Description

This is a bullet-point-style outline for your full essay. Each bullet point should be written in full sentences. The outline should be organized in an easy-to-read fashion utilizing headings, points, and subpoints. You will find an example of the layout on Blackboard under files, Research Outline Example. Use this format and find extra directions at the start of the example page.

Requirements:

• A clear argument (a claim about the subject answering your research question)
• Major points of the essay (reasons)
• Evidence that supports your claim and reasons
• Acknowledgments and responses to countering evidence or questions.
• Where you will use your sources
• Average length: 2-3 pages, double-spaced

 

Assignment

KEY TERMS: social media, platforms, media, high school teens, development, mental health, harmful behaviors, teens, identity

ORDER OF ARGUMENT: short to long

Introduction

CLAIM: Since teens are still growing and discovering their identities, they are more subjective to what they view online and how they use social media. As a result, social media can affect the development of high school teens in the U.S. due to a few specific reasons. This essay will discuss such reasons, and how they will impact teens in the future the more these issues persist.

• SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS AND MOST RELEVANT SOURCES: Causes teens to lose social skills (spend time perfecting responses and can alter appearances to look better), teens may learn harmful behaviors (teen dating violence article and make them think it’s okay to put up with abusive relationships, give misinformation on important topics such as sex and make it seem more lustful than loving), teens can develop mental health issues (cause insecurities and issues with body image, lead to imposter syndrome, cyberbullying, lack of physical activity and stay indoors, addiction to being online, cause mental health problems in general such as depression and anxiety)

 

Argument

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The historical background is how social media continues to gain popularity and is something people – more specifically teens – are using every day. Everyone reacts to the content differently and can even alter your views on something or how you wish to act. Due to this, teens are more vulnerable to social media and may have to cope with harmful issues.

• REASON 1: Social media can cause teens to lose social skills in public
  • WARRANT: For instance, one such issue that can interfere with their development is the fact that social media causes teens to lose social skills in public.
  • EVIDENCE: Teens can spend time perfecting responses and making an idealized version of themselves. But when it comes down to interacting in public, they may struggle to come up with responses and gain a sense of anxiety because they must reply right then and there
    • You can also alter your appearance and spend time making yourself look presentable and appealing to others. But in person, you cannot really do this and there is only so much you can do to change how you look.
  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: However, social media allows teens to make connections online and make new friends. While this may be true, teens still are not able to meet this person face to face. The best you can do is meet on a screen but even then, you can change how you look to seem like a better version of yourself.

• REASON 2: High school teens may learn harmful behaviors online.
  • WARRANT: Another way that social media can affect the development of high school teens is by teaching them harmful behaviors.
  • EVIDENCE: Teen dating violence and the idea that teens will think it is okay to put up with abusive relationships. They see these harmful portrayals of relationships in media and think that’s what love is about.
    • Media can also give misinformation on topics such as sex and make it seem more lustful than loving. They might not care about it as much and view sex solely as a form of release between two people. Also, it can cause teens to indulge in strange sexual behaviors because they saw it on television.
  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: However, some platforms may give helpful resources to allow teens to better themselves and not fall for these behaviors. While this may be true, it is up to teens to fact-check and see if the information is accurate. Not only that but some platforms may even spread the same harmful behavior and normalize it in a way.

• REASON 3: Social media may cause teens to develop mental health issues that can persist if not treated.
  • WARRANT: Finally, social media can affect the development of high school teens in America by causing them to develop mental health issues that can get worse over time.
  • EVIDENCE: Teens can develop insecurities or issues with body image. They may develop the idea that you must look a certain way to be desirable and feel as if they are not good enough.
    • This can also cause teens to develop imposter syndrome and the idea that they are not good enough no matter what they do.
    • Teens may be cyberbullied on social media and take the things they see to heart.
    • Since high school teens are spending more time online, they are getting a lack of physical activity and are more likely to stay indoors. Not only that, but this enforces the idea of having an addiction to being online

The whole idea is that these effects are causing teens to develop mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

• • ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: However, social media may allow high school teens to find their identities and whom they want to be. Social media can give them a place to be themselves and not feel so trapped. Yet again, they may rely on this and base their identities around what other people believe (like following what others are doing).

 

Conclusion

CLAIM AND WHY IT MATTERS: To conclude, the use of social media among high school teens in the U.S. is causing harmful effects to their developments. If these effects are not combated right away, they can cause severe issues to their mental health, cause them to believe harmful ideologies and take them into adulthood, and force teens to lose crucial in-person social skills.

• CALL TO ACTION: Teens should be more mindful of how they use social media and their usage. While they can still use it for leisure, teens ought to not rely on these platforms for every aspect of their lives and still form parts of their lives away from media.