Final Short Research Task

This is it! Your last assignment of Quarter 3!

Remember the research work we did earlier this semester (on cloning, GMOs,
gender selection, or animal testing?) For this assignment, we’re going to follow the
same steps, but take it just a little bit further. NOTE: we are NOT doing a full
research paper. This is intended to be a low-stress assignment and a
grade booster.

There are three topics listed below. Your job is to preview each of the topics, pick
the ONE that you are most interested in, read two articles about that topic and take
notes, and write a paragraph (just ONE PARAGRAPH) summarizing them.

TOPIC 1: SOCIAL MEDIA AND BODY IMAGE

TOPIC 2: YOUTUBE FAMILY VLOGGING AND CHILD LABOR LAWS
TOPIC 3: RAP AND ITS SOCIAL INFLUENCE

*What you need to submit (by Thursday, April 16):

1) TWO sets of research notes (one for each article about your topic)
2) A thesis statement about your OWN opinion on the topic (REMEMBER: THESIS
= what you believe + because + why you believe it.)
3) A paragraph summarizing the most important parts of the articles you read
for your research. This paragraph should include…
a) At least ONE quote from each article (so that’s two quotes in total)
b) A sentence about which article you agree with more (which author
offered a more convincing argument or opinion) and why.
 Research topic: Social media and body
image 
Have you noticed the instagram models selling questionable products and lifestyles on
the internet? Seen the people you follow edit their appearance to promote an unrealistic
body image? If you’re interested in learning more about the effect online fitness
gurus have on the mind, this topic may be for you!  

Read “How social media is a toxic mirror” by Rachel Complete Notes

Article 1 Simmons Sheet 1

Read “Fitsperation on social media: Is it helping or hurting Complete Notes

Article 2 our health goals?” by Andrew Arnold Sheet 2

Research Topic: Family vlogging and

child labor laws
YouTube channels with child stars bring in big money on Youtube: with their toy
reviews, family vlogs, and appropriate content, they rack in views, advertisers, and
sponsorships. However, people argue that, because the money these YouTubers earn
goes to the parents and causes stress for the kids, family vlogging violates child labor
laws and should not be allowed. If you’re someone who is interested in YouTube
content and juicy controversies, this topic might be for you! 

Read “YouTube can’t remove kid videos without tearing a Complete Notes
Article 1 hole in the entire creator ecosystem” by Julia Alexander Sheet 1

Read “The YouTube parents who are turning family moments Complete Notes
Article 2 into big bucks” by Belinda Luscombe Sheet 2
Research Topic: Rap music and its social
influence 
Hip-hop music first became popular in the late 1970s and today, it is one of the most
popular music genres in the world. Kendrick Lamar even won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018
for his album, DAMN. Hip-hop has had a huge impact on American culture, but there
are those who argue that it is a bad influence due to its explicit language, and violent
and sexist messages. If you’re interested in music and want to learn more about
how rap affects its listeners, this topic may be for you!  

Read “A flawed perception of hip-hop” by Uzochi Nwoko Complete Notes

Article 1 Sheet 1

Read “Ex-gang member talks about rap music’s Complete Notes

Article 2 influence” by Dawn Turner  Sheet 2
Topic: 
Source Title: 
Source Author: 
Claim: What is the author arguing? 

Evidence: What examples, facts, or angles is the author using to support the claim?

Evidence 1: Quote from the In your own words: Why does this quote support the
text claim? 

Evidence 2: Quote from text In your own words: Why does this quote support the
claim? 

Evidence 3: Quote from text  In your own words: Why does this quote support the
claim? 
 THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE TURNING IN AS YOUR FINAL
RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT. USE THIS MODEL TO HELP YOU! 
THESIS: Family vlogging videos should be allowed on YouTube with more restrictions because

they help support families financially and allow children and parents to be creative. 

The articles “YouTube can’t remove kid videos without tearing a hole in the entire
creator ecosystem” by Julia Alexander and “The YouTube parents who are turning family
moments into big bucks'' by Belinda Luscombe both discuss the popularity of YouTube channels
starring children and the current problems associated with such channels. Both authors state that
family-friendly vlogs make lots of money because advertisers feel more comfortable supporting
PG content than other, more inappropriate YouTube videos. Some YouTubers even abandoned
their other channels because they were making so much more money from family vlogging.
Although the videos are usually innocent, showing normal family moments and targeting an
audience of parents and kids, they also receive inappropriate views and comments. For example,
Alexander writes that “parents were removing videos of children because of predatory behavior
as early as 2015,” meaning that this isn’t a new problem on the website. Luscombe also draws
attention to the fact that the YouTuber lifestyle is often very stressful for children. Luscombe
mentions that some YouTuber parents are emotionally or physically abusive to their children in
videos in order to get more views and states that “kids need some privacy to be able to make
mistakes, and they need parents who are their protectors, not their employers.” Even though kids
and their families can make a lot of money through YouTube, being filmed everyday and
becoming famous isn’t a very normal childhood. On the other hand, both authors seem to agree
that, if parents are responsible and guard their childrens’ privacy, family vlogging isn't
necessarily a bad thing. I find the Belinda Luscombe article more convincing because it uses
stories about specific vloggers such as Shay Carl and DaddyOFive to make its argument. The
other article talks more about YouTube as a whole.