Week 6 Activities – 9/30/09
Hello everyone! Here are the Week 2 Activities that the Fall 2009 class completed recently.
Week 6 – Persuasive Essays
This week we will discuss persuasive essay topics and ways to support your side of the writing prompt. Instead of practicing writing essays, we decided to practice the art of logic. We looked at a series of prompts and discussed how to select facts, reasons, and examples that could be used as the “pre-writing” for an essay later on.
The topics discussed below were chosen because students typically have an easier time practicing logic and writing about topics they feel passionately about. The supports and reasoning below were decided on by the class after discussion, and are based on what they felt would be easiest to write as an essay.
THESE VIEWS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS HELD BY ACCELERATED LEARNING CENTER OR THEIR STAFF. Again, these topics were chosen because the students in the class felt passionately about them, making it easier for them to come up with supporting arguments. These are topics that have recieved media attention in the last few years and could be brought up during writing challenges.
Remember to pick ONE SIDE ONLY! Do not end your essay saying that both sides are equally valid. Pick one and stick with it!
Topic 1: Stuff related to schools.
Writing Prompt 1: Too Much Homework!
The local school board has sent a letter home telling parents of children attending the Elementary school that there is to be an official voting among PTA members to determine whether teachers should be required to reduce the amount of homework children are given to take home. Currently, kids are in school for 8 hours per day and receive an average of 3 hours of homework per night. The school board wants to vote on a limit of 1 hour of homework total between all classes. Write a letter persuading the board to either vote for a continuation of the current homework practices, or to limit homework to 1 hour per night.
Reasons to Limit:
Fact 1: Kids cannot focus for 3 hours, especially after an 8 hour day.
Reason 1: They get tired after being in school so long.
Example 1: It is recommended that kids take breaks after 30 minutes.
Fact 2: Kids need time for extra-curricular activities.
Reason 2: Helps develop social skills, etc.
Example 2: Church, music lessons, sports, things that interest that child, etc.
Fact 3: Kids need time with their family.
Reason 3: So parents have a good relationship and bond, letting the kids know they have support, having the parents know what is going on with the child, etc.
Example 3: Family dinner, spending time in the evening, interacting with kid.
Fact 4: Kids are commonly receiving long-lasting back injuries from hauling books home.
Reason 4: Each homework assignment usually has a book associated and the weight adds up.
Example: Kids complain about their backs hurting, and you can see kids stooping over with bad posture.
Reasons to Keep Homework the Same:
Fact 1: If they don’t use it, they loose it.
Reason 1: They need to practice skills learned throughout the day.
Example 1: Math – can’t really learn it without practicing examples!
Fact 2: In elementary school, they need to practice some physical skills they are learning.
Reason 2: Can’t get enough practice in during the school day.
Example 2: Handwriting/learning to write
Fact 3: Timed tests in school
Reason 3: Must know these skills well enough to meet time – but not a whole lot of practice time given during the school day.
Example 3: Timed spelling tests where they only have so much time to write, timed math tests (multiplication tables!), etc.
Fact 4: Kids all take different amounts of time.
Reason 4: Teachers can’t be expected to know how long homework is going to take for each and every child, or what the other teachers are giving out.
Example 4: Some kids could complete a worksheet in 5 minutes while another kid takes 30.
Writing Prompt 2: Clear backpacks
Your child’s school just sent home a letter stating that only clear (see-through) backpacks will be allowed in school from now on. Do you think this is fair? State clearly why or why not this rule should be allowed to stand.
Reasons For Clear Backpacks:
Fact 1: Safety
Reason 1: You can visualize if they have weapons with them.
Examples 1: If they have a gun, it will be visible and someone can do something.
Fact 2: Drugs
Reason 2: Same thing – keeps it out of the schools.
Example 2: You can see it and confiscate it.
Fact 3: Stealing
Reason 3: Kids can’t hide stuff that they have stolen from other kids.
Example 3: Stolen phones, pants, etc.
Reasons Against Clear Backpacks:
Fact 1: Girl’s privacy
Reason 1: Feminine products would be visible
Example 1: This could be traumatizing.
Fact 2: Stealing
Reason 2: Other kids can see what you have to take!
Example 2: If someone sees something valuable, it could be taken.
Fact 3: They tear easily.
Reason 3: They’re so thin that they break easily.
Example 3: This costs parents money, etc.
Fact 4: Cheating
Reason 4: They could put notes and books in where they would be visible during the exam.
Example 4: They could put notes for a test on the outside and set the backpack next to them, have the book open in the bag, etc.
Other School Related Prompts:
Should schools be allowed to conduct random locker searches?
Should schools be allowed to randomly drug test students?
Should schools be allowed to target drug testing based on suspicion?
Should schools be allowed to require students to wear a uniform?
*Sort of school related* Should there be a legal requirement/law that you cannot show your underwear?
Should schools require children to learn a second language?
At what age should they start learning a second language?
Should schools start using computers in the classroom?
Should schools be allowed to give mandatory homework that requires children to have computer and/or internet access at home?
Should we allow children to attend classes with an on-line based school?
Some school systems are considering changing the grading scale to make a 93-100 an A (instead of a 90-100), 92-85 as a B, etc. Should this be allowed? How would
this affect students?
Should sports take precedence in student’s lives to academics?
Should students who participate in competitive sports be given leniency or special treatment by teachers?
Should sport participation for children be mandatory?
Should wearing and changing into a uniform be mandatory? Should locker rooms provide privacy for changing?
Topic 2: Legislation relating to homosexuality.
Writing Prompt 1: Marriage Laws
One topic that has been in the news recently has been the push by the U.S. government to define what constitutes a legal marriage. Should marriage be defined as being between a man and a woman specifically, or should marriage be between any two individuals? Should this even be legally defined, or should it be up to the individual religion?
Legally Defined as Man & Woman:
Fact 1: Jewish and Christian religions believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.
Reason 1: The majority religion for the US is based on Judaism or Christianity, so this would matter to a lot of the population.
Example 1: Most people are Jewish or Christian.
Fact 2: The Bible/Torah specifies that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Reason 2: This may be based on the fact that you require one partner from each gender to reproduce without scientific intervention.
Example 2: Artificial Insemination required for homosexual couples.
Fact 3: We could not think of a third support.
Legally Defined As Between Any Two Individuals:
Fact 1: “Freedom of Choice” – Constitutional rights
Reason 1: Should be up to the individual, not the government.
Example 1: You can’t help who you fall in love with or who you are attracted to.
Fact 2: They should be as miserable as we are.
Reason 2: They should have the same rights to go through marriage and divorce as heterosexual couples and experience a full relationship.
Example 2: “Partner” just isn’t strong enough word for someone you spend your life with.
Fact 3: Same rights as current marriages
Reason 3: If they’re in a monogamous, long-term relationship they deserve to make decisions regarding their life together.
Example 3: Adoption, common law marriage, medical decisions, end of life care, etc.
Fact 4: Same benefits as current marriages
Reason 4: If they put in the same time and effort on a relationship, they should be entitled to the same benefits.
Example 4: Insurance breaks, home ownership breaks, taxes, life insurance, custody of children, mutual property, receiving assets in divorce, alimony, child
support, etc.
Topic 3: Abortion Legislation
Writing Prompt 1: Should abortion of a fetus prior to 3 months of pregnancy be legal in the U.S., or should performing an abortion constitute a crime and include a punishment? This includes abortion for any purpose.
Support Legal:
Fact 1: Freedom of choice.
Reason 1: Our country is founded on freedom.
Example 1: No ability to care for the child, can’t find adoption, can’t mentally handle completing the pregnancy (rape?), etc.
Fact 2: There are times when it is medically necessary.
Reason 2: If it is medically necessary for the health of the mother, she should have the option to terminate.
Example 2: Genetic conditions, cardiac defects, previous health conditions of the mother, etc.
Fact 3: Safety, etc.
Reason 3: Someone who wants an abortion will find a way to get one. At least give them the option of having the procedure done safely.
Example 3: Africa – lots of women die each year from abortions performed without proper medical care.
Reasons to Ban:
Fact 1: Religion
Reason 1: Most religions say something along the lines of not killing, etc.
Example 1: Catholicism would rather keep the mother alive as an incubator than kill a fetus.
Fact 2: Could Adopt
Reason 2: If the child is unwanted, they could always be adopted out.
Example 2: Lots of people in the US who want kids but can’t have them.
Fact 3: Safety
Reason 3: Lots of women have complications from abortions that affect their fertility later on, can cause bleeding and death, etc.
Example 3: Women who get abortions at backdoor clinics usually end up with infections or other serious complications.
Writing Prompt 2: Should late-term abortions be considered a crime/murder, including punishments? Should they be banned? (Late-term defined as anything over 3 months in this case.)
Supporting Late-Term Being Allowed:
Fact 1: Mother’s health.
Reason 1: If something is truly wrong and mom needs to deliver to survive.
Example 1: Pre-eclampsia, trauma, etc.
Fact 2: Baby’s Health
Reason 2: Something is affecting it’s ability to grow, birth defect that is incompatible with life that wasn’t apparent earlier on.
Example: …
Fact 3: Couldn’t think of anything else.
Should Be Banned/There Should Be Punishments:
Fact 1: Baby is alive
Reason 1: If baby is alive, it is murder to intentionally kill it.
Fact 2: If it’s considered murder, then the same punishments should apply.
Reason 2: Death penalty, etc.
Fact 3: If the mother chooses a late-term abortion then the consequences should
apply her as well.
Reason 3: Both the mother and doctor should be consider accomplices in murder.
That one is a little tougher to reason out, huh?
Other Abortion Topics:
Should abortion be considered murder?
Should abortion be allowed only in medically necessary circumstances?
Should protestors who lead to violent action against doctors who perform abortions be punished?
Recently there was a case in the news about a doctor who performs abortions being murdered. Should the protest groups who led rallies surrounding his practice be
held responsible for his murder?
Should women who use abortion as a method of birth control be limited in the number of abortions the can receive before being required to use other methods?
Should health insurance give birth control to women who have had abortions in the past to help control the number of procedures they go through?
Topic 4: Terrorism
Writing Prompt 1: Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 on the U.S., security protocols have significantly increased when flying through airports. You are only allowed to carry up to 3.0 ounces of liquids at a time, you must take your shoes off to be x-rayed, all items must go through security, etc. Are these security measures really necessary, or is it just an inconvenience to travelers?
Necessary:
Fact 1: Safety
Reason 1: Limiting weapons that may end up on the plane.
Example 1: Metal detectors, scanners, etc.
Fact 2: Peace of mind
Reason 2: Examining everything ensures travelers that they are safe.
Example 2: Liquids could be explosives, scissors could be a weapon, etc.
Fact 3: Keeps less stuff on the plane
Reason 3: If you can only take one bag on the plane, it’s less crowded.
Example 3: If there is a bunch of stuff you don’t have room to get comfortable.
Only An Inconvenience, Not Necessary:
Fact 1: Takes longer to get checked in
Reason 1: They make you take off several items and x-ray everything.
Example 1: Belts, shoes, laptops, etc.
Fact 2: You have to pack everything back up
Reason 2: This takes even more time, you can never get everything to fit back in your bags, etc.
Example 2: I Love Lucy with the chocolates on the assembly line.
Fact 3: Mexico has the same security we do, and had a recent hijacking.
Reason 3: Obviously, some stuff is still going to get through.
Example: See above.
Other Writing Prompts based on Terrorism:
Should we still be using military force in Iraq?
Should we be moving military forces around the Middle East?
Obama recently discussed a plan to remove US troops from over-seas. Should we remove them all at once, or should it be done gradually?
What right does the US have to determine who is or isn’t a terrorist or what governments should be in operation? Is having one or just a few countries determining
which governments need to be changed a good idea?
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