I showed $.ajax at lunch yesterday and I've put up my code on github. There’s a simple javaScript class example and a Knockout example for comparison. I also avoided using jQuery (except for the $.ajax).
I also added a knockout example to you can compare a simple example.
Getting WebApi setup threw me for a loop. Use GlobalConfiguration.Configure(WebApiConfig.Register).
Also I needed some help to post a primitive value to a WebApi method.
EDIT: August 25, 2015: I updated my AjaxExample using a data service class and TypeScript. I wanted to share a simple example using TypeScript and moving the AJax calls into a “data service class”. I think I’ll add in a stuffDataService.ts for in the middle and a non jQuery ajax example to show you might not need jQuery.