Flickering, flitting, fireflies" is an example of which device? personification
O alliteration
consonance
assonance

Alliteration

Explanation:

Since all of the words start with the same letter, it's considered alliteration.

Since its an argumental essay, begin thinking about your opponents viewpoint and what their refuting claims are gonna be. It always gets me pumped up!

For your first sentence i would go with something like:

It is no secret that technology has advanced to the age where spyware and surveillance are being used. In this essay we will discuss why these techniques can and should be used with the help of the U.S. Patriots Act.

Touch up on the Patriots Act https://www.justice.gov/archive/ll/highlights.htm and its reasoning.