Suppose you are a student and you need to write a social media essay. Where should you start? First of all, let’s understand the basic terminology. So, the social media essay is an academic assignment that is somehow connected with social networks, instant messengers, and the Internet. As a student, you have to describe a web service, its impact on young people, or other aspects related to the online segment. But what should you add to your essay? Here’s where you should start.
Know the Classic Essay Structure
First of all, you should know some basics. Typically, your essay will not exceed the 500 or 1000 word limit. On rare occasions, your professor will allow you to exceed this limit if you find some really interesting information that needs to be made public. By the way, any such paper consists of three parts:
- Intro;
- body part;
- conclusion.
At the very beginning, you need to mention your topic and goals briefly. Then, add some hook in the form of an interesting fact, statistic, good quote, or rhetorical question. In a way, your introduction is like a marketing campaign. You are like a marketer whose goal is to show that your essay is worth reading.
Now let’s move on to the body part. So, this is where you need to add your questions, key data, social media comparisons, or evidence of their impact on modern society. It all depends on the topic you choose and the type of essay. Prepare for the fact that you should add strong arguments that would support each of your judgments. Perhaps you should check the free database of social media papers first to know where to start.
Include Only Proven Facts
Let’s say you’re writing a comparative or argumentative essay. Your task is to include only proven facts. Say no to unreliable sources. You can only use scientific articles, official websites with verified statistics, books, and magazines. For example, Wikipedia is a good place to find some interesting facts, but you cannot link to such a website. The fact is that articles on such sites are written by ordinary people and may contain errors or inaccuracies. That is why your task is to find only credible sources.
Include Your Opinion if It Matters
If your essay is somehow related to your experience, you should include your personal opinion, observation results, or any analytical data you received over a certain period. The point is that many professors don’t mind if students take the initiative and try to reflect on multifaceted topics. Plus, social media was created primarily for a young audience, so you have a chance to express your opinion on any important aspects. But try to be open-minded. Insert only reasoned judgments and avoid an overly negative tone.
Describe the Impact of Social Media on the Modern World
Let’s say you need to write a cause-and-effect essay. Where should you start your body paragraphs? First of all, you should include the reasons for popularizing social media. State what has become a prerequisite for global digitalization and why millions of people now use sites like Facebook to communicate around the clock. Also, don’t forget about the impact of social media on the global community. Next, however, you should focus on your topic and those questions you need to answer.
Follow Your Professor’s Recommendations
Many newbies panic because they don’t know where to start. But usually, your professor will give you clear guidelines or advice about your paper. For example, your goal might be to describe social media in general, the impact of digitalization on young users, or something like that. Take your time and ask your professor for details. Perhaps you will receive even clearer instructions to help you avoid mistakes.
Add Only Important Quotes
You probably already know that good quotes can help explain a fact or event very quickly. However, you should not overuse such writing tricks. You can rephrase a statement or limit the number of added quotes. The point is that you have to make your paper original. What if a third of your text consists of direct quotes? You are probably not interested in low grades. Try to make your essay unique and only add the most important quotes. This strategy will allow you to stand out from the crowd.
Final Words
As you can see, your essay is not an overly complex assignment. All you need to do is strictly follow your professor’s instructions, general paper structure, and recommendations. Add only verified data and facts that are relevant to your topic. In addition, you should pay attention to the purpose of your essay. Personal opinion is important, but bias will make your judgments unfounded. Try to communicate your thoughts in a neutral tone to count on a high grade. Don’t be afraid to write an essay like this the first time. You will succeed. Just follow all instructions.