the argumentative research essay

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1000-1200 words; Standard MLA format, PLUS a works cited page.

Write an argumentative essay on some aspect of “the media.”

The topic here is free-range within the field of “media.” Of course, one of the first things to consider is, what is media? Media includes books, magazines, newspapers, and other printed materials; radio, television, DVDs, VODs, Video Games, and other electronic communication devices intended to reach a wide audience; and, of course, the Internet and other online services such as social media. The key thing about media seems to be that it is a way of communicating (or miscommunicating, as the case may be) with large groups of people; hence, a telephone conversation (targeted to a single person) generally is not considered media-related.

Next, you need to narrow your focus. “Media” is such a broad topic that it is impossible to deal adequately with it in an essay of any length; even books cannot individually cope with any degree of depth with the subject of media. Therefore, you should choose an argumentative focus on some smaller aspect related to media.

Among the vast areas in which you could write your essay are the following. (A few example topics follow each area):

  • Politics: the electronic communications bill, deregulation of telecommunications companies, media’s effects on elections, media as shaper of public policy and/or opinion, SOPA/PIPA bills, media’s effect on divisive issues
  • Sociology: parasocial relationships, relationship to sense of “community,” does media cause an overload of information
  • Culture: does media erode interest in more traditional arts, what are the aesthetics of media programs, does the media help or hurt other art forms, can electronic media and more traditional media coexist/work together
  • Education: does media enhance education, has it affected students’ attention spans or ability to learn, does it replace reading or other intellectual activities among children
  • News/Current Affairs: does media lead to a well-informed public, do media news outlets report the news people need to know, are news shows too interested in entertainment rather than information, are some subjects no longer “newsworthy”
  • Technology: are new technologies emerging that will render broadcast media (television and radio) as we know it obsolete, does better media technology have a lasting effect on quality of life, how have technological advances made media more/less accessible, do V-Chip and parental controls work

These, of course, are just a few of the possibilities open to you. Note, too, that whatever topic you choose, you need to be specific in application–that is, you will need to refine the parameters of what is meant by the word “media.”

These topics are OFF LIMITS. DO NOT USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS (if you do, you’ll get a zero):

  • Abortion
  • Animal Rights/Cruelty
  • Capital Punishment (i.e. the death penalty)
  • Cyberbullying
  • Gay Marriage
  • Gun Control/Gun Legislation
  • Immigration
  • Legalizing Marijuana
  • Lowering the Drinking Age
  • Political Party-Specific Discourse (i.e. Republicans OR Democrats are ___________ )
  • Social Media’s Effect on Communication
  • Violent Media or Violence in Media’s Affect on Children

You will formulate a thesis that states your opinion on whatever aspect of the media you’ve selected to work with. The body of your essay will provide specific evidence from your source material to back up your thesis.

Your intended readers are intellectual (college-educated) people with an interest in media. (If you’d like, you may refine your audience further; for example, you may say to yourself “I’m writing for Facebook users”).