Essay #2 Choose one of the following topics and write an essay of 1,000+ words (4 typed double-spaced pages) on that topic. Staple this assignment sheet at the very back of your essay package along with brainstorming, outlining, prewriting, etc. (The assignment sheet always goes at the very bottom, last. You will later staple revisions forms and new drafts on top of this original draft and under the revision.) Topic #1: Many observers think th at today’s young people are the most narcissistic generation in history. Digital Natives seem to be all about “me,” “me,” “me.”  Write  an essay in which you argue that today’s generation is worrisomely narcissistic  –  or not. Explain why you think so. Defi ne or explain what “narcissism” means to you. Of course, we are not talking about “clinical narcissism,” which is a kind of disease. We are just discussing selfish and self -centered behavior. What is too much? Taking and posting lots of pictures of oneself  or one’s meals or activities? Writing personal blogs about one’s life? Detailing one’s life on social media? When does this become counterproductive? Or, does it ever become counterproductive? Topic #2: Almost everyone these days uses the internet for something. Write an essay on how serious you think the loss of privacy from using the internet is. First give a list of how we are losing our privacy and then give examples. Cite the video clips we watched. Points to keep in mind: 1) This is an academic essay. You must use MLA style and format . You can use “I” but you must use formal language. 2) You must have a thesis statement and you must  support your thesis statement with general claims and specific examples . 3) You must have a separate Works Cited page. 4) You must cite  a minimum of two (2) sources . You may cite more. You may cite material from other sources  –  books, newspapers, magazines, movies, CDs, etc., (as long as you document them properly in your essay and the Works Cited Page). Use direct quotes sparingly, only when the original author says it in the best way. Otherwise, paraphrase or summarize. 5) When you do cite something from the text, give a page number indicating where you got the information for all three kinds of citations: direct quotes, paraphrases, and summarizations. 6) When you do use a direct quote,  introduce it first , tell us who wrote and in what context, and then after giving us the quote, tell us what it means in your argument. [P.I.E.] 7) You can use “I” and mention personal experiences, but leave out “I believe”, “I truly feel”, “I think”, “in my opinion”, and similar phrases. Remember you are trying to persuade your reader. 8) Keep your reader in mind at all times: it is someone outside our class who (probably) has not read the readings we have read, so introduce each writer/text before citing them. .

1. Essay #2
Choose one of the following topics and write an essay of 1,000+
words (4 typed double-spaced pages) on
that topic. Staple this assignment sheet at the very back of your
essay package along with brainstorming,
outlining, prewriting, etc. (The assignment sheet always goes at
the very bottom, last. You will later staple
revisions forms and new drafts on top of this original draft and
under the revision.)
Topic #1: Many observers think th
at today’s young people are the most narcissistic generation in
history.
Digital Natives seem to be all about “me,” “me,” “me.”
Write
an essay in which you argue that today’s
generation is worrisomely narcissistic
–
or not.
Explain why you think so. Defi
ne or explain what “narcissism” means to you. Of course, we
are not talking
about “clinical narcissism,” which is a kind of disease. We are
just discussing selfish and self
-centered
behavior. What is too much? Taking and posting lots of pictures
of oneself
or one’s meals or activities?
Writing personal blogs about one’s life? Detailing one’s life on
social media? When does this become
counterproductive? Or, does it ever become counterproductive?
Topic #2: Almost everyone these days uses the internet for
something. Write an essay on how serious you
think the loss of privacy from using the internet is.
First give a list of how we are losing our privacy and then give

2. examples. Cite the video clips we watched.
Points to keep in mind:
1) This is an academic essay. You must use MLA style and
format
. You can use “I” but you must use
formal language.
2) You must have a thesis statement and you must
support your thesis statement with general claims and
specific examples
.
3) You must have a separate Works Cited page.
4) You must cite
a minimum of two (2) sources
. You may cite more. You may cite material from other
sources
–
books, newspapers, magazines, movies, CDs, etc., (as long as
you document them
properly in your essay and the Works Cited Page). Use direct
quotes sparingly, only when the
original author says it in the best way. Otherwise, paraphrase or
summarize.
5) When you do cite something from the text, give a page
number indicating where you got the information
for all three kinds of citations: direct quotes, paraphrases, and
summarizations.
6) When you do use a direct quote,
introduce it first
, tell us who wrote and in what context, and then after
giving us the quote, tell us what it means in your argument.
[P.I.E.]
7) You can use “I” and mention personal experiences, but leave
out “I believe”, “I truly feel”, “I think”, “in
my opinion”, and similar phrases. Remember you are trying to
persuade your reader.

3. 8) Keep your reader in mind at all times: it is someone outside
our class who (probably) has not read the
readings we have read, so introduce each writer/text before
citing them.