Argumentative Essay Topic Idea

After reading the assignment sheet for the argumentative essay, the idea of how Facebook affects students' grades first came to my mind. As a student myself, I know what it's like to be distracted by Facebook and what it's like pushing off my homework or studying for Facebook. I can only imagine how it affects other people in both college and high school--and even middle school. It's crazy that younger and younger people are now getting Facebook. I know my little brother is only in the 7th grade, and he has a Facebook. In this paper, I would want to argue that Facebook has a negative affect on students and their grades in today's society. I think this is very controversial in today's society because Facebook has become more of an addiction for students causing them to lean more away from studying. While parents should be responsible for their child(ren), in my opinion, it's hard to keep track of what your child does all the time. If a parent is at work or out of the house, a child could easily access Facebook with some type of media device; thus, turning them away from doing their homework. I think this is important because as time goes on students could eventually totally disregard school because they feel it's not that important. Students tend to think "oh i got a bad grade because i'm not smart enough" or whatever and not admit that the problem is too much time on Facebook. 

I came across a couple different articles while I was researching this topic: 

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/fox_news_says_facebook_will_ruin_your_grades.php

http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=33751

I thought it was interesting how in one of the articles it said that perhaps Facebook didn't exist, would students still be getting lower grades? It might be possible that students would find another way to avoid studying, but what if they did get better grades? Also, I thought it was interesting to see the contrast in the number of hours users vs nonusers spent on studying. I know that if I wasn't procrastinating homework or studying by getting on Facebook then I would be spending way more time studying. Also, in college, students are allowed to use computers in class to take notes and such, but how many students honestly don't get on Facebook during class? I know I have witnessed my classmates getting on Facebook in class---this is another way students start to get lower grades (lack of attention in class, more attention on socializing on Facebook). 

Questions I have:

What if Facebook didn't exist? Would there be another social website for students to distract themselves with? Would students actually start to spend more hours studying?

Could parents have a positive affect on their children? Do parents stay on top of their children about grades and not spending too much time on Facebook? Do college students realize that studying is more important? Or does it still distract college and even parents from work? 

Facebook Ads

Chevron: We Agree

This ad states that businesses need strong communities. It's promoting job opportunity while supporting education and health care in our communities around the world. 

I usually never read ads that show up on my facebook page, but since this assignment I have been reading them more often. I feel like this ad reflects what I have been talking about in my core class, the idea of "community." I think it's interesting this ad came up on my page because my mom has been really discussing with me about my future and my career. 

Bakery and Pastry Schools

This ad promotes getting an education in this field. It says, "follow your culinary dreams with a degree or certification from a top baking and pastry school. be apart of this booming industry." 

This ad caught my attention over the other ads that were posted on my page because there was a picture of cupcakes, and I just ate a cupcake. I love baking, and I think it's really fun. I would never want to do it for a living though. My dad owns his own restaurant, so he is always cooking or baking something in our house. I think it would be cool to do when I retire from my other career or something, but I wouldn't want to get a degree in it. 

Charles Grayson Spa

"Say I love you with 3 luxurious spa treatments for only $199 at Charles Grayson Spa." This ad is promoting that people on facebook see this ad and essentially go to this spa.

Weird, I just bought my friend a gift certificate for a spa treatment, but i did not get it from this place. I thought it was weird though that this ad just happened to appear on my page a couple days after I bought mine for my friend.