named Montressor who wants his revenge on Fortunato.The story doesn't specify why he is angry and wants revenge on Fortunato.He is plotting to murder Fortunato during a carnival when the man is drunk,dizzy,and wearing a jesters motley.A jesters motley is a costume of a joker or a clown.Montressor tells Fortunato that he has a pipe of Amontillado,a rare and valuable sherry wine.Fortunato gets hooked and goes with him to the wine cellars of the pallazo where they wander into the catacombs.While they were down there Montressor asks Fortunato if he wants De Grave,a wine,he says "yes." So while heading down stairs where no one can hear Fortunato scream,both are getting drunk.
They come to a niche,a tomb with a half-dome heading,tells Fortunato that within lies the rare wine Amontillado.As he enters Montresor quickly chains him to the walls.Fortunato recovers from his drunken state faster than Montressor,he anticipated he can shake off the chains and escape but cant.So he screams for help but since they are far down below no one can hear him.Montressor laughs while he screams for help.Montressor starts to wall up the niche entombing Fortunato alive.As Montressor finishes his last stones Fortunato wails "For the love of god,Montressor!"Montresor replies "Yes,for the love of God!"He listens for a reply but can only hear the jesters motley bells ringing.As he places the last stone he throws a torch through the gap.

Literary Treasure

A Dream Without A Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow --
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand --
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep -- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

-Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is my favorite poet because he writes about many weird stuff for instance people getting killed and people getting trapped in dungeons. He also talks about what happens to him in his life like him getting married to his cousin.I guess back then it was alright and not nasty to get married to your cousin.Starting his career was not really a success because his poems weren't popular.
This poem from Edgar Allan Poe is about him having these dreams and not having these dreams.Am I making any sense..... I didn't think so.Its about a guy getting a kiss on the forehead from someone.He is having a dream about a women kissing him on the forehead and then the women just starts to leave him which is inside the dream he is having."Take this kiss upon the brow!and, in parting from you now thus much let me avow,you are not wrong , who deem."Let me confess you are not wrong, your opinion.Everything that has just happened "flown away in a night or in a day."

"I stand amid the roar" I stand in the middle of a huge wave trying to save someone.He is standing on the sand getting sand on his hands and then the sand leaves through his hands.

But then again he is imagining that its happening but really it is not happening.I had to look through the dictionary to understand the poem and I had to read the poem over and over again.This poem has very weirds words like brow,avow,amid and deem.

Narratives song lyrics

I am a very funny person and I have a good personality once people get to know me.I try to have a Good life and want to make every second of my life as enjoyable as possible.I have much fun, but when I have to buckle down and do my work I do.Much of the stuff I is very fun stuff.
I like to play alot of sports and like to hear Lil Wayne sick beats and lyrics

"Shawty say she wanna lick the rapper..And she gonna lick the rapperAnd I just wanna act like a porno-flicking actorI (Anita Bake) her, now she caught up in that (Rapture)I got so much chips, I swear they call me Hewlett PackardI got so much chips, you can have a bag if you're a snacker Greedy mutha-fudge cakes, now tell me how dat fudge taste I do it for Bloods' sake, suu-woo think it's voodoo How that roof do di-di-dissipate, your girl wants to participate"


I am not always fun,there was a point of my life were I started to screw up my life like if my life was going South and I wanted it to go North. I was breaking the law and making a fool of myself. I mean I was just so young and I didn't know what I was doing with my life.I was not a bad kid its just that I was faking the "Thug Life" and wanted to be cool. It wasn't like I was Americas Most Wanted,I just wanted to be cool.I was trying to be somebody who I'm really not.

"The Word Is Out You're Doin' Wrong Gonna Lock You Up Before Too Long,Your Lyin' Eyes Gonna Take You Right So Listen Up Don't Make A Fight,Your Talk Is Cheap You're Not A Man You're Throwin' Stones To Hide Your Hands."Michael Jackson-Bad