Persuasive Research Project
Purpose:
One of the major elements we are working on in this class is developing transferable skills. This means that we are able to take a skill we practiced in one assignment/situation, and apply that skill to another assignment/situation.
In this assignment, we are going to take the essay writing skills we have worked on this term, and apply them to another kind of medium/form of communication.
Assignment:
Using the work you did in your Annotated Bibliography for the Persuasive Research Essay, you are being asked to develop a formal PowerPoint presentation containing no fewer than 750 words (not including the Works Cited).
Your PowerPoint must include a thesis, three topic sentences, and supporting research. You will need to write in 3rd person and in present tense. In other words, your PowerPoint must contain all the elements of a 5-paragraph essay. You must adapt your writing to fit the format of a visual presentation (i.e.: do not write an essay and put it on slides).
Your PowerPoint must also include a minimum of 4 pictures, properly cited, from Britannica ImageQuest.
You will need to use proper in-text citation when you paraphrase or quote from someone else’s work and include a Works Cited for the sources that you use.
You must use a minimum of 3 sources from your Annotated Bibliography, as well as your images from Britannica ImageQuest.
You must upload your assignment to Blackboard before midnight of the deadline.
Assessment:
Please see the rubric on Blackboard.
Assignment Checklist:
Your PowerPoint uses 3 sources from your Annotated Bibliography.
Your PowerPoint contains a minimum of 750 words (not including the Works Cited).
Your PowerPoint uses at least 4 images from ImageQuest.
All sources and images are properly cited (including a properly formatted Works Cited).
Your PowerPoint contains a thesis, three topic sentences, and supporting points/research.
Your work has been checked for grammar and spelling.
Annotated Bibliography for the Persuasive Research Essay
Assignment:
You are being asked to write an annotated bibliography of 5 credible sources in preparation for your Persuasive Research Essay. You will be required to use these sources in your Persuasive Research Essay.
Each entry should be approximately 100 words. Students will need to provide a full bibliographic citation in APA, indicate the background of the author(s), outline the main argument, establish the source’s credibility, summarize the main points, and briefly compare the source to other sources or its value or contribution.
Topic:
Students may pick any topic they wish that is appropriate for a post-secondary institution. In your Persuasive Research Essay you are going to be asked to persuade your audience with a strong thesis, three topic sentences and research, so make sure you pick a topic which can be argued for or against.
Formatting:
Students are required to follow the correct formatting of an annotated bibliography in APA. Students can access an example of a properly formatted annotated bibliography in Week 10 of Weekly Course Material on Blackboard.
Assessment:
Please see Blackboard for the rubric.
The effects of social media on mental health:
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 15, 100962. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100962
Twenge and Campbell conducted a population-based study examining the association between screen time and psychological well-being among children and adolescents. They found that high levels of screen time were significantly associated with lower levels of psychological well-being, including higher levels of depression and anxiety. The authors argue that the widespread use of social media and electronic devices is contributing to the decline in mental health among youth.
Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., … & Primack, B. A. (2016). Association between social media use and depression among US young adults. Depression and anxiety, 33(4), 323-331. doi: 10.1002/da.22466
Lin et al. conducted a cross-sectional study examining the association between social media use and depression among young adults in the US. They found that social media use was significantly associated with increased levels of depression, even after controlling for various demographic factors. The authors suggest that social media may contribute to feelings of isolation and inadequacy among young adults, leading to increased risk for depression.
Best, P., Manktelow, R., & Taylor, B. (2014). Online communication, social media and adolescent wellbeing: A systematic narrative review. Children and Youth Services Review, 41, 27-36. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.03.001
Best, Manktelow, and Taylor conducted a systematic review of the literature on the relationship between online communication, social media, and adolescent well-being. They found that social media use was associated with both positive and negative outcomes, depending on the context and content of the use. The authors suggest that social media can provide opportunities for social connection and support, but can also contribute to cyberbullying and negative comparisons.
Woods, H. C., & Scott, H. (2016). #Sleepyteens: Social media use in adolescence is associated with poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Journal of Adolescence, 51, 41-49. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.05.008
Woods and Scott conducted a cross-sectional study examining the association between social media use and various mental health outcomes among adolescents. They found that social media use was significantly associated with poor sleep quality, increased levels of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of self-esteem. The authors suggest that the constant stimulation and pressure to maintain a curated online presence may contribute to negative mental health outcomes among adolescents.
Lui, J. H. L., Marcus, D. K., & Barry, C. T. (2019). Evidence-based interventions for social media-related depression and anxiety: A systematic review. Archives of Suicide Research, 23(2), 174-194. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2018.1447349
Lui, Marcus, and Barry conducted a systematic review of the literature on evidence-based interventions for social media-related depression and anxiety. They found that cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions were effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety related to social media use. The authors suggest
