Expository

Nancy Jo Sales' American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers is a harrowing look into the social media landscape teenagers must navigate. Just like previous generations of Americans, today's young girls must contend with challenges ranging from peer pressure to self-esteem. Unlike previous generations of Americans, today's young girls must also contend with an increasingly sexualized and aggressive online culture. American teenage girls today are routinely encouraged to feel shame about their bodies, sexually exploit themselves, and even bully one another. In short, social media is openly hostile to young women. But what can be done to help them? What should teenage girls know about the dangers of social media? For this expository essay, you must identify three distinct steps teenage girls can take to not only protect themselves from the harms of social media, but to empower themselves to become discerning users. 

You will not submit this as a finished, 500-word essay. Instead, you will submit only an outline of the essay. Despite only representing the “skeleton” of your essay, it should still be as detailed as possible, including a solid thesis—less is definitely not more here. Use any outline form you like (e.g. Roman numerals, bullet points, graphic organizer), but it must include all the quotes (and citations) that would’ve been included in a fully-composed essay. Cite only from American Girls to support your thesis. 

Requirements: 

• MLA Style, including works cited
  

Due: Fri 11.15 (via Canvas)