Constructed Response Practice Argumentative Prompts Created by Students

Driving Age Is sixteen too young to drive? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support each claim. Be sure to address the counterclaim. There is a sample response on the next slide. Notice the effective use of transition words (in bold) and the example of how to briefly address the counterclaim.(underlined.)

Sample Student Response Sixteen years of age is not too young to drive. However, it’s up to each individual to take responsibility when driving. For example, most sixteen-year-olds are mature enough to understand the consequences of distraction while driving, and they can take precautions to stay safe. Additionally, driving tests are difficult for a reason. To clarify, they make the test challenging so that in order to pass you really have to know what you’re doing. Although some parents may argue that their children are too young to drive, that doesn’t mean driving should be restricted for everyone. In summary, teenagers at least 16 years old should have to right to drive.

Requiring a Foreign Language Should middle school students be required to learn a foreign language? Brainstorm the benefits and disadvantages, then write a brief constructed response stating your viewpoint. Be sure to state your claims clearly and refute the counterclaim.

Sample Student Response Middle school students should be required to learn a foreign language. To begin with, taking a foreign language prepares you for high school and the rest of your life. In middle school, one year of a high school foreign language class is broken up into two years. This allows for more time to process and comprehend, which benefits your understanding of the language. Although some may argue that other electives should take priority, I believe this early exposure to high school content is helpful and the benefits of taking a foreign language outweigh the disadvantages.

Taxes Is it fair to raise school taxes on the residents who don’t have a child? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Safe-Search Should parents be required to install Safe- Search on their home computers if they have a child under age 11? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Test Scores Do test scores represent what students really know? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of tests? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Homework Should students be assigned homework on weekends? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Soda Consumption Should children under the age of six be allowed to eat candy and drink soda? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Group Work Should students have the freedom to choose whether they work independently or with a group? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Water Bottles Should non-reusable water bottles be banned? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Math Ability Are students losing their ability to do math due to heavy reliance on technology ? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim.

Impact of Technology Is technology making kids age faster? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim

Microchips in Humans Should microchips be implanted in humans? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim

Impact of Texting Is the heavy use of texting limiting our communication skills? Draft a brief constructed response stating your opinion and giving evidence to support your claims. Be sure to address the counterclaim

Handwriting Is handwriting slowly dying?

Glasses Should glasses be free for everyone?

Phones Should students be able to use their phones on campus?

Cameras on Drones Should cameras be allowed on personal drones?

Working Age Should children be allowed to have jobs at younger age?

Uniforms Should schools have uniforms?

NASA Funding Should NASA have had its budget cut?

John Wooden Quotes “ Don’t mistake activity for achievement.” “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.” “You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” “If you can’t say something good about a man, it’s best to say nothing.” Directions: Choose one of Coach Wooden’s quotes and write a brief response stating whether you agree or disagree with it. Explain why.