After having learned about documenting sources, reviewed the writing process, and learned about writing argumentative essays, it is now time for you to apply the knowledge. In this assignment, you will write a five-paragraph argumentative essay based on one of the three topics provided below. Pay attention when developing your arguments.
Please note that each topic comes with an article that you need to read beforehand. Somewhere in your essay, you need to cite the accompanying article at least once; if you wish, you can cite also other articles, but this one is a must. The accompanying articles are attached to this assignment, and they also provide a direct link for the article itself. Please do not quote; instead, you should paraphrase.
Please note that you must submit this essay as a Word document, and it has to follow proper APA format and structure. Click HERE to see a sample.
In addition, before writing your essay, please go over the argumentative essay template attached HERE.
Note: Plagiarism is not tolerated; TurnItIn will be activated to avoid plagiarism.
Argumentative Essay Topics:
1. “The Machine Stops”
One of the things that Sacks considers is how social media is influencing our world negatively. He sees phones, the loss of human connection, and global climate change as pointing to an imminent apocalypse. Do you ever have a sense of impending doom? What world events do you feel might impact us in the future and create some type of apocalyptic moment? How do you feel we should handle this? Write an argumentative essay outlining a personal plan with how to deal with “the apocalypse” based on the type you envision (disease, famine, nuclear war, an asteroid, etc.).
2. “What are you Talking about?”
Do you have any kind of social media account? If yes, which accounts do you have? How frequently do you use them? If you don’t have social media, why have you avoided it? Do you still have a cell phone? After considering your own experience with social media, investigate its widespread use in America. Then write an argumentative essay suggesting whether social media is a benefit or a detriment to society.
3. “The Internet Makes Writing as Innovative as Speech”
Cameron (a professor at the University of Oxford) discusses her students’ views about the “etiquette” for using writing to communicate with others versus using speech. Using your own experience and what you’ve been reading on this topic of communication and technology, write an argumentative essay by creating an etiquette guide for writing and communicating online. This guide should be more than a numbered list of do’s and don’ts. You will need an introduction that uses secondary sources, including Cameron’s article and other selections that you may have read on this topic. You will want to consider the different types of online writing that your etiquette guide will cover, including emails, instant messages (IMs), text messages, posts, and so on. Then, consider what you want to say about the proper way to use (and not use) each form or type of technology when communicating with others. Think about the objections or criticisms that others might raise to your etiquette guidelines, and where appropriate.