A Persuasive Essay for Video Games

Posted On March 21, 2023

A Persuasive Essay for Video Games

If you had to count, how many times a week do you have to ask your kids to do their schoolwork? Please understand, I use the word “schoolwork” because it’s for school not home. But I digress.

Let’s say for argument’s sake, your son/daughter comes to you because he/she wants to go hang out with their friends. But you suspect they haven’t done their schoolwork yet. In response, you ask them, “have you done your schoolwork?”

Does it frustrate you when you feel you have to keep “nagging” them to get it done?

Would you like your kids to want to do their schoolwork?

Well, I’ve found one way to do just that.

Recently, my kids got a new virtual reality (VR) wearable gaming system. It came with a couple of free games. But they wanted more.

After talking it over, they approached my wife and me asking for two new games.

Similar to other gaming systems, the vast majority of the games available are not free. The ones I saw cost between $9.99 and $29.99. Of course, the ones they were asking for were not from the list of free ones.

The two games being requested were $19.99 and $29.99. And like most digital games, these cannot be easily transferred between systems.

My kids are in Classical Conversations (a homeschool coop). Recently they’ve been studying ANI charts and persuasive essays.

When they asked me for the games, I turned around and asked them to write up an ANI chart and present it with a persuasive essay. If you don’t know, ANI stands for Affirmative, Negative, and Interesting. They have to provide at least three affirmative reasons for their selected/assigned topic. As well as three negatives and three interesting items to go with their affirmatives. Then, they would use it as a guide to write their persuasive essay.

They collaborated together to write the ANI chart. Below is the persuasive essay that my daughter (Isabela) wrote and presented as to why they should get the games. My son presented his later. For this post, I wanted to focus on Isabela’s.

For the purposes of this article, I have altered the names of the games to “Game1” and “Game2.”

Thesis: Should Sam and I Get the Two VR Games?

By Isabela H.

Exordium: 

“A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In other words, gameplay is the direct emotional opposite of depression.” – Jane McGonigal.

Virtual reality. Unlike regular console games when you’re slouching on the couch or the floor, you really feel like you’re in the game. It’s exciting and captivating, there’s a whole new world to explore and new levels to beat! It’s fun and can even be educational. I believe that Sam and I should get the two VR games, Game1 and Game2 for three reasons: They’re fun, Game1 will sharpen our survival skills, and Game2 will prepare us for the work world.

P1- Reason 1: They’re fun.

“Video games foster the mindset that allows creativity to grow.” – Nolan Bushnell.

Video games are fun. You’re introduced to a whole new game, with a whole new story. You get to discover new things. It’s exciting and encourages creative thinking.

P2- Reason 2: Game1 will sharpen our survival skills.

“There are plenty of skills I’ve learned from playing video games. It’s more interactive than watching TV, because there are problems to solve as you’re using your brain.” – Shaun White.

Game1 is a game where you have to survive 5 nights at a pizzeria where the animatronics come to life during the night. You must use critical thinking to survive and think of different ways to make sure they don’t reach you. It helps us think outside the box and sharpen our survival skills.

P3- Reason 3: Game2 will prepare us for the work world.

“Some people say video games rot your brain, but I think they work different muscles that maybe you don’t normally use.” – Ezra Koenig.

Something Koenig said caught my eye. He mentioned using muscles we don’t normally use, referring to our brain. I think it’s similar to working. You use parts of your brain that you probably wouldn’t on a regular day. You use critical thinking, just like in Game2. Game2 is a great game. Not only is it fun but it’s also educational, it teaches kids and teens alike about work ethic and jobs in the real world. 

In conclusion, I believe Sam and I should get the two VR games, Game1 and Game2 for 3 reasons: They’re fun, Game1 will sharpen our survival skills, and Game2 will prepare us for the work world.

As you can see, the essay was direct and persuasive. It didn’t have to be a twelve-page report with charts and spreadsheets to persuade.

Was the persuasive essay enough to persuade me to purchase the games for them? I’ll keep that between us. Nonetheless, I think this is a great exercise for our youth to help sharpen their skills.

Please understand, I didn’t do this as a way to manipulate them into doing schoolwork. Rather, I used it to persuade them to practice what they’ve been learning.

I’m teaching them to utilize their skills of strategic thinking, creative reasoning, and persuasion. At the same time, I’m also a dad. Not every time they come to me wanting something will they get it.

After writing it up, they had to present their reasonings to my wife and me. Allowing them to practice their presentation skills as well.

Is this something that most kids do when asking for something? I don’t know about anyone else’s, but ours do.

This time, it was to get two games. Which honestly, we’d spend more on dinner for the four of us than the price of both games.

Was I persuaded into purchasing the games for them? Would they have persuaded you?

I won’t say whether or not I purchased them. But if I did, for me it would’ve been well worth it.