Evaluative Summary

             In the article "Vulnerable Teens, Vulnerable Times: How Sensation Seeking, Alienation, and Victimization Moderate the Violent Media Content--Aggressiueness Relation",  the authors claim that the relationship between teen use of violent media and being aggressive depends on personality and their life situation. This study explores the concept of how the culture and nature of teens impacts the way that they interpret violent media, and how they display that back into their social setting. This is done through a study that analyzed a teen’s Use of violent media content, aggressiveness, age, tendency to not consider consequences in decision making, and the moderators that would construe the results of the study. The authors cover their ground well, and create an environment where their argument is taken in with open arms.

            Throughout the first few sections of the article, he authors lay out the basis of their inquiries. Two sections are dedicated to two theories into which they dive into with great detail, acknowledging sources along the way. These sections describe how these theories relate to the topic of the study, and provide the essential background for the reader to understand what the issues are in teen life that would spark such an interest in the conducting of a study such as this one.

            In the second and third sections, specifically, entitled Dispositional Tendencies: Sensation Seeking and Social-Environmental Influences: Alienation and Victimization, the authors also put into place six sub-hypotheses in order to narrow the focus of the article. These hypotheses turn the information previously given to the reader into concrete ideas that the reader can easily follow into a much more murky section of the article that describes specific methods used, data collected, and so on. Via these hypotheses, the authors have created a road map for the reader to come out of the maze of information unharmed and sharp-witted, still being able to see how the authors’ argument is worth while, and strong.

            Yet another argument booster is the clear spelling out of the results of the study, and how those results relate back to the six hypotheses state earlier in the work. This does not directly deem the writers’ thesis to be strong and accurate, but does, however, supply the six hypotheses with the status of accurate and concise. This result, in turn, then allows for the main thesis to be validated, and then accepted.

            Throughout the study, the authors take the hand of the reader, and delicately guide them through the work by use of concise sources, direct hypothesis, and easy to understand yet powerful conclusions. The balanced combination of these elements ensures that proper authorization is given to the writers pertaining to their authority to write on such a topic, and furthermore, the author’s main thesis is accepted by the reader, and therefore considered valid. This tactic is essential for creating an environment that ensures the existence of a solid, persuasive, and effective argument.

Sources:

Slater, Michael D., Kimberly L. Henry, Randall C. Swaim, and Joe M. Cardador. "Vulnerable Teens, Vulnerable Times: How Sensation Seeking, Alienation, and Victimization Moderate the Violent Media Content--Aggressiueness Relation." Communication Research 31.6 (2004): 642-68. Print.