1. Dangers of Cell Phones on Children By: Ruqia Hussaini

2. Choosing My Topic  I decided to write on the dangers of cell phones on kids because it related to my second summary-response essay which also highlighted children.  Throughout the researching process my topic never changed because I found a lot of information on it and it was something intriguing for me to research.

3. My Thesis  I believe that cellular phones are dangerous for children. They pose as distractions in school, while learning to drive and can lead to brain cancers and tumors. Children should be given limited usage rights toward them.  I chose this particular thesis because the subject of children is too broad and I wanted to narrow it down.  I know a lot of people who have children so I wanted to do research on this particular thesis for them.  As a result, once I began working on my thesis, it never changed.

4. My Overall Structure  Introduction: –Many people don’t know how bad cell phones are for children. They are given to children as a form of convince but their short and long term affects can be disastrous  For example, the Gilroy Unified School Board District is thinking of banning cell phones on school premises because children simply don’t need them. If a phone call needs to be made they can go to any office and use the phone. Many board members feel that cell phones pose as distractions and a right of passage in schools.

5. My Overall Structure Cont’d  Narration –Mention cell phone misconduct in classrooms. –Problems with young drivers using cell phones. –What are the statistics on young cell phone drivers? –What are negative health issues of using cell phones? –What are the misconceptions people have about cell phones?

6. My Overall Structure Cont’d  Partition –Children need to avoid using cell phones as much as possible because of its –Negative effects it can have on youngsters. –Cell phones usage should be monitored by parents. –Using cell phones should be avoided while teenagers are driving.

7. My Overall Structure Cont’d  Argument  A reduction in cell phone use would decrease the number of car accidents.  Less cell phone use would mean the lower risk of children getting tumors and brain cancers.  Children would focus more on schoolwork and education rather then their cell phones.

8. My Overall Structure Cont’d  Refutation –Not all cell phones emit high radiation. –Cell phones give less radiation compared to x-ray machines. –Only a small number of care accidents occur because of drivers using cell phones while driving.

9. My Overall Structure Cont’d  Conclusion –Cell phone use should be restricted while children with learner’s permits are driving. –School officials to make policies to ban cell phones in classrooms. –Children should use ear pieces when speaking on the phone rather then putting the phone antenna towards the ear which increases the amount of radiation given off into the brain.

10. Major Arguments Supporting My Thesis  Cell phones are dangerous on kids because too much radiation can penetrate from the antenna and into their brains because their heads have not completely formed a hard barrier yet. As a result they are more vulnerable to getting a brain tumor or cancer.  Most schools have a phone in every room so cell phones aren’t necessary. Instead they are a distraction and are being used as a means of cheating or doing inappropriate things with it, like taking pictures of people the locker rooms.  Children using cell phones while learning to drive with learners permits are causing many accidents. Children need to learn to drive with out speaking on phones which can be a major distraction which is very unsafe.

11. Conquering Opposing Arguments  Opposing Side –Believes that cell phones don’t carry as much radiation as X-rays –Not all students abuse the privacy of others with taking inappropriate pictures or taking pictures of exams and using it as a means of cheating. –“4% of deaths occur due to overexposure from radiation from cell phone lighting alone” (Gorsuch, 1). –Not many deaths occur from kids with learners permits driving and using their cell phones.  My Argument –They carry enough radiation to give a child a brain cancer, tumor, as long term affects. –However, short term affects that are seen right away include: headaches, memory loss, and sleeping disorders. –Enough students have abused their privilege to using cell phones and as a result many middle and high schools have already banned them. –“I think that driving with a cell phone to your ear sometimes can be as hazardous as driving while your drunk. The phone can be as mind- altering as alcohol” (Reiter1).

12. Sources With Evidence  Helpful –The Time Magazine article was helpful because it focused on the bad affects of children using cell phones. It had professional opinions from Medical Journals. –I realized that magazines, newspapers, and medical related sited had the most info, every other site was not as thorough. –Articles that I got from the CNN and WebMD websites were also very helpful. They were very formative and provided a lot of facts with support from creditable Doctors and people in the Medial community.  Not Helpful –Opinions written by normal Joes or reporters from internet sites who did research wasn’t as thorough and detailed as I would have liked. –These sources included a lot of repetition and at times were vague and discussed many things ambiguously like the medical causes of children using cell phones. –An example of these sources would be:  Loyola College-Maryland University Wire  The Associated Press State & Local Wire

13. What I Would Do Differently…If I Had To do It All Over Again  Look at newspapers and magazines foremost  Begin looking for sources sooner  Find more side affects of cell phones on kids both for long term and short term affects  Do it all in one sitting, so I don’t forget anything  I would try to find more sources that clearly dealt my subject from more reliable opinions like police officers, principals, concerned parents.  I would look at legal documents to see what the statistics are of people getting cancers and brain tumors and actually taking their cases to court.

14. What Important/Interesting Thing Did I learn  In my topic –I learned how much radiation is emitted from cell phones for not just kids but adults as well. –I learned that there is enough cell phone radiation to alter ones DNA if used too much. –I learned that there are many side affects for children using cell phones and yet marketing agencies keep promoting cell phones to kids to grab their attention.  In doing a research paper –I learned that it is imperative to start early and not procrastinate till the end to do everything. –I learned that the most reliable sources are the ones from newspapers and magazines. These sources tended to also have the most important information that I needed. –I learned what microfilm is and how to look at it, even though it took a lot of time.

15. Time Table #AssignmentDays/Weeks Time to Complete Assignment 1Topic Selection & Proposal2 days2 hrs 2Single Source Summary & Analysis1 day3. 5 hrs 3Annotated Bibliography2 days6 hrs 4Formal Outline1 day2hrs 5Written Presentation3 day6hrs 6Rough Draft4 days8hrs 7Final Draft3 days6hrs.

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