In the 2013 Time article "The New Greatest Generation," Joel Stein claims that "millennials' perceived entitlement isn't a result of overprotection but an adaptation to a world of abundance"(31). Stein's organizational style appeals to readers because he arranges the article in a way that lures the reader's attention in the beginning, so he can later propose a new outlook. Stein begins describing characteristics of millennials unfavorably in order to overcome those negative characteristics and offer a new, positive perspective. The author initially establishes a negative attitude towards millennials to appeal to the feelings of the older, adult generations. Stein’s structure successfully acknowledges the negative views, for the purpose of …show more content…
He appeals to most reader's perspective by addressing millennials as "lazy, entitled, selfish, and shallow" (28). Initially, many readers will agree with Stein because he reinforces their point of view, prompting readers to proceed with a supportive attitude. Stein continues by saying technology has only “exacerbated” (28) selfishness within millennials. Many older generations will continue supporting Stein’s negative portrayal of millennials because most only see how millennials use technology with social media, which provides a stage on which people may appear to be more self-centered than they really are. In the past, only immediate family would see that selfishness, yet they would understand that it is only on occasions. Stein begins the article patronizing millennials in order to relate back to the initial traits but in a positive way as he approaches the middle of the article. Stein succeeds by bringing the readers through a process, allowing them to be in agreement with him, so he can later overcome the negative traits previously …show more content…
Stein assists in helping the readers understand that millennials have "just mutated to adapt to their environment"(31) by providing quotes and examples, even of people who may be a part of the older generations. This helps readers acknowledge there has been a change within technology, which millennials have had alongside them their entire lives. Stein points out: "Imagine being used to that technology your whole life and having to sit through algebra"(32). Although millennials seem to be on their phones a great deal, they have not been taught to do otherwise. Millennials did not grow up "trapping their friends in houses to watch their terrible vacation slideshows"(32); they grew up "watching reality-TV shows"(30) and "interacting all day but almost entirely through a screen"(29). Older generations did not have the technology millennials can access today, which causes them to have behaved differently from millennials. Generation X and the Baby Boomers would have been much different growing up if the technology available to millennials were available to them. The author quotes Scott Hess arguing, “Can you imagine if the boomers had YouTube, how narcissistic they would've seemed?”(qtd. in Stein 32). By allowing the readers to think about what they would have been like growing up with the technology millennials have, Stein offers
An excerpt from “CQ Researcher” wrote a summary that focuses on how Millennials is one of the most diverse generations of America 's, leading them to possibly reshape our country in their image. The first time I read this, I thought that young adults may not have what it takes to change America’s society. That they didn’t know how, but then you have Millennials vote for President Obama which in fact were most hispanic people, we may have a shot. According to the “CQ Researcher” “ Millennials launch into successful adulthood, causing many to delay getting married, starting families and purchasing a home. This is good because setting back with marriage and families, gives enough time for an individual to understand our country and what is the
By realizing that the main audience of this article would be adults, especially those who have children, she intelligently plays into this through her consistent reference to the past and how great it was to be a child in the 1970s and 80s, even with the high crime rates. She then continues on by praising the invention of the ever so popular app, referring to the “Good old Days” and how the addition of Pokémon Go has kids out exploring like older generations used to do when they were young (Davies, 2016, para 3). She compares the app to activities that older generations used to do such as hunting for salamanders at the park. By creating this linkage between the two generations she is effectively creating this emotional tie to the app; thus able to grab the reader’s attention as she presents her argument through the rest of the
Mark Bauerlein makes it extremely clear that Generation Y, The Millennials, are losing their intelligence and drive to acquire and obtain knowledge. Bauerlein states in the beginning of his book that he is not here to undermine and look down upon this Generation but to share the facts of reality, a reality that the young people of today simple do not care about their education and see social media such as Twitter and Instagram a more important way of spending their free time. This Generation is extremely lucky, never before has so
The Greatest Generation, is an astonishing book written by Tom Brokaw. The “Greatest Generation” is based on children who grew up during this generation while the Deep Depression was going on and who became adults during World War 2. There are strong reasons as to why Tom Brokaw considerers this generation great. The children, adults, and seniors all took part of making the generation great, most kids and teens and adults took an initiative of putting their own life aside to fight in the war, this generation had to be the be the greatest, by far. I state this, because this generation was forced to go through so many life changing events like the Great Depression, then had to face War for six years.
According to Professor Jeffrey Bosworth, in his editorial “Hunting for Hope in Modern America,” he discusses the “screwed” millennial generation and the potential they have to be successful, despite current existing United States problems. Bosworth explains this from three different perspectives: the current issues in America, the positive attributes of the millennial generation, and what the millennial generation should do to succeed. In Bosworth’s opening proposition he elucidates the “[millennial] generation is screwed”. He expounds the millennial generation is predicted to “do worse than the previous generation”.
With the general assumption that millennials are arrogant, Wallace shares a story to prove to everyone that being arrogant is not worth it (Wallace, 2005). So much more can be done if we focus our energy in thinking in a more positive manner. For instance, he talked about being a little less arrogant, saying “Because a huge percentage of the stuff that I tend to be automatically certain of is, it turns out, totally wrong and deluded. I have learned this the hard way” and further claims “as I predict you graduates will, too.” (Wallace, 2005)
Once Stein is done comparing himself to Millenials, he then proceeds to defend them. Stein suggest that, “Yes, they check their phones during class, but think about how long you can stand in line with out looking at your phone” (Stein 32). After reading this, this furthers the points that the audience is just like Millennials. This can make the readers begin to question if Millennials are as bad as they tend to make them out to be. The way Stein chose to structure his article is an important factor that helps show the audience the purpose of his
A Rhetorical analysis of “Generation Velcro” In “Generation Velcro,” Dorothy Woodend discusses the lack of basic skills and knowledge that is being passed down from generation to generation, and how this could be a fundamental problem for both generation Y and the future of planet earth. Woodend, setting the tone for her article, asks the question, “[i]s this generation heading into a coming dark age with little more than the ability to update their Facebook statuses and watch YouTube, all with laces untied?” (par. 7). She contends that “[t]he inability to concentrate in a world of competing bits of information and constant multitasking have led to brains that can no longer keep up,” implying that this problem of concentration is inhibiting this newest generation’s ability to learn the skills necessary to sustain our world properly (par. 12).
The Greatest Generation written by Tom Brokaw is a well-respected book. The book is broken up into different categories where Brokaw tells the stories of individuals who participated in the war. Their life before the war and after the war. The first chapter of the book is called “Ordinary people”. This chapter is explains the individuals who had an impact on the war and went back to the normal life after.
An opinion may be appealing to the ear; however, appealingness does not make a statement accurate. In Joel Stein's article, “The New Greatest Generation,” his overall message is generalized to the idea of what effect do millennials have on society. In the first portion of his writing, Stein criticizes millennials’ ways of life using statistical data and stereotypes the entire generation as indolent and selfcentered. The second portion of Stein’s article is a counterargument that millennials are not a fruitless generation, and that their way of life may be beneficial to all. Stein creates a compelling argument, however his counter argument is entirely opinionated making his writing an unreliable source.
The omnipresence of the smartphone affects adolescents in every section of the United States, regardless of social class and ethnic background. Jean Twenge established ethos when he stated,“he had been studying generational differences for 25 years and that he started when was a 22 year old doctoral student in psychology”(2). Since he has been studying different generations for many years he knows
This demonstrates the primary way to reach the iGeneration, which is through self- actualization. Her personal experiences create an informal tone that the readers can connect with on a personal level and this effectively promotes her argument. These real-life experiences allow the reader to relate to the issue personally and deepen their understanding of the argument. Through Wilson’s experiences, she gains a better understanding of the generation and can appreciate the beauty behind technology. Her change in attitude towards the generation demonstrates that a deeper understanding of the generation is necessary to appreciate the greatness of this generation.
On December 8th, 1941 Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered a speech to the House of Representatives, Members of the Senate, the House Speaker, to the Vice President, and to the American people. Franklin spoke of the incident of the attack on Pearl Harbor the day after it occurred. Mr. Roosevelt was stern and concise. He spoke on the occasion of tragedy to inform the House and the American people what the Japanese have done.
Young adults seem to be achieving adulthood at a later time in life. Whether it’s college students going back to their home or living on their parents budget late into their lives, many adolescents seem to be achieving adulthood less and less in their twenties than generations before. In Henig’s article titled, “What Is It About 20-Somethings”, she states that “getting to what we would generally call adulthood is happening later than ever” (200). Trying to explain this new advancement, Henig sources Professor Jeffrey Arnett, who has introduced the rise of a new life stage, identified by exploring one 's identity, self-focus, and endless possibilities for the prospect called “emerging adulthood”. A bulk of the blame for the development of Arnett’s new stage of life that Henig explores can be sourced on the recent popularity of social media that is discussed in Maria Konnikova’s article “The Limits of Friendship”.
The article “The Me Me Me Generation” by Joel Stein mentions how Millennials are a self-centred generation who have been raised with many participation awards and parents who mistakenly believed that strengthening their self-esteem was they key to success rather than focusing more on strengthening up their character and skills. Stein mentions that the younger generation lives mostly through screens, whether those on phones, iPad’s, or computers, and believes someway that it is entitled to success without experiencing the rough situations in lifetime. Stein also presented studies showing that the incidence of narcissistic personality disorder among Millennials is massive. Stein concludes the article by mentioning that this has not taken him by surprise, because this began with their parents’ generation, the Baby Boomers, or known as the “Me Generation.” Millennials seek to make their own mark on the world.