Enter your assignment draft separated by a line and then the complete assignment after all revisions at the bottom of the page. Include word count for each in parenthesis beside the title.

For example

Draft 1 (500 words)

_____________________

Grant, Zamir

Professor: Nicola McDonald

English 110

15 February 2025

Rhetorical Analysis of Social Media and Its Impact

Academic Source 

In the article Social Media – Opportunities and Risks, edited by Shafizan Mohamed and Shazleen Mohamed, the authors explore the dual nature of social media, highlighting both its benefits and potential dangers. This scholarly work is targeted towards readers who are either concerned about the impact of social media or seeking to understand its evolving role in society. The authors’ credentials as editors and contributors to the book, along with their academic backgrounds, lend them authority on the subject. Their primary purpose is to inform the audience about the various opportunities social media provides, as well as its risks, without making any overt calls to action. The tone is formal, and the language is academic, reflected in sentences such as, “Social media platforms can serve as an avenue for creativity and self-expression.” The article is designed to make readers aware of these complex issues and is likely intended for an audience of students, educators, or researchers. The medium of an academic book allows the information to be distributed to a wider audience, particularly those researching the field of social media studies.

Magazine article

The article A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society by Waseem Akram, published in the International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, takes a similar yet more detailed approach to the effects of social media. Akram’s purpose is to examine the various impacts social media has on mental health, behavior, and relationships. His background as a computer applications professor and researcher provides him with the expertise necessary to make informed claims about technology and its effects. Akram’s tone is authoritative and analytical, with statements like, “While social media brings people together, it also contributes to increased feelings of isolation among certain groups.” His use of statistical data and expert opinions throughout the article enhances his credibility, making it an informative piece for readers interested in the mental health and psychological impacts of social media. This article reaches an academic audience, and its use of data and studies further supports the intention to inform rather than persuade or entertain.

Website 

The blog post Social Media Impact: How Social Media Sites Affect Society by Linda C. Ashar, J.D., published by the American Public University, is an online article aimed at a broader audience. Unlike the more formal academic articles, Ashar’s blog post is written in a more accessible tone, using phrases like, “Social media can be a great tool for staying connected, but it has some risks you need to be aware of.” Her use of real-world examples and practical advice makes the content more engaging for the general public, particularly young adults and individuals interested in the practical effects of social media. The author’s credibility is rooted in her expertise in business and management, providing a more professional take on the topic. Ashar’s purpose is to educate her audience about the ways social media affects society, warning about potential risks while acknowledging its benefits. The blog format allows her to engage directly with readers, offering both an informative and somewhat conversational tone.

Newspaper article

Finally, the article How Teens View Social Media’s Impact on Their Mental Health by Kristen Rogers, published by CNN, provides an insightful look at the mental health consequences of social media, specifically from the perspective of teenagers. This piece is aimed at a broad audience, including parents, educators, and teenagers themselves. The article uses a more journalistic approach, quoting teenagers and psychologists to provide a balanced view of how social media can be both harmful and beneficial. Rogers’ objective is to inform readers about the ways social media affects mental health and to promote understanding of the challenges teenagers face. Her tone is empathetic, as seen in phrases like, “Many teens struggle with comparing themselves to others online,” showing her sensitivity to the topic. The journalistic nature of the article makes it suitable for a wide readership, with a focus on reaching those concerned with youth development and social trends.

Conclusion

In comparing the articles Social Media – Opportunities and Risks by Shafizan Mohamed and A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society by Waseem Akram, both authors provide valuable insights into social media’s influence on society, but they approach the topic from different angles. Mohamed’s work takes a more neutral and analytical tone, exploring both the positive and negative sides without pushing for a particular viewpoint, which allows readers to form their own conclusions. On the other hand, Akram’s article has a more informative tone, aimed at educating readers about the specific impacts social media has on mental health and societal behavior. Akram emphasizes the consequences of unchecked social media use, whereas Mohamed is more focused on the opportunities it presents alongside the risks.

Both articles are effective in their own right, but while Mohamed offers a broader, balanced perspective, Akram provides more focused and targeted advice, making his article slightly more persuasive when addressing mental health concerns specifically. Together, these articles show that while social media can bring positive opportunities, it also comes with risks that need to be carefully managed._________

Draft 2 (600 words)

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Grant, Zamir

Professor: Nicola McDonald

English 110

15 February 2025

Rhetorical Analysis of Social Media and Its Impact

Academic Source

In the article Social Media – Opportunities and Risks, edited by Shafizan Mohamed and Shazleen Mohamed, the authors explore both the good and bad sides of social media. The authors discuss how social media can offer benefits, like helping people connect and express themselves, but also how it can bring problems, such as privacy concerns and mental health issues. The authors are credible because they’re experienced academics and editors, so they know their stuff. The main purpose of this source is to inform readers about the different ways social media impacts society, without pushing one side over the other. The tone is formal, and it’s written in an academic way, shown by statements like, “Social media platforms can serve as an avenue for creativity and self-expression.” This source seems aimed at readers like students or researchers who want a detailed and neutral look at social media.

Magazine Article

In the article A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society by Waseem Akram, the author dives into how social media affects things like mental health, behavior, and relationships. Akram’s background as a professor in computer applications gives him solid expertise to discuss technology’s effects on society. He uses statistics and expert opinions to back up his points, which makes his argument strong and trustworthy. The tone is analytical and serious, like when he says, “While social media brings people together, it also contributes to increased feelings of isolation among certain groups.” This article is intended for people who are interested in understanding how social media impacts mental health. Akram is trying to inform, not entertain, and his use of data shows this.

Website

The blog post Social Media Impact: How Social Media Sites Affect Society by Linda C. Ashar, J.D., published by the American Public University, takes a different approach. This source is written in a more casual, accessible way compared to the previous academic articles. Ashar uses real-world examples and explains the topic in a straightforward manner, making it easy for anyone to understand, like when she writes, “Social media can be a great tool for staying connected, but it has some risks you need to be aware of.” Ashar’s background in business and management gives her credibility, but the tone of the post is more conversational. This article is aimed at a general audience, especially young adults, and its goal is to educate readers on the effects of social media, both positive and negative.

Newspaper Article

In the article How Teens View Social Media’s Impact on Their Mental Health by Kristen Rogers, published by CNN, the author takes a look at how social media affects teens, especially when it comes to their mental health. The article uses quotes from teenagers and psychologists, which helps give a balanced view of both the positive and negative effects. The tone is empathetic, like when Rogers says, “Many teens struggle with comparing themselves to others online,” showing she understands the emotional impact social media can have. This article is aimed at a wide audience, including parents, educators, and teens themselves. Its goal is to inform readers about the challenges teens face when using social media and how it can affect their mental health.

Conclusion

When comparing the articles Social Media – Opportunities and Risks by Shafizan Mohamed and A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society by Waseem Akram, both provide important insights but in different ways. Mohamed’s article presents a more neutral, balanced perspective, exploring both the positive and negative sides without pushing any one viewpoint. Akram’s article, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the mental health impacts of social media, providing more targeted advice on how it affects behavior. While Mohamed gives readers a broader look at social media’s role, Akram’s article is more persuasive in warning about the consequences of unchecked social media use. Overall, both sources are effective at getting the point across, but Akram’s work might be more convincing for readers concerned about mental health.________________

Supporting documents like research notes, brainstorms, etc. (images are welcome)

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Works Cited

Ashar, Linda C. Social Media Impact: How Social Media Sites Affect Society. American Public University, 5 Feb. 2024.

Akram, Waseem, and R. Kumar. A Study on Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society. International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, vol. 5, no. 10, Oct. 2017, pp. 351-354.

Mohamed, Shafizan, and Shazleen Mohamed, editors. Social Media – Opportunities and Risks. IntechOpen, 2024.

Rogers, Kristen. “How Teens View Social Media’s Impact on Their Mental Health.” CNN, 21 May 2024.________________

Complete assignment (750 words)