Toulmin Model in Relation to Social Media Effects Essay Example

Toulmin Model in Relation to Social Media Effects Essay Example Toulmin Model in Relation to Social Media Effects Paper Toulmin Model in Relation to Social Media Effects Paper Essay Topic: Social Media Toulmin Media: The Downfall Nisha Abraham Sullivan University ENG 204: Advanced Writing July 11, 2013 Abstract Social Media is affecting our society in a negative way. From being the number one cause of divorce, ruining people’s careers, and being a haven for teen suicides, many misfortunes arise due to social media. People may not notice its damaging side effects yet it is slowly but surely proving detrimental to all involved in the game. By taking a step back and maintaining self-control, any human being immersed in the frenzy of social media can enjoy its perks without getting caught up in the whirlwind of unfortunate events. Keywords: social media, internet, cyber, cyber bullying, suicide, divorce, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, society. Social Media: The Downfall From the girl who played in your sandbox twenty years ago to the man who fathers your soon-to-be adopted child from India, social networking websites grants you the opportunity to connect with just about anyone you please in a way you couldn’t have years ago. While such an opportunity sounds like what eating a bowl of your favorite ice cream feels like, being a part of the cyber world can prove to be disadvantageous. Just like almost anything in life, social media provides its perks but it has its downfalls as well. Social media is most definitely having a negative impact on society. While social networking allows people in the workplace to interconnect with each other and other prospects, sites such as Facebook and Pinterest can serve as one of, if not the, biggest distractions to people at their place of work. Social media significantly hinders efficiency and productivity which causes people to get less work done. Who wants to focus on monotonous tasks when one can look at pictures from last weekend’s epic pool party? No one. While society encourages multitasking, â€Å"Research confirms that whether you are 22 or 62, trying to do two things at once ensures that neither will be done well. By definition, one task interrupts the other, and such interruptions have a profoundly negative effect on productivity† (Weddle, 2011, para. 9). By subconsciously allowing social media to sucker minds away from important tasks at hand, people can result in job loss, low self-esteem due to job loss, and further being consumed into social media due to new free time. Alongside being able to connect with peers leisurelier, being able to connect with foes and online predators are just as easy. Adults can be just as easily duped, but kids are usually more prone to becoming victims of online bullying. Social media networks make cyber bullying that much easier and causes victims to lose self-confidence and lack self-esteem. â€Å"Social networking sites were used in 48 per cent of all the suicide cases, while messaging (text, pictures or video) were used in 25 per cent of the cases† (CBC News, 2012, para. 18). It is in plain sight and shown several times in statistics that cyber bullying has one of the strongest ties to teen suicide payable to social networking sites and online attackers taking advantage of easily influenced youth. Yet another example of how social media has plagued our society is the fact that it influences people to make their private lives more public. While it is almost idolized to share your inner-most thoughts and personal photos on your personal social networking page, it can damage your future because anything on the internet is on there forever. Future employers will easily be able to view your most unflattering moments during background checks and will undoubtedly have a negative effect on your future job opportunities. â€Å"These â€Å"boundary-crossing† technologies blur the already elusive line between the private and the public, the home and the workplace. Private information that was previously segregated now becomes easily accessible to employers, colleagues, recruiters, and clients, among other perhaps unintended audiences† (Abril, 2012, para. 4). Yes, most social media sites attain privacy settings but one must always remember there are hiccups in everything on the internet and no guarantees leaks will not occur. As much as social media has managed to ruin our society, it plays a positive role for the public as well. Social media allowed people to use their networks as a form of reaching out to old friends and family across the world. With America being known as the melting pot of the world, our society has several people with family on the other side of the Earth. With social media in effect, this permits people to stay in touch with long lost loved ones and keep ties tight. Not only has it sanctioned friends and family to keep in touches but has granted people to relocate birth parents and unknown family members as well. Yes, social media has failed our society greatly but there is always a rainbow somewhere after a rainy day. Social media can play a positive role by bringing people back together. Even though the world may seem small, we have a larger community than most can see with their eyes. The internet blinds people from the dark abyss of deceit, lies, and secrets but it is gradually becoming more apparent to society what can come about from misuse of social media. With research, attention, and self-control, society can overpower the dark side of social media and turn it into a sunny one.

Learn What Colleges Look for in an Applicant

Learn What Colleges Look for in an Applicant College applications vary from one college to the next, and every college and university has slightly different criteria for determining which students to admit. Still, the list below should give you a good sense of the admissions factors considered by most schools. Academics and College Applications Rigor of secondary school record: Did you take challenging and accelerated classes, or did you pad your schedule with gym and easy As? At nearly all colleges and universities, a strong academic record is the single most important part of your application. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Honors, and dual enrollment classes all play an important role i the admissions process.Class rank: How do you compare to your classmates? Dont worry if your school doesnt rank students- colleges use this information only when available. Also keep in mind that your high school counselor can put your rank into context if, for example, your class had an unusual number of extremely strong students.Academic GPA: Are your grades high enough to indicate that you will be successful in college? Realize that colleges are likely to recalculate your GPA is your school uses weighted grades, and colleges are often most interested in your grades in core academic subjects.Standardized test scores: H ow did you perform on the SAT or ACT? Do your general or subject tests reveal particular strengths or weaknesses? Note that a good SAT score or good ACT score isnt necessary everywhere- there are hundreds of colleges that have test-optional admissions. Recommendation: What do your teachers, coaches, and other mentors say about you? Letters of recommendation can play a meaningful role in the admissions process, for they give the college a different perspective on your accomplishments. Good recommendation letters typically address both academic and nonacademic issues. Nonacademic Factors in College Admissions Application essay: Is your essay well-written? Does it present you as a person who will make a good campus citizen? Nearly all selective colleges have holistic admissions, and the essay is a place where you can really make your personality and passions set your application apart from other applicants.Interview: If you met with a college representative, how personable and articulate were you? Does your character show promise? Have you demonstrated your sincere interest in the school by asking specific and meaningful questions? Did you have strong answers to common interview questions?Extracurricular activities: Are you involved with non-academic clubs and organizations? Do you have a variety of interests that suggest you have a well-rounded personality? There are dozens of options for extracurricular activities, but the best activities are those in which you can demonstrate leadership and accomplishments.Talent/ability: Is there an area where you truly excel, such as music or athletic s? Students with a truly remarkable talent can often be admitted even when other application components arent quite as strong as the could be. Character/personal qualities: Do the pieces of your application paint a picture of someone who is mature, interesting, and bighearted? Keep in mind that colleges arent just looking for smart and accomplished applicants. They want to enroll students who will enrich the campus community in meaningful ways.First generation: Did your parents attend college? This factor isn’t usually weighted heavily, but some schools do try to target first-generation college students.Alumni/ae relation: Are you a legacy applicant? Having a family member who attended the same school can help a little, for it’s in the college’s interest to build a family’s loyalty.Geographical residence: Where are you from? Most schools want geographic diversity within their student body. As an example, a student from Montana might have an advantage over a student from Massachusetts when applying to an East Coast Ivy League school.State residency: This is usually a factor only for public univers ities. Sometimes in-state applicants will receive preference because state funding of the school is designated for students from that state. Religious affiliation/commitment: Your faith may be a factor for some colleges that have a religious affiliation.Racial/ethnic status: Most colleges believe that a diverse student body leads to a better educational experience for all students. Affirmative Action has proven to be a controversial policy, but youll find it often plays a role in the admissions process.Volunteer work: Have you given generously of your time? Volunteer work speaks to the question of â€Å"character† above.Work experience: Colleges like to see applicants with work experience. Even if your work was at a fast-food joint, it can show that you have a strong work ethic and good time management skills.Level of applicant’s interest: Not all schools keep track of an applicants interest, but at many schools demonstrated interest plays a role in the admissions process. Colleges want to accept students who are eager to attend. Attending information sessions, open houses, and campus tours can all help show your interest, as can well-crafted supplemental essays that are truly specific to a particular school.