Author's argumentation in text 2
Here, you are asked to present how Aleks Krotoski catches and holds the readers’ attention in text 2 by supporting your argument with examples from the text.
Text 2 is titled “Hate and the internet: Does the internet encourage insidious and bullying behaviour?” and it was published in 2010 on the website of The Guardian.
Author’s main arguments
At first, the author argues that cyber-bullying is real and that it is enhanced by the concept of anonymity that basically protects the perpetrators from the consequences of their actions:
So it was with cocky confidence that I joined the “general” room as “Dan” (of undisclosed gender) and instantly discovered the thrill of anonymity. Behind my digital mask, I began a brief but satisfying tirade of mockery, contrariness and antisocial behaviour. (p. 4, ll. 6-8)
He states that, for teenagers, cyber-bullying seems amusing at first: “It’s like playing a trick on Halloween; it’s childish, it seems insignificant, and it’s kinda fun.” (p. 4, ll. 19-20)
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How he argues for his views
After you have looked at the author’s main arguments, focus on the way he argues for his views. The author captures the readers’ attention through:
- Direct and objective argumentation
- Ethos
- Pathos
- Rhetorical questions
- Self-irony
Direct and objective argumentation
First, Aleks Krotoski uses direct argumentation. By direct argumentation, we understand the use of a clearly-formulated point of view which does not involve hidden meanings that need to be deduced by the reader. What is more, a direct argumentation also means that the author expresses his own point of view by using personal examples.
Also, the author bases most of his argumentation on objectivity, which makes different categories of readers relate to him.
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Ethos
The direct argumentation is enhanced by the rhetorical device called ethos, where the author applies to authority in order to make the story more credible and persuasive. The author uses ethos to argue his views by using his own example and experience as a teenager and as a cyber-bully:
I remember the first time I logged into a chatroom. It was 1996, and I was using my mum’s AOL1 account to mooch around the world wide web, which was still very much in its infancy. (…)Behind my digital mask, I began a brief but satisfying tirade of mockery, contrariness and antisocial behaviour. (p. 4, ll. 1-8)
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Self-irony
Finally, the author relies on self-irony and sarcasm because he mocks his superficial teenage views of the world and behaviour:
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