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Pages:
3 pages/≈825 words
Sources:
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Style:
MLA
Subject:
Communications & Media
Type:
Research Paper
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 14.26
Topic:

Social Media and its Effect on Mental Health

Research Paper Instructions:

An argumentative essay surrounding social media usage and its effect on mental health. Arguing that it negatively affects mental health, while also providing 1 paragraph dedicated to a counter-argument( that social media can have a neutral or positive effect on mental health.


ENC1101 Argumentative Essay Assignment For this paper, you will be researching and writing a paper that argues a position. The goal of an academic argument is to seek the truth. Rather than trying to ridicule the other side, or even to win the debate, the goal is to pursue the truth through logic, empathy, and credibility. A good academic argument considers all available viewpoints and acknowledges that the truth may be found in a compromise or in a yet-unexplored position. For this assignment, you must ● Argue a position on a controversial, arguable issue. ● Use MLA format. ● Use and cite a minimum of three sources, with at least one of them coming from the following library databases: 1) Issues and Controversies, 2) Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, or 3) Points of View Reference Center. Other sources must be from credible sources. If not from library databases, sources need to be approved. ● Write appropriately for an academic audience. While there is no word count required, the writer must fulfill the assignment by appropriately following the thesis. Most papers will meet or exceed 4 pages. Introduction ● Use a hook to get your audience’s attention (consider an appeal to pathos) ● Provide background / context necessary for the reader understand the issue to be discussed and to enter into the conversation ● THESIS STATEMENT: Clearly state your opinion / claim / position on the issue. NOTE: This should NOT be a 3-pronged thesis! Body ● Develop your argument. Consider your audience. Appeal to logos through reasons, data, and evidence that support your position. ● Create a positive ethos by showing that you understand opposing views. Summarize the opposition’s concerns and respond to those views. (Summary and refutation of opposing arguments can be made either before or after your arguments. You must decide which works best.) ● Appeal to pathos by appealing to the values and beliefs of your audience. Conclusion ● Restate your thesis using different vocabulary and different sentence structure. ● Briefly summarize your main arguments and significant refutations. ● Close with an appeal to the audience to consider a different viewpoint or to take action. In either case, don’t tell the reader what to do. (No “you”; no commands!)

Research Paper Sample Content Preview:
Social Media and its Effect on Mental Health
Introduction
With technological advancement, social media has taken over to become the most popular medium of communication and online interaction between people across all ages and walks of life. Social media is the general term that refers to platforms such as facebook, twitter, snapchat, in tangram, WhatsApp, among others. Research conducted by Marchant, Amanda, et al., (2021) indicates that 8 in every 10 Americans hold at least one of the social media accounts. This amounts to approximately 68% of Americans on facebook, 25% on intragram, and 26% on intragram. Further statistics indicate that on average, Americans spend at least 2 hours and 30 mins online with the most users spending up to 8 hours on social media daily. Some of the benefits of social media include additional access to information, building relationships, and learning. Despite these and more other benefits there are evidence that links social media to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bullying, and bod shaming. More so, there is evidence that excessive use of social media makes people leads to poor social life resulting in loneliness. Increased use of social media makes people compare their lives with others leading to decline in self-image and overall quality of life. Social media impacts mental health in different other ways.
Social media and its effects on mental health
According to the Mental health of America (2020) over 47 million Americans suffered from one or more mental illnesses. Statistically, about 34% of American youths suffered from mental illnesses such a depression and anxiety with the percentage expected to rise yearly (Ni, Michael Y., et al.). While the mental health prevalence rises, social media usage among Americans continue to increase. Multiple studies prove that there is a link between excessive use of social media and mental illnesses (Gkotsis, George, et al. 2). Accordingly, social media negatively affects individual’s health by contributing to anxiety, negative wellbeing, depression, and low-self-esteem (Gkotsis, George, et al. 4). Youths who excessively use social media, indicates that excessive social media use increases insecurity, jealousy, isolation, and depression. Ideally, with excessive use of social media, some individuals are at great risk of developing cognitive distortion as they compare their lives with those of others (Berryman, Christopher, and Charles). Comparing one’s number of likes and followers, pictures, lifestyle, and adventure has left a percentage of youths vulnerable to mental health.
Moreover, while social media has created extensive opportunities in marketing and overall business opportunities, it has created an avenue for bullies to spread their roots. Cyberbullying is drastically on the rise in the past few decades leaving many victims of cyberbeing affected. Some victims of cyberbullying have committed suicide as a result of online bullying (Kelly, Yvonne, et al. 59). For example, a 14-year-old, was cyberbullied in 2019 and because she could not handle the pressure of cyberbullying, she committed suicide. It turned out that the person who cyberbullied her was an adult female who had impersonated a fake boy called Josh. The fake lady...
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