Sample English Paper on TV Violence
Introduction
- Attention-getter: When is the last time that you watched a violent TV program? Did you enjoy it? I hope you enjoyed it.
- Tie to the audience: Despite violent TV programs being accused of developing violent behaviors among the people that watch them, positive psychology has shown violent TV programs and video games to be good for the development of our minds. Positive psychology has shown these programs to be good for our well-being and seeing the world the way it is (Liang, Li and Yang 58).
- Your credentials: I picked this topic because my friend Peter watches violent TV programs more than I do, but he is not violent.
- Thesis/main topic: Understanding that violent TV programs do not influence our behaviors like the way we are brought up will allow us to watch those programs without fearing that we might develop violent behaviors.
- Preview of points: The point that I will cover include
- People’s behaviors are shaped by the way they are brought up by their parents and not TV programs.
- Some people that do not watch violent TV programs end up being violent.
- Studies that evaluate the effects of violent TV programs on children’s development show conflicting results.
Body – Point 1
- Transitional phrase: Firstly, one of the main reasons that violent TV programs should be watched by all people including children is that children’s behaviors are shaped by their parents and not TV programs (Shaffer 450).
- Evidence: According to Martin and Hite, parents act as the first teachers for their children. They provide their children with the skills and knowledge they require to survive in life. They also influence them by the way they handle them. More importantly, parents have significant control over what their children do (Martin and Hite Para. 1).
- Analysis: Consequently, inasmuch as violent TV programs affect children’s living environment in one way or the other, such programs are regulated by the relevant authorities. As a result, the amounts of violence in those programs tend to be insignificant and they may not affect children’s behaviors unless parents allow children to be violent or practice what they see in those programs.
- Summarize: Based on the above understanding, it is clear that parents have significant control over their children. Accordingly, they influence significantly the type of behaviors their children develop. If parents are strict, their children may not be violent because of the control they exercise on their children. Conversely, if parents are less concerned about their children, then their children may develop violent behaviors.
Body – Point 2
- Transitional phrase: Secondly, violent TV programs should be watched by all people because people that do not watch violent TV programs are also violent.
- Evidence: There is no doubt that some children are born violent (Slotsve et al 23). Such children may not watch violent TV programs for them to be violent people. Indeed, some children that do not watch TV programs grow up to be violent.
- Analysis: Given that some children may grow up to be violent even without watching violent TV programs, then it is outright that violent TV programs do not necessarily result to violent behaviors. Some children may be violent naturally.
- Summary: Therefore, violent TV programs may not be responsible for violent behaviors even if they might be one of the factors that contribute to violent behaviors.
Body – Point 3
- Transitional phrase: Lastly, violent TV programs should be watched by all people because studies that cover this topic show conflicting results.
- Evidence: there is no doubt that majority of the studies indicate that violent TV programs affect our behaviors negatively (Gunter, Furnham and Pappa 1681). However, there is another set of studies that do not support studies that indicate that violent TV programs result to violent behaviors. Those studies claim that majorities of the studies do not follow the right scientific methods.
- Analysis: Given that some studies conflict the widely held belief that violent TV programs result to violent behaviors among people that watch them, then there is sufficient evidence to doubt studies that link violent TV programs to violent behaviors.
- Summary: At the moment, it would appear there is evidence to doubt studies that claim that violent TV programs result to development of violent behaviors among the people that watch those programs.
Conclusion
- Thesis: Consequently, understanding that violent TV programs do not shape people’s behaviors is very important. It helps us to appreciate the fact that people’s behaviors are shaped by the way they are brought up by their parents and not TV programs.
- Link to the audience: As college students, it is important you appreciate the positive roles that violent TV programs play in developing your mind. They help you to release stress, see the world the way it is and promote your well-being through better emotional experience.
- Link to credentials: My friend Peter reminds me that violent TV programs do not result to violent behaviors and I will always watch violent TV programs to release stress and promote my well-being through better emotional experiences.
- End with impact: So, if you ever believe the misconception that violent TV programs are responsible for the violent behaviors in our country, it is high time you change that belief. You should appreciate the fact that some bad methods of raising children in our country may be responsible for the violent behaviors in our country.
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Work Cited
Gunter, Barrie, Furnham, Adrian and Pappa Eleni. Effects of television violence on memory for violent and non-violent advertising. Journal of applied social psychology, 35.8, 2005. Print.
Liang, Shuang, Li, Honghan and Yang Xiaojun. The video game from the perspective of positive psychology. Open journal of social science, 2, 2014. Print.
Martin, Lucy and Hite Virginia. How do you affect your child? 2014. Web 6 April, 2017. https://my.vanderbilt.edu/developmentalpsychologyblog/2014/04/how-do-you-affect-your-child/
Shaffer, David. Social and personality development. Belmont: Wadsworth/Cengage learning, 2009. Print.
Slotsve, T. et al. Television violence and aggression: A retrospective study. Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, 5.1, 2008. Print.