INTRODUCTION
 Title
 Attention
getter/Hook
 Background
information
 Thesis
BODY
 Point/Topic
sentence/Claim
#1
 Link/Further
explanation #1
 Evidence #1
 Analysis #1
BODY
 Point/Topic
sentence/Claim #2
 Acknowledge
alternate/opposing
viewpoint
 Link/Further
explanation #2
 Attempt to
disprove
alternate/opposing
viewpoint
 Evidence #2
 Analysis #2
CONCLUSION
 Restate thesis
 Summary of
main points
 Final sentence
Do you own a cell phone or does it own you?
Today, teens in our society would say they own multiple electronic devices: a T.V., cell phone,
MP3 player, gaming systems… and the list goes on. However, with all of the time spent on these devices,
some are beginning to wonder if teens are even in control of their ability to turn them off. After all, this
generation has never lived without electronic devices; it’s been a part of their everyday lives since they
were born. Even most of their parents have owned televisions, phones, music gadgets and gaming
systems. Most people agree that technology offers many benefits to teens: It’s a great source of
entertainment; it can assist with homework and it can keep kids connected to parents and friends. But
too much screentime is causing major problems in the lives of teens: School grades may drop and time
spent with family may be reduced.
Kids who spend too much time entertaining themselves with technology are likely to find their
grades dropping.
From constant interruptions from notifications and text messages to the beckoning video-game
controller, it’s understandable that homework would be the last item on the “want” to-do list. In the
article, “Are You a Screen Addict?” the author says students are spending a total of 16 hours per day
consuming some sort of media and that “studies show that teens who spend excessive time in front of a
screen are much more likelys to get lower grades (Lewis 10).
That doesn’t leave time to sleep, let alone do homework. If homework isn’t completed, of course grades
are going to drop.
Although technology is a great way to communicate with friends and family, too much
communicating via technology can actually keep teens from spending time with their families. Teens
can’t interact with parents and siblings through a phone in the same way they can face-to-face. A board
game played at the dinner table to bond with parents and siblings is better than Words with Friends
played with a stranger on the other side of the world. The article says “you might be missing out on the
relationships in your own home if you’ve stopped shooting hoops with your little brother because you
are spending every working minute playing Call of Duty” (Lewis 11). This shows that too much
technology can actually hurt relationships.
So it’s obvious too much screentime is causing problems in the life of teens. Teens, on average,
do need to work on cutting back on the digital devices, although banning technology altogether would
probably not be ideal. Afterall, the use of technology can improve grades when used in the correct
manner and quick texts to parents can be an efficient way to communicate. But it’s important to do a
“tech check” every now and then. Teens should occasionally calculate how much time is spent on
electronic devices and evaluate their situation. If they can see that it’s getting in the way of forming
relationships and affecting their grades, it’s time to hit the off switch and regain control over their
devices.