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Choosing a Topic to Write About With Ananya | Annotated by the Author
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Choosing a Topic to Write About With Ananya | Annotated by the Author

How Animal Crossing Will Save Generation Z

Introduction to the Author and Context

  • Ananya Deguiri introduces herself as the author of "How Animal Crossing Will Save Gen Z," highlighting the unique challenges faced by this generation, including events like 9/11, the 2008 recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • She emphasizes that Generation Z's childhood is shaped by crises such as climate change, nationalism, and gun violence, which were largely unrecognizable a decade ago.

The Appeal of Animal Crossing

  • Deguiri reflects on why she was drawn to a Japanese video game about living in a village with anthropomorphic animals, likening it to a first love for many young people.
  • She shares her experience writing her essay during April when global turmoil was prevalent, seeking solace in Animal Crossing as a source of peace amidst chaos.

Inspiration from Existing Literature

  • A New York Times article described Animal Crossing as an escape for those isolated during the pandemic; Deguiri found this perspective relatable but felt it lacked focus on Generation Z.
  • This realization motivated her to explore how Animal Crossing specifically relates to Gen Z's experiences and struggles.

Validating Generational Struggles

  • Deguiri cites Buzzfeed News' description of Gen Z as being in "free fall," emphasizing that their troubles are valid and significant.
  • She posits that playing Animal Crossing offers hope for Generation Z and can serve as a form of salvation amid their challenges.

Advice for Young Writers

  • Deguiri encourages young writers not to feel pressured into choosing topics they don't care about; instead, they should write about what matters to them personally.
  • She expresses pride in writing about video games using simple language rather than adhering strictly to academic conventions.
Video description

Ananya Udaygiri, a winner of our Student Editorial Contest, explains why she chose to write about Animal Crossing in her winning editorial. This video is an installment in our Annotated by the Author series, in which student winners of New York Times Learning Network contests identify the writer’s moves behind their recognized work. Read Ananya's annotated essay: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/learning/annotated-by-the-author-how-animal-crossing-will-save-gen-z.html Enter our Student Editorial Contest: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/learning/our-eighth-annual-student-editorial-contest.html Visit The New York Times Learning Network: https://nyti.ms/2SJWKuB For more information: Our guide to The Learning Network’s offerings: https://nyti.ms/30TLNLp Our 2020-21 Student Contest Calendar: https://nyti.ms/33Te0UB Stay in touch: Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://nyti.ms/34PV9ZF Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/LN Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYTimesLearning About The New York Times Learning Network: The New York Times Learning Network provides free teaching resources for bringing the world into your classroom. We publish about 1,000 teaching resources each school year, all based on using Times content — articles, essays, images, videos, graphics and podcasts — as teaching tools across subject areas. Our intended audience is middle and high school teachers and students (teenagers 13 and up).