Sample Persuasive Essay

Social Networking on College Campuses

Social networking sites (SNSs) have revolutionized the way we communicate with friends, colleagues, classmates, and
even family members. It is now possible to interact and maintain a relationship with someone without ever meeting in person.
There are many positive aspects of these types of interactions. However, the excessive use of such websites has created a
distraction for some users. Some college students spend hours a day networking instead of focusing on their studies. To help
these students to be more successful, colleges and universities should block access to SNSs in most areas of their campuses.
SNSs have been growing in popularity at an astonishing rate. According to the Pew Research Centers Internet and
American Life Project, it is estimated that at least 85 percent of college students in the United States use some type of online
social network on a daily basis (Smith, Rainie, & Zickurh, 2011). In fact, according to many instructors, college students are
growing dependent on such networks. While there is no doubt that SNSs have created valuable new ways to communicate and
share information, they have also become a distraction for college students who spend time online instead of preparing for their
future careers.
Some proponents claim that the networking phenomenon can be positive. Students can join online groups in which
everyone shares the same interest, and they can learn how to communicate effectively in this digital age. It has been further
argued that, when online, students will discuss current events and issues that they are less likely to discuss in real life
interactions. In an ideal world, this could indeed be a beneficial way to promote interaction with people from different cultures
and backgrounds. Opponents argue that, in reality, some discussions provide a less rigorous platform for ideas because of the
lack of monitoring and the informal nature of the format. It is therefore difficult to argue that these postings would add
significantly to the students knowledge base.
College and universities should consider strong policies on the use of SNSs on campus because students waste valuable
study time on them. In fact, some studies report a link between time on SNSs and grades. For example, an Ohio State University
survey indicates that students who regularly use SNSs study less than five hours per week and have an average GPA between 3.0
and 3.5. In contrast, students who do not use these websites study 11 hours or more per week and have an average GPA
between 3.5 and 4.0 (Grabmeier, n.d.). In addition, teachers are increasingly concerned about social networking in class. They
complain that students are messaging friends or postingstatus updates from their laptops instead of paying attention to
lectures (Hamilton, 2009, para. 7). Based on these concerns, establishing clear policies for use of these websites on campus is
likely to help students focus on their studies. They would spend more time studying, and their grades should improve as a result.
Social networking sites present a new way to find, organize, and share information and contacts. These visually
stimulating, highly interactive websites attract many college students. However, their addictive nature can potentially disrupt

student life to the degree that colleges and universities have to take action and ban access to social networking sites in some
areas on campuses.

Grammar and Beyond 4 by John D. Bunting, Luciana Diniz with Randi Reppen