Potera opens with a generalization that is true for most Americans who use the Internet. She honestly comments on the benefits of the Internet while pointing out its flaws as well. She informs the reader that there are people who are negatively affected by the use of the Internet in social ways. She also backs up her accusation of a negative effect with a believable story of a couple whose lives were greatly affected by the abuse of the Internet. Judy and Bob had been saving to buy a house, but Bob became so absorbed in the Internet that he spent all their money on online services. He stopped joining Judy for dinner and went to bed long after her, forcing her to leave him a few months later.

After the explanation, Potera writes on how psychologists are treating the issue and what steps are being taken to treat it. This fits here since I now know enough information about this addiction to want more information about what is being done and how this affects me. Lastly, she comments on what I can do to help. After finding out what little is being done as of right now on the topic, I want to know what I can do to help others who may be suffering, or to help myself if needed. She gives tips and help—ideas to resolve the problem. This is the perfect way to end the article because I understand what I need to know in dealing with this issue.

After the intriguing opening paragraph, Potera begins with the explanation of the addiction problem. To make sure she gets her point across, she uses specific studies by psychologists from different universities that researched this issue. Kimberly Young, Ph.D., conducted the first research study on Internet addiction and was a major subject in Potera’s article. All of Young’s findings supported Potera’s beliefs and helped to build her story. For example, Young found that those who were dependent on the Internet, and also smoked, craved the Internet more than a cigarette. She also found that on average, those who were Internet dependent spent 38 hours on the Internet, compared to the five hours by normal users.

Potera does an excellent job getting her point across to her readers. Beginning writers should use her article as a guide to follow fo

Some topics in this essay:
Kimberly PhD, Judy Bob, Americans Internet, , Carol Potera, internet addiction, paragraph potera, potera writes, potera’s article,