W#1 With Suggestions for revisions

There are a lot of things that I could fix in this paper. I think that since it was the first paper of the semester, I was still trying to perfect a lot of the requirements I needed to have in order to be a success in this class. One of the major things that I would change is how I used pronouns. In the final my paragraph was laden with “I think...." and “I believe...." Like Professor Adams said when he graded it: The reader already knows that is what you believe, so you don't have to state it in the actual paragraph. Another thing I would change is my actual argument. About halfway into the semester I realized that my topic wasn't very controversial. Instead of focusing on the reasons as to why people become anorexic, I would focus on the controversial treatments of the disorder. Also I clearly didn't use the MLA format correctly.

Rebecca Bobesku
Rebeccaann1285@gmail.com
13 September 2007

What Causes Anorexia?

The issue that I will be addressing for research paper is anorexia. The focused question that I will be answering in my paper is: "What causes Anorexia?" I am interested in this topic because I think that it is an issue that millions of adolescent girls deal with on a daily basis. With the interest and willingness I have to learn about this subject, my hope is to unveil some of the leading causes that promote this disorder. In the research paper I plan to touch on people who are recovering from anorexia. Reading the causes of why they developed the disorder may help me in answering my topic question.

This can be a controversial topic because not one person can pin-point what causes someone to become anorexic. There are several different reasons that doctors and psychologists find to be potential causes of anorexia. Some of these reasons include: the environment that one lives in, genetic make-up, personality traits, and societal influence. Can just one of these reasons cause someone to become anorexic or are there multiple factors? Usually it is a multiple of things, but the fact is, no one really knows why this disease started, and what causes people to be more susceptible to it than others.

I have had quite a bit of experience with this issue. In my adolescent years, I suffered from severe body issues and had a really hard time with my eating habits. Seeing how long I could get by without eating became an obsession for me. From experience I know that this issue can take over your whole outlook on life, and even your thinking. I've gotten really close to having to go seek treatment. I believe that this issue is a scary yet realistic issue that too many girls have to deal with.

Anorexia has definitely gotten out of hand in the past twenty years. It is probably at its peak right now. I believe this has a great deal to do with the messages and images that are being advertised through the media and advertisement companies. Adolescent girls are usually the ones to suffer most from these advertisements that are virtually everywhere: television, magazines, radio, retail shops, and movies. Whether we like to admit it or not, there is an expectation of how people are supposed to look. This version of what is “beautiful” is advertised everywhere, and it has been accepted by our society. If people aren't a certain way, then they are less accepted. So wanting to be accepted is a major reason that drives girls to anorexia.

My Audience for my final research paper will be open-minded individuals who have a desire to learn more about the topic that I chose. However for this assignment I will be addressing my topic to a couple of different audiences: my instructor and my fellow classmates. I believe the wants and needs of my audience would be a balanced view on the potential causes of this issue. This is something that I will strive for in the development of my research paper.

I have a general idea for my timeline. For the next couple of weeks, I will be trying to immerse myself in as much literature, articles, and TV programs as I possibly can. While doing those things, I will be taking notes on things that I may be able to use for my research paper. After I feel that I have a good base of knowledge on this issue, I will start to piece together all the information that I've come across, and group it into sections that are compatible. Then I will start writing my paper.

I think any issues I would have with this assignment would be the wealth of information that is available to the public. I need to make sure that I keep on track and only include credible sources and information that is relevant to answering my topic question.