Hi everyone, Here are notes on how to get started focusing on a topic, thesis, and outline for your final essay in this class:
TOPIC: Social Media and Happiness
BRAINSTORMING CONNECTIONS TO LANIER:
Lanier argues that social media makes us unhappy; heavier social media users tend to be unhappier people; pressure to appear happy online, which can make people feel unhappy.
THESIS:
As Jaron Lanier argues in his book Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now and as is shown in research, heavier social media users tend to be unhappier people in their personal relationships.
OUTLINE OF POSSIBLE MAIN POINTS FOR PARAGRAPHS:
depression
competitiveness
heavy social media user? Define that — which platforms?
Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat differences in happiness
addiction can make you unhappy
being fake online and encountering other fake people
stalking or orbiting – online dating scene
selfies – best possible photos of ourselves
body image
what happens when we don’t get the feedback we hope for, “likes”??
posting for audience but not necessarily for yourself
WHICH OF THESE WOULD MAKE SENSE WITH THE THESIS? YOU NEED TO HAVE FIVE OR SIX POINTS, AND THEY SHOULD FLOW TOGETHER.
For this assignment, you will write 2,000 words that will explore, research, and discuss the following topic:
In Lanier’s book Ten Arguments, he discusses several ways that social media is bad for us and for our societies. In this essay, you will choose one of his arguments and either support or refute it, using research to support your claim.
Your essay should plan to have at least SEVEN paragraphs total, with FIVE body paragraphs that include one direct quote from Lanier and one direct quote from your research.
In this essay, you must do the following:
1. summarize Lanier’s entire book in the essay’s introduction
2. state a clear thesis that supports or refutes one of Lanier’s Arguments
3. research the Argument you are discussing and include at least three outside sources in your essay from your research (remember you will need a total of at least 5 quotes from your research)
4. include a works cited with all the works you cite from within your essay (you will have at least four entries in your works cited — our textbook plus three outside sources)
5. conclude with a personal connection to and reflection on your topic
Your essay will be graded on the following requirements:
1. proper response and focus on the assigned topic
2. has 2,000 words in the actual essay (excluding the works cited)
3. has well-developed paragraphs throughout the essay
4. each body paragraph has two direct quotes, one from Lanier and one from research; and you have used a variety of quote set ups, as reviewed this quarter
5. transitions between ideas and between paragraphs are strong
6. MLA formatting is correct throughout
7. strong sentence structure, vocabulary, and writing style
8. proofread for typos, spelling errors, and grammar errors