Pantaleo 1

John Pantaleo
Mr. Newman
English 101: Rhetoric
19 September 2014
Statement of Scope for the Annotated Bibliography
Peer pressure is something people of all ages face. However, teenagers are the most
susceptible to peer pressure. When kids transition into their teen years they face difficulties in
finding who they are or establishing an identity for themselves. Because teenagers are
impressionable and high school presents many challenges, teens often change who they are or do
things that they normally wouldnt because they want to be accepted by a group or fit in.
Although many teens try to change to fit in during high school, it is important for them to stay
true to who they are.
This essay will explore teen identity and why teens change who they are to fit in. It will
address teenagers need to feel accepted and why they feel this way. I will examine why teens
determine self worth by their inclusion in a clique or the number of followers they have on
twitter. Further, I will illustrate the effects that peer pressure can have on a person, both
emotional and physical. This will also show how pressure in high school can affect our safety
and future. In addition to this, I will provide real-life examples from students of how and why
peer pressure affects them. I will also show that being true to yourself is the way you should live.
I will provide examples showing why staying true to yourself is important and will help to make
you into the man or woman you will become. This essay will also show the perks of staying true
to who you are like building life lasting relationships and feeling comfortable with yourself.
This selected bibliography includes sources that will focus on peer pressure, teens need to

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feel accepted, and teens struggle to find their identity. The Black, Lucia, and Kowalski articles
all address peer pressure and the current and long lasting effect they can have on someone.
However, they do not address positive peer pressure and the good that it can do. The Feiler
article concentrates on on how we as teens measure our self worth and how social media has a
large impact on us. The LeTourneau article discusses some of the negative consequences of
giving into peer pressure and explains why it is important to stay true to yourself. Together, these
sources deliver information on teenage identity and how peer pressure shapes us.

Annotated Bibliography
Black, Susan. When Students Push Past Peer Influence. Education Digest 1 Sept. 2002:
31. eLibrary. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Black incorporates a teachers opinions when she

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explains that students all talk and dress the same. She goes on to say they all talk the
same and that peer pressure has led many students to conform to all act the same.
Furthermore she explains that teenagers have three different stages of their identity
construction and use their peer group to assert their identity.
Feiler, Bruce. For the Love of Being Liked. New York Times 11 May 2014, Late ed.:
ST.2. eLibrary. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Feiler shows us that we are in a society that governs
self worth by how many retweets, likes, or favorites we receive on social media. He goes
on to explain that when people dont get likes or retweets they tend to post things so that
they can get like or retweets and arent authentic in what they are saying or posting. He
goes on to say that peoples fear of being excluded is so intense that often times they do
things they normally wouldnt because they want to be included.
Kowalski, Kathiann M. How Peer Pressure Can Affect You. Current Health 1 Sept.
1999: 6. elibrary. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. This source discusses how peer pressure affects us
and can be deadly. Kowalski informs us that peer pressure can have a profound impact on
our physical and emotional health. She tells us that teenagers seem to be more prone to
peer pressure because they want to be accepted by others.
LeTourneau, Melanie. Life Is Not a Popularity Contest. Know Your World Extra 17
Mar. 2000: 4. eLibrary. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. LeTourneau tells us that many times teens
hide who they really are in order to fit in. She goes on to say that when teens try too hard
to fit in it can lead to bad choices like smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs.
LeTourneau explains that it is better to be yourself and you will make friends by being
genuine.

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Lucia, Lynn Santa. Friend or Foe? Scholastic Choices 1 Nov. 2004: 18. eLibrary. Web.
16 Sept. 2014. Lucia shows us what teens are thinking and why they want to fit in. She
includes interview with students who explain why they try to fit in and be accepted by a
group. She goes on to say that teens often change themselves to fit in so they can have
friends to sit with at the lunch table or have someone to hang out with after school.