WRITING AN ACADEMIC ESSAY (BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SYNTHESIZING)

WRITING AN ACADEMIC ESSAY (BEGINNERS GUIDE)

IN-TEXT CITATION

END OF TEXT CITATION

STEPS:

1.    Decide on a title; for example: Advantages of Social Networking Sites to Students

2.    Locate the articles. Sometimes, the articles are given.

3.    Read the articles- familialize with the title of articles given

4.    SKIM through both articles- get a QUICK overview of the article. (with the title of essay in mind)-at this stage you can roughly plan what the THREE MAIN IDEAS are : the THREE BLACK POINTS

5.    Then, SCAN- read both articles carefully. Take notes for the controlling ideas (the blue and red points)

6.    As you read the articles , fill in the information in TABLE 1-TABLE FOR ARTICLES

7.    After filling in the details in the Table, proceed with filling in the details in the Mind Map (FIGURE 2-MIND MAP OF ESSAY)

8.    Then , you write the essay, following the inverted triangle-diamond-triangle concept and colour codes in diamond concept.

ARTICLE 1

The positives and negatives of using social networking sites (Students’ Report ,2013)

Social networking is a topic that divides opinion - some people think it's an amazing tool but others are worried about the impact it has on people's lives.

From students to journalists, One Direction to the Prime Minister - lots of people use social media sites for both work and pleasure.

School Reporters from across the UK have reported on staying safe online and the perils of Twitter 'addiction' in the last few months.

Students from The Crest Girls' Academy in London are also interested in the topic and recently polled parents, carers and teachers at their school to get their views on social networking.

The survey found that 37% of those questioned had been left sleep-deprived as a result of social networking and 75% didn't like the idea of phones being kept close by while they slept. Other School Reporters have also looked into the issue of technology and its effect on teenagers' sleeping habits.

The students decided to explore the issue further and have been taking a closer look at the benefits - and potential risks - of using social networks. Here are some of their conclusions as to the main benefits and drawbacks of social media.

Negatives

Not everyone in the 21st century thinks about the negative effects of having social networking accounts - but simple things like not setting your privacy settings properly or liking someone's photo can have bad results.

Cyberbullying can be a problem as people can take advantage of the fact that there is no one who can effectively stop the bullying when it happens, due to everything being performed behind a screen. The only way for a bully to be stopped is if they are reported and victims may be too intimidated to do it.

Social networking can also ruin relationships as people may get jealous if they find out their boyfriend or girlfriend is exchanging messages with other people.

It can also be a waste of time as people can visit a site to check on thing and end up spending the whole day 'behind the screen' and as a result, not doing anything useful with their lives.

Positives

Social networking has lots of good points

You can express yourself, showing off your favourite song lyrics or posting pictures of your new outfit. It is a lot harder to feel embarrassment over the internet than in person, so people find it easier to vent their feelings on sites like Facebook.

In fact, it has become so much a part of people's lives that you can learn someone's life story just by checking their page. Their friends, likes and dislikes, relationship status, phone number, address…everything.

You can share your feelings and your mental stresses - and it is a great way to entertain yourself after a busy daily routine.

It also makes it a lot easier to keep in touch with family and friends, especially if they live far away. But you can also make new friends by connecting with friends of friends that you might not know.

Reference: Students’ Report (2013)The Positives and Negatives of Using Social Networking Sites. News School Report .Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/22065333

ARTICLE 2

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE’S-FACTS, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGE

 (Digital Tech, 2012)

Social Networking Site?

Social networking sites can be defined as a virtual place available on the internet basically on the World Wide Web (www) through social media, where users can create communicate within their interested social network, they can share ideas, activities, events, watch and listen music, play games send and receive messages and many more other interesting activities. It also gives a platform to the users to create their own virtual social space where they can upload or publish their own information. 

Revolution in Social Networking Sites

Before the second Millennium social networking sites does not had any deeper impact on users of internet, even there were very few websites that offer internet users a virtual place on internet to interact with other users. But after the year 2000 a kind of internet revolutioncame, and especially a huge increase and improvement has been seen in social networking sites. Many new sites came into view, these sites had very interesting user interface with lots of features to attract it users.

 
Gone are the day when World Wide Web were just a place to search some information, social networking sites has revolutionized the meaning and use of world wide web, now it's a great source to link and be in touch with those who are sitting miles apart geographically. These sites have given a platform to find out our long-lost school and childhood friends. These sites, not only growing the number of users of these sites, but also helps to shape a new dimension to the marketing industry! The most important factor behind the success of thisrevolution is the freedom of expression of thoughts. People freely express their thought with the world, by accessing from any corner of the globe. Millions of users use these sites daily and take part in huge numbers of various activities on these sites. These activities are itself a good example of Revolution in social networking sites.

Some popular social networking sites:

Here are some popular social networking sites which are leading the cyber world.

  Facebook

  Twitter

  LinkedIn

  Zorpia 

  My Space 

  Google Plus+ 

  Ibibo

  Orkut

  Tagged

  Pinterest

and there are many more.

Advantage of social networking sites:

These sites are running and used successfully in whole world, because of their advantages and benefits. What are these benefits? I have listed here,

  These sites give users a platform across the globe to express their feelings and views.

  It helps users to get interact with other users, no matter from where s/he operates these sites in world.

  These sites help users to organize and participate in any events.

  Social networking sites help us to find our long-lost and childhood friends and relatives. 

  These sites help many love birds to find and meet their soul mates. 

  It is a great source of communication between two users, irrespective of the distance between them. 

  These sites help users to refresh their mind and mood, as it is a great source of entertainment and gaming.

  It helps to give rise some newcomers in the world of music, acting, drama, and other arts. 

  SNS boosts many organizations and business, through their promotions on these sites.

  It helps in building credibility amongst the customers.

  It helps to make people and community aware of any issue.

  It helps to bring social change in society.

  It helps to be in touch with our interested, loved ones, relevant group or people or community. 

  These sites are not only a source of creating social activities but also a great way to participate and enhance our skill through participating in many contests and activities. 

  Many people even can win many prizes through these sites. 

  These sites also help in terms of educations awareness and motivations though many educational groups and communities. 

  Through these sites, users can easily get in touch with many celebrities and their updates.

And there can be many more other benefits of using these sites.

  

 

 

Disadvantages of social networking sites:

  One of the major demerits of these sites are increment in criminal activities, as there is no hard restrictions on creating account on these sites.

  Another important issue is security of our personal data and information, as its free to everyone, most of the users create face accounts and misuse the personal information of other users/celebrities.

  Sometime some non genuine and face account users attacks to some religious communities and political groups. 

  It encourages porno activities, and attacks many children and youths. 

  These sites unnecessarily waste our valuable time, when user spend time on these sites and get addicted.

  Addictions of these sites can even affect our mental conditions, sometime is became a big reason of depression and tension. 

  It also affects our health directly.

  User's reliability is not sure; it's very hard to trust on any stranger on these sites. 

  Many of time it has been seen that it became the reason of one's death, as it becomes the medium to get in touch with the victim.

  It affects children and youngster's studies. As they spend their valuable time on these sites and loss their studies and concentration. You can read about these bad effects of internet on children , and step of preventions. 

  It encourages many scams.

Step that can be taken to avoid and prevent its disadvantages!

  Impositions of some restriction on these sites by the government and cyber department of that country!

  Proper counselling should be given to addicted users and students, regarding its bed effects and proper utilizations of these sites.

  Social awareness programs can related to many scams running on these sites can also help users.

  Parents-children interaction and counselling is also a good idea to prevent children from excessive use of these sites.

  User's activeness is also necessary, if a user sees anything illegal, unnatural, and a kind of criminal activity they can "Report Abuse" that content. Report abuse is a feature in almost many sites to report a suspicious and non social content and activity, then the site admin would like onto that matter.

  Avoid unnecessarily uploading of your personal data, including information's, pictures, and other things.

  Setting time schedule for using these sites can also help in unnecessarily waste of time.
There can be some other ways too. 

Conclusion
Social networking sites are playing very significant role in today time; it has a direct impact on all age group people. Though it has many cons but still these are like an effective tool in communicating millions of people and spreading our expressions and view worldwide. We all need a change in the pattern of use, in order to prevent miss-happenings on these sites. If we will be active and aware these sites will serve us their batter and will bring some more revolution in the world of cyber technology. 

Reference: Digital Tech.(2012) Social Networking Site;s –Facts, Advantages & Disadvantage. Digital Tech Inspirations .Retrieved from http://www.digitaltechinspiration.com/2012/09/social-networking-sites-facts.html

END OF TEXT CITATION

Students’ Report (2013)The Positives and Negatives of Using Social Networking Sites. News School Report .Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/22065333

Digital Tech.(2012) Social Networking Site;s –Facts, Advantages & Disadvantage. Digital Tech Inspirations .Retrieved from http://www.digitaltechinspiration.com/2012/09/social-networking-sites-facts.html

TABLE 1-TABLE FOR ARTICLES

MAIN IDEAS	CONTROLLING IDEAS	DETAILS
EXPRESS FEELINGS	photos  (Students’ Report , 2013)	posting pictures
	thoughts (Digi Tech, 2012)	to make people aware of issues    awareness and motivations though many educational groups and communities.  bring social change in society.
KEEP IN TOUCH	distant (Students' Report, 2013)	family and friends, especially if they live far away.
	distant Find Friends and Relatives (Digi Tech, 2012)	irrespective of the distance between them.  long-lost and childhood friends and relatives.
ENTERTAIN MENT	Music (Students' Report)	Showing off favourite song lyric
	Gaming,arts, music (Digi Teach, 2012)	great  source of entertainment and gaming.

FIGURE 2-MIND MAP OF ESSAY

ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL NETWORKING TO STUDENTS	EXPRESS FEELINGS	photos (Students'  Report, 2013 )
		thoughts (Digi Tech, 2012
	KEEP IN TOUCH	distant (Students' Report , 2013)
		Find Friends and Relatives (Digi Tech, 2012)
	ENTERTAINMENT	Music (Students' Report)
		Gaming, music (Digi Teach, 2012)

TABLE 3- THE ESSAY

THE ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES TO STUDENTS

CORRESPONDING SHAPE	HOW TO WRITE?	THE ESSAY WRITE-UP
Inverted Triangle	The first few sentences is about the theme of the essay-use of technology, and internet. The next sentences can be about the disadvantages of social networking (since the essay is about the advantages). The last sentence (POINTED TIP AT THE END OF THE TRIAGLE) tells this to the reader :”afterwards, the essay will be about this”-this is the THESIS STATEMENT.	This is the age of technology. Information can be obtained with a click. Internet has no longer become a tool for people to obtain information. The growth of social networking sites has brought about many changes in people’s life, especially the lifestyles of students. Many are worried over the misuse of social networking sites for illegal purposes, for criminal activities (Digi Tach, 2012),  for cheating people of their money ,for stealing people’s identity and many more. However, these sites can also prove to be advantageous to students for many reasons. Social networking sites can be beneficial to students; they allow students to share their feelings, to keep in touch, as well as provide entertainment .
Diamond	The first sentence is the topic sentence and gives the reader this feeling: get ready, this paragraph will be about this-it contains the black, blue and red point. The second sentence is s sentence stating in-text citation from which the information comes from. The third sentence serves to give examples from the article. The fourth sentence could be a response from the writer towards the blue point. The fifth sentence is s sentence stating in-text citation from which the information for the RED point comes from. The sixth sentence serves to give examples from the article. The seventh sentence could be a response from the writer towards the blue point. The last sentence gives this feeling to the reader: “Oh, that was what the paragraph was about”.	Firstly, social networking sites allow students to express their feelings through photos and thoughts. . According to Students’ Report (2013), social networking sites provide opportunities for students to share their photos. They enjoy posting pictures for their friends to see. Although this may sometimes allow the invasion of privacy, many are careful to pose pictures that are only suitable for public viewing. Besides posting photos, students use social networking sites to express their thoughts and opinions. According to Digi Tech (2012). Some use the sites to make people aware of currents issues. Some pose information to make the society aware of their stand regarding some topics. In one way or another, the display of thoughts by these students can help bring social change in the society. So, social networking sites can help students express their thoughts and feelings through proper channels
		Social network also enables students to keep in touch with distant friends and relatives. Students will find it convenient to keep in touch with friends and families anytime. This can be done at no extra telephone charges. Such facility will be help students communicate with one another for study and personal purposes. In addition to that, social networking is a great way to connect with long-lost and distant friends and relatives (Digi Tech, 2012). Many cases of re-connecting with long lost friends and distant relatives have been reported in the social media. With social media, the communication gap has is diminishing. Hence, social networking is a great site for students to communicate with friends and families.
		Finally, social networking also provides entertainment through music and gaming. Students are reported to spend many hours watching music videos. Many have found it very convenient to get music lyrics for free on the internet (Students’ Report, 2013). This is a growing trend among young adults who enjoy listening to music and watching their favourite music videos as well. In addition to that, it is reported that students spend much of their free time on the internet playing games (Digi Tech, 2012). It is also believed that gaming has become a new way for young adults to interact with gamers all over the world. They are as many benefits of gaming as there are drawbacks. So, social networking sites has become a new form of entertainment for students: they enjoy music and gaming.
Triangle	THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH The paragraph begins with a sentence (preferably the first sentence) that says “can you remember, that was what the paragraph was about!” It is also wise to start with the last point-first. Its like a 3,2, 1 arrangement.  This means the last main point in the developmental paragraph is mentioned first because the readers have just stopped reading that last developmental point. The remainder sentences wraps up the development points, with extra input from the writer’s stand towards the points in the developmental paragraphs. For instance, the writer could comment on main idea 3, then min idea 2, and finally main idea 1. The last few sentences talks about the title in general.	Therefore, social networking has become a new trend for students to not only get their entertainment, they can also keep in touch with others as well as express themselves. They way students entertain themselves have changed over the years. Social media has given a new edge to entertainment through music and gaming. In addition to that, social networking has also brought people together. Chatting and skyping has brought people closer, regardless of the distance between them. Finally, many students have used the social networking sites to express themselves and in doing so, adults may understand them better through their postings. Although many adults are afraid of how internet and social networking sites have caused many problems, students may find them useful to enhance their social interaction and learn more about the world around them.