First read Michael Roger’s essay, “What Evolutionary Psychology Says About Social Networking.”) https://www.nbcnews.com/id/20642550/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/t/how-social-can-we-get/#.WrBCu5ch2M9

Social media is a new phenomenon that has exploded in the past decade, saturating almost all of the sources we use for education, information, entertainment, etc. In this cause and effect essay, you will want to consider WHY. The big question your paper should answer, or attempt to explain, is WHY, not HOW (that’s what the process analysis mode is for). For example, an essay detailing the history of how Facebook transformed from a dorm-room project to a multi-billion dollar global company is NOT a cause and effect essay; however, an essay examining the importance of Facebook’s global reach and how relationships (corporate, personal, political, etc.) have been impacted or altered by it IS an example of a cause and effect essay.

Your essay will begin by briefly examining the structure of social media: why do so many people use it (hint: use statistical evidence and get hard numbers); what societal need does social media fill that allows it to thrive the way it does? You will also consider what EFFECTS, or what changes, both positive and negative, this trend has on society. You will need to do some research for this essay because you will want to consider question. Remember, you are not going to be giving your opinion on these effects; that will be for the next unit. You are simply telling your readers what the effects are.

Social media has, of course, changed — or has had an effect upon — nearly every aspect of our lives. It has changed the way we date, how we conduct business, how information is collected and disbursed, how we make plans for vacations and where to eat and what to do, and so forth. You will probably want your essay to focus on one of these major categories (like the effect on business, or personal relationships, or politics, education, entertainment, etc.) and then base your supporting points on how elements in that field were changed. If you were focusing on the political impact of social media, for instance, you could write your essay on the “Twitter Revolutions” of Lybia, Egypt, and Tunisia in 2010, or look at how Bernie Sanders’ campaign for Democratic presidential nominee has made him a frontrunner solely through grassroots efforts.

Your Works Cited page should have a minimum of FIVE properly cited sources.