parents vs. kids: the real fortnite battle€¦ · including playing video games, can harm your...

©2018 erin cobb imlovinlit.com

The game of Fortnite™ has swept across the nation and the world like a fever. Teens, preteens, and even some adults have become fixated on the intense action game, some playing obsessively. Hundreds of millions of people across the world have logged in to experience the action of digital laser tag, competing alone or in squads. You might even see students performing dances from the game as you walk your school’s hallways. Fortnite may just be a trend, but it is a powerful one that shows little signs of slowing down.

For many teens and preteens, the real Fortnite battle is the one taking place off-screen between players and their parents. You’ve likely listened to your parents, teachers, and other adults discuss the adverse effects that playing video games like Fortnite can have on kids and teens. The most

Parents Vs. Kids:

Fortnite players at Gamescon in 2017

The Real Fortnite™ Battlepopular arguments include the double-edged sword of becoming lazy and overweight on one end and violent on the other. But do either of these arguments hold any weight?

It’s a mixed bag, actually. Most of the information that currently exists about the link between playing violent video games and exhibiting violent behavior is sketchy at best. For example, the American Psychological Association (APA) released a statement in 2017 that labeled violent video games as a “risk factor for aggression.” However, aggressive behavior is not violent behavior, and no such link exists between playing violent video games and committing acts of violence.

There is research, however, to indicate that spending too much time in front of any screen, including playing video games, can harm your health. But one might argue that the act of playing video games does not make a person less healthy or more obese. As long as a player is getting an adequate amount of sunshine and exercise, playing video games is not going to harm his health.

There are other potentially harmful effects of the game. Australian schools sent home warning letters after seeing Fortnite lead to an increase in online bullying and inappropriate language. The game also makes it possible for children to interact through chat with strangers from around the world. And parents may worry that their child is spending too much time on the game instead of doing homework, reading books, or playing outside with friends.

Is Fortnite Bad For You?

by Erin Cobb


Some parents argue that Fortnite is not as harmful as other types of video games because the violence is cartoon-like and not overly graphic. They believe that playing Fortnite after school is essentially the same as playing army men in the woods, building forts and having nerf gun wars, activities that many of your parents likely engaged in during their own childhoods.

Some adults take this argument one step further, citing ways that playing Fortnite can actually be good for young people. Experts from the Stanford Graduate School of Education point out the cognitive benefits of playing Fortnite. In order to succeed in the game, players must practice creative thinking and strategy, which is good for the brain. Additionally, kids must employ spatial understanding and imagination, two skills that may not be used enough in school.

In addition to cognitive benefits, Stanford experts also point out that kids who play Fortnite may experience social benefits. Playing the game requires a lot of collaboration and teamwork, promoting pro-social behavior within the game and outside of the game, too. According to Denise Pope, senior lecturer and co-founder of Challenge Success, “The working with others, the collaboration – particularly at the middle and high school level – that’s what kids crave.”

In August of 2018, Education Week published an article titled “No, Fortnite Isn’t Rotting Kids’ Brains.” In the article, authors Kurt Dean Squire and Matthew Gaydos point out that “Fortnite is, in many respects, a classic ‘third place’ – a place that is neither home nor school, but where kids can socialize and play beyond the watchful eyes of parents or teachers.” Squire and Gaydos go on to mention that in this ”third place,” kids learn to negotiate conflict, practice their independence, and explore the types of people they want to become. Furthermore, the article provides evidence that not playing games can lead to intense feelings of rejection. “Being left out of the nightly hijinks and inside jokes about new Fortnite dances is not only not fun, but can lead toward broader alienation.”

Taking it to the extreme, some parents are investing in their children’s gaming skills by hiring Fortnite coaches and tutors. These parents are buying into the hope of professional success. Professional Fortnite tournaments for the most skilled players offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash prizes. Of course, only a tiny number of elite players will ever reach this level.

Still, it may be worth shooting for the more realistic goal of joining a university Fortnite league team. Some universities are even starting to offer financial scholarships to get students to sign up and play. Ashland University in Ohio recently announced that they’ll grant top Fortnite players up to $4,000 tuition to join their newly formed esports program, competing in squads of four. The university already offers esports for Overwatchand League of Legends. This begs the question: will Fortnite become like football or soccer-- a recognized sport?

Is Fortnite Good For You?

New Scholarship Opportunities


Nonfiction Article of the Week7-15: The Real Fortnite Battle: Parents Vs. Kids

Informational Text

Activity 2

Skill: Literal Comprehension

Comprehension QuizAnswer each question or complete each statement according to the article.

1. In the articles introduction, the author suggests that you might see other students doing what in

the hallway between classes?

______________________________________________________________________________________

2. The most popular arguments against games like Fortnite are that students might become what?

______________________________________________________________________________________

3. True or false: According to the article, playing violent video games has been proven to make teens

more likely to commit acts of violence. __________________

4. True or false: According to the article, spending too much time in front of a screen can harm your

health. __________________

5. Some parents argue that the violence in Fortnite is harmless because…

______________________________________________________________________________________

6. Cognitive benefits are benefits that are good for the ________________.

7. The Education Week article points out that Fortnite is a classic ___________________ where kids

can socialize and play beyond the watchful eyes of parents or teachers.

8. The article suggests that, in college, some top Fortnite players may be able to…

______________________________________________________________________________________



Informational Text

For items 1-3, you’ll be citing textual evidence to support what the text says explicitly.

1. Find the sentence that provides information about how many people across the world

have played Fortnite. Highlight it in blue.

2. Find the sentence that explains how your parents may have participated in a different

type of Fortnite-related play as kids. Highlight it in green.

3. Find the sentence that distinguishes between aggressive and violent behavior and

highlight it in purple.

Finding Text EvidenceFind each piece of text evidence in the article and highlight OR underline it with the color specified.

Skill: Text Evidence

For items 4-8, you’ll be citing one piece or multiple pieces of textual evidence to support

inferences drawn from the text.

4. Find two pieces of text evidence from the article that support the claim that Fortnite can

help students improve social skills. Highlight them in gray.

5. Find one piece of text evidence from the article that supports the claim that simply

playing video games will not cause you to become overweight. Highlight it in orange.

6. Find one piece of text evidence from the article that supports the idea that some elite

players can make a living playing Fortnite. Highlight it in yellow.

7. Find one piece of text evidence that validates parental concerns that their children could

interact with dangerous people while playing Fortnite. Highlight it in pink.

8. Find two details from the article that support this claim:

Teens and preteens who do not play Fortnite or other popular video games may find themselves

feeling isolated. Highlight them in red.

Activity 3



Informational Text

A. Analyze ArgumentRead the paragraph from the article below. Then, identify 3 facts or pieces of evidence from the article that are included to support the given claim and write them next to the (A) (B) (C) below. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Skill: Analyze Argument

Activity 5

ClaimPlaying Fortnite could help some teens get a college education.

(A) Some universities are starting to offer financial scholarships to get students to sign up and play.

Is the evidence relevant to the claim? _________ Is it sound reasoning? __________

(B)


(C)


Fact

s/Ev

iden

ce

Still, it may be worth shooting for the more realistic goal of joining a university Fortnite league

team. Some universities are even starting to offer financial scholarships to get students to sign up and

play. Ashland University in Ohio recently announced that they’ll grant top Fortnite players up to

$4,000 tuition to join their newly formed esports program, competing in squads of four. The university

already offers esports for Overwatch and League of Legends. This begs the question: will Fortnite

become like football or soccer-- a recognized sport?

Discuss whether or not the evidence provided above is sufficient to prove the claim.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________



Informational Text

B. Analyze ArgumentMatch the facts/evidence from the article listed below to the claim that they support. Then, find at least one additional fact or piece of evidence from the article to support each claim. Two pieces of evidence below will not be relevant to either one of the claims.

Skill: Analyze Argument

Activity 5

Facts/Evidence BankA. Squire and Gaydos go on to mention that in this ”third place,” kids learn to negotiate conflict,

practice their independence, and explore the types of people they want to become.B. In order to succeed in the game, players must practice creative thinking and strategy, which is

good for the brain.C. However, aggressive behavior is not violent behavior, and no such link exists between playing

violent video games and committing acts of violence. D. For example, the American Psychological Association (APA) released a statement in 2017 that

labeled violent video games as a “risk factor for aggression.”E. Playing the game requires a lot of collaboration and teamwork, promoting pro-social behavior

within the game and outside of the game, too.F. Australian schools sent home warning letters after seeing Fortnite lead to an increase in online

bullying and inappropriate language.

Claim 1: Playing video games like Fortnite may have adverse affects on teens and preteens.

Claim 2: Playing Fortnite can provide social benefits for teens and preteens.

parents vs. kids: the real fortnite battle€¦ · including playing video games, can harm your...

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