Question

Dec. 2023

Source 2: "Is Screen Time Dangerous for Children?" by Alison Gopnik
The following article appeared in the New Yorker magazine in 2016. Alison Gopnik (b.1955)
professor of psychology and affiliate professor of philosophy at the University of California,
Berkeley.
DIRECTIONS: Understand that writers guide understanding of a text's lines of reasoning and
claims through careful organization and integration of evidence. Writers can choose multiple
methods of development at their disposal to organize their argument (refer to AP Classroom
Daily Skills videos for unit 3, Skill 5.C.). Writers can show cause-effect, comparison-contrast,
definition, description, and narration. Today, annotate for shifts in methods of development,
labeling them as appropriate and explaining the function of this shift in method. You should se
instances where Gopnik uses details about real-life experiences (narration) and reflections on
the significance of those experiences to organize her argument (comparison, definition,
description). At the conclusion of your reading & annotating, respond to the prompts below.
Prompt #1 will be discussed. Prompt #2 will be graded.
It was in the garden with Augie, my
four-year-old grandson, watching the bees
in the lavender. "Bees make honey," I said,
transmitting the wisdom of the ages in good
enzyme called invertase, which converts
nectar into dextrose, then flap their wings
to thicken the nectar into honey.

Answer 1

1. Narration:
The author begins the excerpt with a narration of a real-life experience in the garden with her four-year-old grandson, Augie, watching the bees in the lavender. This narration serves to engage the reader and create a relatable and vivid scene. It also introduces the topic of bees and honey, which will be used as an analogy later in the argument.

2. Reflection:
After describing the scene with her grandson, the author reflects on the significance of this experience. She explains the process of how bees make honey, mentioning the enzyme called invertase and how the bees flap their wings to thicken the nectar into honey. This reflection serves to provide factual information and establish a connection between the bees' process of making honey and the argument about screen time for children.

By using narration, the author brings a personal and relatable element to the argument, making it more engaging for the reader. The reflection on the significance of the experience helps to establish credibility and provide evidence for the argument. These shifts in method of development, from narration to reflection, help to organize the argument and guide the reader's understanding of the author's reasoning. Happy to help