1. Stresses of Being a Celebrity Adapted from: Langan, J. (2001). College writing skills with readings. New York: McGraw-Hill. Year 2 English Jessica Steinbauer

2. Read the introduction 1. What technique does this introduction use to “ hook ” the audience? 2. What is the thesis statement in this paragraph? 3. What will the topics of the three body paragraphs be about? 4. Will this essay discuss the causes or effects of a problem?

3. Introduction Have you ever dreamt of being a famous celebrity or movie star? Many celebrities are worshiped by their fans, have lots of money, and are glamorous and powerful. To a normal person, it seems as though celebrities have it all. However, there are also some negative effects of being a famous celebrity: they have too little privacy, too much pressure, and no safety.

4. Writing Tips  Remember the thesis should … state your topic, your purpose, and give some specific ideas about your main points.

5. Writing Tips  Techniques to hook your audience: Quote an expert (remember to give them credit) Use a startling statistic Reference a current event Use a short narrative to exemplify your topic Ask a question

6. Read the Conclusion 1. What sentence in this paragraph summarizes the main ideas of the essay?

7. Conclusion Some people dream of starring roles, their name in lights, and their picture on the cover of People magazine, but the negative effects are far too high. A famous person gives up private life, feels pressured to look and act certain ways all the time, and is never completely safe. An ordinary, calm life is far safer and saner than a life of fame. So the next time you dream about being a rich and famous celebrity, you should ask yourself, “ Is it worth it? ”

8. Body Paragraphs 5. What specific examples does the author give for lack of privacy? 6. What does the author think is the most important negative effect of being a celebrity? What examples are used to support this opinion? 7. Draw a line under the topic sentences of each paragraph. 8. Draw a circle around transition words that help to connect sentences and ideas.

9. 1 st body paragraph For one thing, celebrities don't have the privacy an ordinary person has. The most personal details of their lives are splashed all over the front pages of the National Enquirer and the Globe so that bored supermarket shoppers can read about "Taylor Swift ’ s Awful Secret" or "The Heartbreak Behind Katy Perry ’ s Smile." Even a celebrity's family is hauled into the spotlight. A teenage son's arrest for drug possession or a wife's drinking problem becomes the subject of glaring headlines. Not only that, but photographers hound celebrities at their homes, in restaurants, and on the street, hoping to get a picture of Emma Watson in curlers or David Beckham drinking a beer. When celebrities try to do the things that normal people do, like eat out or attend a football game, they run the risk of being interrupted by thoughtless autograph hounds or mobbed by aggressive fans.

10. 2 nd body paragraph In addition to the loss of privacy, celebrities must cope with the constant pressure of having to look great and act right. Their physical appearance is always under observation. Consequently, famous women, especially, suffer from the spotlight, drawing remarks like "She really looks old" or "Boy, has she put on weight." Unflattering pictures of celebrities are photographers' prizes to be sold to the highest bidder, and this increases the pressure on celebrities to look good at all times. Furthermore, famous people are also under pressure to act calm and collected under any circumstances. Since they are constantly observed, they have no freedom to blow off steam or to do something just a little crazy.

11. 3 rd body paragraph The last and most important negative effect is that celebrities must deal with the stress of being in constant danger. The friendly grabs, hugs, and kisses of enthusiastic fans can quickly turn into uncontrolled assaults on a celebrity's hair, clothes, and car. Most people agree that photographers bear some responsibility for the death of one of the leading celebrities of the 1990s — Princess Diana. Whether or not their pursuit caused the crash that took her life, it's clear she was chased as aggressively as any escaped convict by bloodhounds. Moreover, being a celebrity can even lead to deliberately lethal attacks. The attempt to kill Ronald Reagan and the murder of John Lennon came about because two unbalanced people became obsessed with these world-famous figures. As a result, famous people must live with the fact that they are always fair game — and never out of season.