Researched Argumentative Essay

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Researched Argumentative Essay “Why Geeks are More Successful” by Adele Melander-Dayton should be required reading for English 102 classes because it shows that popularity is detrimental to high school students and that “outsiders” actually have characteristics that are beneficial in adult life and this article can convince students that popularity isn’t important, it’s harmful. Melander-Dayton’s article is based on the book “The Geeks will Inherit the Earth” by Alexandra Robbins. Robbins is the more important author in this area so I will focus primarily on what she has said as far as information, but I am analyzing Dayton’s article. High school students have always had the “in” group and various groups of outsiders (Cross 27). New studies and information are showing that, despite popular belief, popularity can be harmful to students, especially after they graduate. Most students in English 102 recently finished high school and 98% of high school students are outsiders (Robbins N.P.). Before analyzing the article, I will provide some information about the authors, as well as some background on the terms “geek” and “nerd,” and the insinuations behind them. Alexandra Robbins was born in Maryland in 197. She has written five books, three of which are New York Times bestsellers, including “Why Geeks will Inherit the Earth.” She has also written a multitude of short articles about high school and college life, as well as given a series of interviews (Larschan 150). Adele Melander-Dayton is a less accomplished author but she is much younger; she graduated with an MA from New York University in 2011. She is a local New Mexican writer who writes for Santa Fe newspapers (The Santa Fe New Mexican.) Since Melander-Dayton’s article is local it has even more relevance to local English 102 students, her analysis is the analysis of another New Mexican and is important
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