Writing Assignment: Academic Research Essay Proposal Length

Writing Assignment 2academic Research Essay Proposallength Format

Your proposal introduces your research topic, thesis, and other preliminary ideas.

This is the topic in which you will write your annotated bibliography and final argumentative research paper, so it’s a good idea to find a topic in which you are interested. You must choose an arguable topic and select a stance. Scholarly research must support the topic. Since this assignment builds up to your academic research essay, please read the Academic Research Essay assignment description. The choice is yours!

Conduct preliminary academic research first. Develop an outline for the ideas you wish to express in your essay, recognizing that your ideas might change later. Carefully work out some main points. Answer the following questions to guide a more informed research strategy:

  • What are additional questions that most interest you and might help you develop your claim?
  • What might be some additional ideas that back up/support your claim?
  • What prior beliefs, assumptions, preconceptions, ideas, or prejudices might be brought to this project?
  • What personal experiences may have shaped the way you feel?
  • Include works cited in MLA format for all of your research answers.

Paper For Above instruction

Title: Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health

Introduction

In recent years, the pervasive use of social media has transformed the way adolescents communicate, socialize, and view themselves. While social media offers numerous benefits, such as connectivity and information sharing, concerns about its impact on mental health have escalated. This proposal aims to explore how social media influences adolescent mental health, focusing on the potential risks and benefits, and to argue that while social media presents significant challenges, it can also be harnessed positively if used responsibly.

Thesis Statement

Social media significantly impacts adolescent mental health by contributing to anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues; however, with appropriate education and regulation, it can serve as a platform for positive psychological development.

Supporting Reasons

  1. Social media exposes adolescents to cyberbullying and online harassment, which can induce anxiety and depression.
  2. It often promotes unrealistic standards of beauty and success, adversely affecting self-esteem and body image.
  3. Excessive screen time and social media use interfere with healthy sleep patterns, impacting overall mental well-being.

Opposing View

Some argue that social media enhances social connections and provides a sense of community for adolescents, which can improve mental health through increased peer support and self-expression. They contend that the negative effects are exaggerated and that social media, if used responsibly, can foster resilience and positive self-image.

Research Questions and Strategies

  1. What are additional questions that most interest you and might help you develop your claim?
  • How does social media use vary among different adolescent demographic groups?
  • What role do parental monitoring and education play in mitigating negative impacts?
  • Are there specific platforms or features that are more harmful or beneficial?
  • What might be some additional ideas that back up/support your claim?
    • Studies linking high social media usage with increased rates of anxiety and depression (Keles et al., 2020).
    • Research on the effects of social comparison and idealized images on self-esteem (Fardouly et al., 2015).
    • Evidence that digital literacy programs reduce harmful outcomes of social media use (Livingstone & Third, 2017).
  • What prior beliefs, assumptions, preconceptions, ideas, or prejudices might be brought to this project?
    • Belief that social media often has negative effects on youth and should be heavily regulated.
    • Assumption that adolescents lack the critical skills to evaluate online content critically.
  • What personal experiences may have shaped the way you feel?
    • Growing up during the rise of social media platforms has made me observe both its positive and negative influences on mental health firsthand.
    • My own observations of friends experiencing anxiety related to online interactions have influenced my perspective.

    Works Cited

    • Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact on young women's body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38-45.
    • Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79-93.
    • Livingstone, S., & Third, A. (2017). Children and digital literacy: An emerging digital literacy agenda. Journal of Children and Media, 11(2), 139-154.

    Note:

    This paper details a proposed research topic exploring social media's impact on adolescent mental health, supported by preliminary research questions and ideas, aiming to develop a comprehensive argumentative essay on the subject.

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