Social Networking 

I am in the middle of a class project that requires me to spend much time on my computer.  With 43 total assignments, we have to type research and communicate through the Internet and computers. This much computer time is unhelpful for me because I get easily distracted checking my email, Facebook, Skype or YouTube.  These sites, yet fun, stop me from putting 100% effort into my work. I spend about 2 hours of ‘homework’ a night, or so I think, when really half of that being distracted by Facebook.

When I am really into my homework, then decide to go onto a social networking site, the
thought and interaction suddenly goes away. The sites are a trap, once on, never off. If I
carry on with my homework once I have been on one of these sites, it’s hard to
concentrate when I know that Facebook is just a click away from what I am doing.
It’s nice having homework that can be worksheets or reading books, then I do not have
to run into this trouble, but being in seventh grade at Catlin Gabel with all the electronic
work, this is rare. I am happy when I can get all my work done quickly after concentration
and good work because then, I can go on Facebook and watch TV without any
homework hanging over my head.

It’s nice having homework that can be worksheets or reading books, then I do not have to run into this trouble, but being in seventh grade at Catlin Gabel with all the electronic work, this is rare. I am happy when I can get all my work done quickly after concentration and good work because then, I can go on Facebook and watch TV without any homework hanging over my head.

Most of my nights, after sports games or practices I spend my
time doing homework until I go to sleep. I get bored and watch
TV or do something else, which takes an even longer time to get
my homework finished. A good solution that I have found is
leaving my computer in a different room, when I know all of my
electronic homework is finished. I could also print things I need
to do that are accessible on the computer so I don’t have to run
into any distractions. This way I am not tempted to go on sites
away from my homework.

When I ask my friends about this problem, most of them have mutual feelings about this ‘problem’. They feel like when they tell their parents they are doing ‘homework’, they are usually on the computer doing something other than homework. I don't like when my mom nags me to do my homework when watching TV or having fun on the computer, but now that I think about it, when I listen to her I have finished homework quickly and with more concentration to make the quality of my homework better. I have found that doing homework that doesn't require a computer in another, quieter part of the house helps me get homework done with more effort because I don't have the distractions of my computer in my room. I get stressed easily but I feel this stress comes from doing things at night that are less important than school work and having little time to do the things that really matter. This makes me anxious that I will never get that work in on time or have enough time to do it, like in the Revolutions project.

I like having the freedom to do my own research on the Internet for the Revolutions project and finding out the facts by myself. Older kids that I have talked to have found that having a limited time a night on Facebook is helpful or even deleting it altogether if you are working on a large project that requires much effort, like the Revolutions project can be helpful too.

For me, working on the computer to do homework electronically  can be fun but also can take you away from the work that you are supposed to be doing. This is because of the distractions that social networking sites can cause and are a time-wasting trap.  For the Revolutions project we have a lot of work electronically and this makes it hard for me to get work done when having these sites a click away.