Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

This essay will fulfill the following course learning outcomes: Summarize a sophisticated text Analyze and critique a persuasive text Support a well-articulated thesis statement by integrating information from source material Use standard documentation style (MLA) for source-based writing Exhibit proficiency in practices of standard written English (such as grammar, mechanics, and style) Identify areas of weakness in your own written work, and revise for improvement Instructions: Your third essay requires you to construct a persuasive argument about the pros or cons of our increased reliance upon social media. I expect you to focus on one type of social media; i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, ect. My advice is that you choose one form of social media and then analyze it closely. For example, in Facebook, you can create events, promote businesses, use the messenger function, ″like″ your friends′ statuses, engage in political discourse, etc. Practice the analytical skills that you learned from your previous essay; i.e., break the social media site into smaller sections. You need to be specific; every social media website is different, so it would be a mistake to lump them all together in your essay. In this essay, you need to take a position on this important topic and argue it using reasons and evidence. There are three aspects necessary for any argumentative paper: First, take a clear position on your chosen topic. This means you are not an impartial researcher, but rather you are clearly favoring one viewpoint over any other. Your claim/thesis should be specific and clearly stated in your paper, most likely in the first paragraph. Do not assume the reader will guess your thesis from the information that you provide. Your point must be made clear with a well-stated thesis statement early in your essay, supported by reasons and evidence. Remember, a good thesis statement typically contains a subordinate conjunction (Although, Even though, While, etc.) with reasons to support your claim. Your thesis should answer two important questions: What? So What? What is your argument about, and why is it important? Second, give your reader enough information to understand your topic. Drawing upon three of the four essays that you read this week, your essay ought to include enough background for your intended audience to grasp the topic and the controversy surrounding the topic. The amount of background needed will vary depending on your position on the topic. Regardless of where your position falls, remember that all information should be framed by and connected to the argument you want to make. The outside sources should be synthesized within your essay. In other words, you may use them as a way to support your main ideas or as a way to provide an opposing point of view. However, do not let the sources overshadow your argument/thesis. I would say that 75% of the essay should be your ideas, with the remaining 25% from the outside sources. The sources do not need to ″agree″ with your ideas. In fact, the argument within your essay needs to be original and should build upon what the sources overlook. What psychological effects does Instagram have on its users? What about those people who use social media while they drive their cars? How distracting is social media, and what effect is it having on our relationships? Third, support your position with evidence. This evidence must be derived from the three of the four sources. The sources are: Jean Twenge′s ″Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?″; Ben Dickinson’s ″Driving Ourselves to Distraction;″ Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic’s “Sharing the (Self) Love: The Rise of the Selfie and Digital Narcissism;” Joel Stein’s “The Me Me Me Generation.” If you use any sources besides three of these four, you will lose points. It is essential that you go beyond telling me that your position on the issue is correct - I cannot just take your word for it. Instead you must demonstrate its correctness throughout your paper to be truly persuasive. Always present an idea, present the evidence that supports it, and then explain how that evidence supports the idea. I will be looking for: a clear and specific argument a distinct introduction the previews and prepares the reader for the content of your paper well-developed supporting information, both in the form of logical discussion and support from outside sources transitional statements between and within paragraphs clear connections between your claims and the outside research supporting them quotations that are introduced and explained, not just dropped into the narrative consistent and correct in-text citations whenever outside information is used – Omitting in-text citations can constitute plagiarism (as you are effectively claiming the information as your own) and will result in a failing grade for the paper. Simply cite the outside source by placing the last name in parentheses (Dickinson). a concluding paragraph that wraps together the elements of your discussion and connects them back to your central argument a complete and correct Works Cited page with entries for each source cited in the body of the paper – Omitting a Works Cited section at the end can result in a failing grade for the paper. Your essay must be between 3-4 pages in length. Make sure that it is at least three FULL pages or you will lose points. Avoid ″I″ and ″you.″ Also avoid contractions (i.e., don′t, can′t, etc).