Explore the effects of technology on society. With children glued to handheld gaming devices and teenagers and adults staring constantly at their phones, what is happening to how we communicate, think, and process reality? How are people’s relationships and behaviors shifting? Are people becoming more impatient and less sympathetic with others? Are children learning to think deeply, or are they becoming less able to critically analyze information? Are human relationships expanding or becoming more shallow?
Here are the guidelines:

1. MLA style (-10 for improper MLA heading, header, margins, font, and spacing)

2. 4 to 5 pages (Note the length difference. Two-paged papers should not expect a passing grade.)

3. Third person only (Use of the first or second person will be docked.)

4. Absolutely NO outside sources. Do NOT use the Internet. The entire paper should come solely from your thoughts.

5. Due Sunday 10/14/18 at 11:30 p.m. -10 for each day late.

Your paper will either be a definition piece or a cause/effect piece.

Remember, you will be graded HEAVILY on organization, so please use an outline. Have a clear thesis in the introduction, transitions throughout the paper, and clearly defined subtopics. Make sure everything comes together to prove one dominant idea (the thesis).

For definition papers, you are to help your reader see this term or concept from various angles and in a fresh light. (Please don’t put the dictionary meaning into the paper.)

If you are not defining a term or concept, then you are examining the causes or effects of something. You can do one or the other, or you can do both. Stay focused, though. Explore the deeply rooted causes of something. Or, explore the long-term effects of something.

Try not to argue. You’re providing intelligent, balanced information. You’re not ranting or trying to prove morality (which is ridiculously hard to do). Keep the language professional (and in third person).

Lastly, don’t try to write about what you do not know. For example, if you have never gone through depression and do not know someone intimately who has, that is probably not the best topic for you. Papers based on pure speculation and conjecture rarely come out well (and they’re usually pretty frustrating to write).