Annotating arguments

1) Are selfie-takers attention-seekers or just active sharers? 2) Is posting a selfie on social media a sign of low self-esteem -- or a way to shape and improve your self-confidence? 3) Taking and sharing selfies is a popular way to show your friends and family what you are doing and feeling in the moment. 4) Not everyone agrees on whether the effects of selfies are positive or negative, though. 5) In this article, two high-school students share their opposing views on selfies.

The CLAIM in this paragraph is...

• the 1st sentence

• the 2nd sentence

• the 3rd sentence

• the 4th sentence

When someone posts a selfie on Instagram with the caption "I'm bored," I find it really uncalled for. To me, it's a cry for attention. It is a need for affirmation.

This type of detail is a short, personal story. It's a(n)...

• example

• anecdote

• description

• explanation

No one should ever get to a point where they feel the need to share pictures of themselves just to get attention. I understand that when a person doesn't get enough attention, they can look to social media as a way to feel good about themselves. They know someone out there will give them the attention they're craving.

The 2nd & 3rd sentences are...

• showing a cause & effect

• showing a comparison

• showing a contrast

• listing examples

1) Instagram can boost a person's self-esteem because, of course, Instagram is primarily for photos. 2) This generation has a lot of self-esteem issues, and since technology is more prevalent than ever, people look at social media as a way to seek validation from the whole world.

The 2nd sentence contains a...

• reason to support the main claim

• counterargument/counterclaim

• evidence for a claim

• claim made by the author

Some may argue that posting these selfies isn't a cry for attention, but an act of "self-confidence." But how can flaunting your body on social media be an act of confidence? When a person posts a selfie, people may express judgment, put them down or call them out. A better way to express self-love is to feel comfortable with your body and everything you use it for — not count the number of favorites it gets on Instagram.

The underlined sentences contain...

• cause & effect

• claim

• counterclaim/counterargument

• example

Growing up in an age where our social media presence defines us, our personalities begin to emerge through the eyes of our followers. On apps like Instagram and Facebook, I'm able to tailor my posts to appear a certain way. While at school I may be the quiet girl, on my iPhone I transform into the person I want to be on and off screen.

The underlined sentence...

• states a counterclaim

• lists examples

• states a claim made by the author

• states a cause

Growing up in an age where our social media presence defines us, our personalities begin to emerge through the eyes of our followers. On apps like Instagram and Facebook, I'm able to tailor my posts to appear a certain way. While at school I may be the quiet girl, on my iPhone I transform into the person I want to be on and off screen.

The underlined sentences contain...

• examples

• anecdotes

• description

• figurative language

In reality, I'm not the kind of student who can show up to school in bold red lipstick. However, I don't have a single fear posting a selfie of an outfit or even a pose that I'm proud of. It's an uncomfortable concept for humanity — showcasing individual pictures of ourselves for the world to see. It may be self-indulgent, but it's not self-loathing.

The underlined sentences support the author's claim by...

• repeating the claim

• using figurative language

• stating a comparison

• stating a contrast

There's no shame in sharing a picture that you feel accurately captures whatever message you wish to send to your followers. Especially for adolescents, self-esteem roller coasters are all too familiar. Posting a flattering selfie isn't a cry for attention; it's a statement. It's saying, more to yourself than to your followers, that you're proud of the face that stares back at you from your screen.

The underlined sentences state...

• a claim made by the author

• a counterargument/counterclaim

• an example

• an effect

I don't need a million likes or a dozen compliments for that extra motivational push. What I do need is the strength to say, "I don't care what you think. I know I look good."

And for those of you who do have a problem, simply unfollow said selfie offender. Case closed.

The underlined sentences contain...

• a comparison

• a contrast

• a description

• an explanation