Screen Time vs. Lean Time

The Centers for Disease Control

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) <<pop: www.cdc.gov>> is a government agency whose mission is to prevent disease. The CDC also shares information from researchers, scientists, and health professionals to promote good public health, and it takes pride in working “24/7” to educate Americans about preventative health and warn them of any threats. The CDC uses several different tools for outreach, including articles, email updates, social media posts, videos, and infographics like the one below. Screen Time vs. Lean Time <<pop: http://makinghealtheasier.org/getmoving>> is an interactive infographic hosted on MakingHealthEasier.org that allows you to click on an age group to find out how much time watching TV or videos or playing or working on computers kids are getting (on average) and provides suggestions for healthier alternatives.

Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <<embed 16_CDC from \\Fozzie\newmedia\@Drop_Box\Content_English\McWhorter, Successful College Writing, 6e\BIM Files – embed WITH interactive features>>

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[Attn. NM: This is an interactive infographic, and I’d like it to be embedded and interactive, if possible. The original infographic is a flash file, which we have asked the permissions researcher to request. If this isn’t possible, each screen of the interactive infographic is downloadable—is it possible for us to build an interactive function?]

Download alternative text. <<pop: 16_CDC_Alternative text.pdf>>

Analyzing the Writer’s Technique

After clicking around in Screen Time vs. Lean Time<<pop: 16_CDC from \\Fozzie\newmedia\@Drop_Box\Content_English\McWhorter, Successful College Writing, 6e\BIM Files>>, answer the questions below. Then submit your responses.

21. A comparison-and-contrast essay usually has one of three primary purposes—to express ideas, to inform, or to persuade. What is the purpose of Screen Time vs. Lean Time, and how does using comparison-and-contrast achieve this purpose? Use specific details or aspects of the infographic to support your answer.

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Possible Answer: The purpose of Screen Time vs. Lean Time is to persuade parents to make sure their children get enough exercise and don’t spend too much time on “screen time.” As part of the persuasion technique, the CDC breaks each age group graphic into two parts: the amount of time spent in front of a screen and alternative activities or solutions for so much inactivity. The contrast between the inactive and active sides of the screen shows that much more could be accomplished if kids are active. The comparison between age groups also convinces parents to help their kids get more activity because although each age group’s statistics and likes are different, each is similar in its overuse of screen time.

22. Is the infographic organized point-by-point or subject-by-subject, and

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what are its points of comparison? Why do you think the CDC chose this organization method?

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Possible Answer: The infographic is organized subject-by-subject by age groups (8–10, 11–14, and 15–18), and there are three points of comparison: how many hours a day each group spends in front of a screen, how many of those hours are spent watching television, and what activities each group could be doing in that time. The CDC chose subject-by-subject organization because although the numbers of hours spent in front of a screen differ for each group, all groups are getting too much “screen time.” This organization also allows for some repetition in the types of activities each group could be doing, lending the repetition greater impact on the audience.

Thinking Critically about Comparison and Contrast

After clicking around in Screen Time vs. Lean Time <<pop: 16_CDC from\\Fozzie\newmedia\@Drop_Box\Content_English\McWhorter, Successful College Writing, 6e\BIM Files>>, answer the questions below. Then submit your responses.

23. What do you notice about the activities each age group could be doing? What does this list reveal about each age group, and how does it work toward achieving the purpose of the infographic?

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Possible Answer: In each age group, the first three activities that kids could be doing are the same (playing basketball, walking the dog, and dancing), while only the final two activities are different. For ages 8–10, the two final activities are jumping rope and riding a bike; for ages 11–14, they’re skateboarding and riding a bike; and for ages 15–18, they’re going for a run and doing yard work. These differences reflect the different interests of each age or, in the case of the older teenagers, the commitment to exercise and chores. The contrast between all of these groups, though, shows that while the activities may be different, it is still important for kids to get moving.

24. Are there any points of comparison that are omitted that would have made the comparison more balanced for each age group? What other types of sources and information could the CDC have included to makes this infographic more comprehensive?

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Possible Answer: The CDC could have distinguished between what types of entertainment media children and youth are using. Children could be using educational games on tablets, and teenagers could be using computers for homework; not including these details implies that youths are simply being lazy and unproductive. Another possible answer might be that this infographic does not take into account how much activity students are getting at school (in a phys. ed. class or during recess) or in extracurricular activities like sports practice.

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[Reading/Media followed by questions (on the same page):]