In a minimum of 6 pages, write an argumentative paper in MLA format using a minimum of 5 secondary sources as evidence.
At least 1 of these sources must be a counterargument.
Only 1 of these sources must be Alone Together, The Happiness Effect, or It’s Complicated: The Lives of Networked Teens.
You need to retrieve secondary sources from either our library book catalog, our library’s electronic databases, or from any websites that end in the following:
.edu .org .gov
Do NOT use .com websites.
Choose one of the prompts below and formulate an argument on the issue of how the technologies we’ve covered this semester have impacted our social and emotional lives.
You must focus only on 1-2 technologies such as social media (this can include Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.), our phones, artificial intelligence (robots of sorts such as Siri), and the virtual world (online games and chat rooms)
Thirdly, you must also offer a solution to a particular problem within your chosen prompt.
prompt 1: Agree with Turkle’s and Freitas’ argument that we are truly alone together as a result of our reliance on and obsession with our devices; however, make sure to hone in on a specific area from their argument that you can expand on and say something new about. As part of your argument, you must clearly explain how 1-2 technologies we’ve discussed this semester are intended to bring connection but in reality, cause more harm like isolation or other problems. When discussing these problems, remember you should make it clear why they’re important and how they affect your audience.
prompt 2: On the other hand, you might want to focus on how being ensconced in the virtual world negatively impacts our social skills that then leads to weakened relationships. For Turkle and Freitas, we have traded what it means to be human and have started to treat others as mere objects. Explain how our attitudes towards one another have worsened as a result of our fixation on technology (i.e. our phones) and what this means for human relationships and/or the self.
prompt 3: Perhaps you’d like to focus on Danah Boyd’s text about the social lives of teenagers. In this work, Boyd discusses the dangers of identity, privacy, addiction, bullying, and more that come with online life. Choose one of these dangers and formulate an argument that shows either
how one particular danger is leading to a series of other negative effects on teens’ lives and why this matters. You are not only showing a danger but you are explaining what the consequences of this danger are.
or you can agree with Boyd that even though one of these online dangers is prevalent teenagers have in fact been able to formulate positive identities and personas as part of their online lives. If this is the case, consider the following questions: Why does this matter? What benefits do teens get out of online life? And Why should we (as parents, Americans, users of technology, etc.) NOT be worried about the dangers?
Within the 6 pages, your essay should also do or have the following:
Have at least 1 introduction paragraph, 2 position body paragraphs, 1 proposal body paragraph, 1 counterargument and refutation body paragraphs, and 1 conclusion paragraph (6 paragraphs minimum as long you reach 6 pages.)
write in the third person. Do NOT use the first or second person “In my opinion, I think, I believe, you should, etc.”
use other scholars for support; however, you need to differentiate your argument from theirs when finding points of agreement.
organize your essay according to the organization handout.
follow MLA 8 formatting guidelines, use in-text citations, and compose a list of works cited as your 7th page.
