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Alan Montgomery
Rhetorical Analysis
ENG-112-79
Does Violence in Video Games Really Promote Aggression?
There have been many debates over the past couple of decades about violent video games
and how they affect people, especially teenagers who are known to play them for countless hours
each week. The first article I read was written by Serena Gordon, a news reporter for
HealthDay, and was published on www.healthfinder.gov in 2011. The second article I read was
written in 2009 by Craig Anderson, a professor at Iowa State University, one of the leading
experts on studies of media violence. Serena argues that there is no proof of video game
promoting violence, while Craig argues the opposite.
Serena starts her article with a recent scientific study conducted by Dr. Yang Wang, an
assistant research professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. The study was conducted
on two groups of males ages eighteen through twenty-nine. The first group was made to play
violent video games for ten hours the first week and not at all the second week. The second
group ended up not playing violent video games at all. (Gordon). Throughout the study a special
type of brain imaging is conducted to measure differences between the two groups. The only
difference between the two groups were different levels of activity in the pre-frontal cortex of the
brain. Wang states that they do not actually know what these changes mean, only the fact that the
brain is somewhat affected (Gordon). The only other part of that article is a small statement
made by Tracy Dennis, a child development expert commenting on the study stating that it
only proves that repeating one action multiple times will affect the brain. The article itself is very

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short essentially providing a single point of useful information (the study). Serena does not
necessarily disprove the opposition. In effect, the article only proves that more research should
be conducted.
The second article uses research dating back several decades on not just violent video
games, but media violence; for example, violent movies. It talks of how research has proven that
exposure to violent media has been proven to increase the acceptance and use of violence in
arguments and conflicts. The article then goes on into greater detail of what this actually means,
and answers so pretty common questions, and refutes opposing arguments. One of the questions
it answers is whether or not violent video games turn normal youth into school shooters, the
answer to which is no. He goes into detail of what might actually turn someone into school
shooter, and how media violence is only one of the top dozen or so risk factors (Anderson). He
talks of how the media industry basically uses lobbyist and biased studies to disprove this fact.
The article is written almost like an interview with an opening statement followed up by
supposed questions which are then answered. This type of writing makes the article easy to read
and understand the flow. The article provides plenty of evidence and does not seem to contain
very much, if any bias at all.
In the end, Andersons article wins the debate between the two. He provides much more
detail and evidence to back up his argument, while Gordon essentially only provides one
paragraph of useful information. Gordon does not refute the opposition, she only uses one study
that states that there should be more research conducted before a conclusion is made. Anderson
is much more convincing and informative, not only refuting the opposing argument, but also
using several sources to prove his points. While not everyone will not agree with all his points,
they most likely will actually agree with most.

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Works Cited
Gordon, Serena. "Violent Video Games Do Not Promote Teen Aggression and Violence." Teens
at Risk. Ed. Stephen P. Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing
Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Violent Video Games May Alter Brain Function: Study."
www.healthfinder.gov. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Sept. 2014.

Anderson, Craig A. "Violent Video Games Promote Teen Aggression and Violence." Teens at
Risk. Ed. Stephen P. Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints.
Rpt. from "FAQs on Violent Video Games and Other Media Violence."
www.education.com. 2009. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Sept. 2014.