Argument Essay Writing School Uniforms

Overview The steps to writing an argument essay are: Read Brainstorm Choose your claims Choose your counterclaim Plan your essay Write the essay! Now let’s try it!

Should Schools Require Uniforms? Text #1 Parents and students often debate whether or not uniforms should be required in school. There are many reasons why school uniforms should be mandatory. Uniforms cost less when compared to students’ preferred clothing, so parents can feel monetary relief when purchasing their child’s wardrobe. Also, the time taken in the morning to prepare for school decreases when uniforms are required, giving students less stress when choosing what to wear. Michele Persad, now a fashion editor for the Huffington Post, weighs in on her experience with school uniforms being part of her morning routine as a teenager, “Having a uniform not only caused me way less stress in the morning, but it also ensured that I was always on time.” Requiring school uniforms also encourages school-wide discipline, and decreases the possibility of violence on school grounds. Students who wear uniforms can relax during class, not worry about how trendy their appearances are, and focus on school work. Persad continues with her appreciation of uniforms during her school years, “There are tons of arguments against uniforms, like they limit self-expression, yada, yada, yada... but you know what I was forced to do in high school? Express myself using words. Something I've found somewhat helpful in my career as a writer.” Saving time, decreasing stress, and encouraging students to find their voice are just a few of many reasons why uniforms should be considered. Overall, uniforms are positive for the students, the parents, and the wellbeing of the school.

Should Schools Require Uniforms? Text #2 The debate over school uniforms is heard from students and parents alike, and reasons for why uniforms should not be required in schools are shared by many. Uniforms detract from students’ individualities. School should be a place where diversity is encouraged, not stifled. Now a fashion editor for the Huffington Post, Jamie Feldman shares her positive experience attending a school without uniforms, “Whether it was green hair, huge platforms or in my case, a shiny stud in my nose, no one gave anyone else a second glance over what they were wearing. I felt instantly at home. It seemed that for the first time, I was in a place where I could truly express myself.” Not only do uniforms smother students’ individuality, they also burden parents with extra costs. The cost of uniforms can be a great financial burden for low income families, and families with many school-aged children. Additionally, students dressed in uniforms who are seen in public can become easy targets for bullies attending rival schools. Feldman also notes how she thinks uniforms would have created more issues, “Uniforms would have not only never worked in my school, I'm going to go ahead and guess that they would have created more problems than solutions.” Enforcing uniforms school-wide can be difficult and time consuming for administration, while that time could be applied to more important issues than what the children are wearing. Extra costs and restricting students’ individualism are just a couple of the many reasons why schools should not require uniforms.

The Task/Question Write an argument essay answering the question of whether uniforms should be required in schools.

Brainstorm You have to brainstorm before you write, which is when you put all your ideas together. This is a quick, fun process where you think of the best ideas for your topic. When brainstorming for an argument essay, a Pro/Con chart works best. Pro = For (Yes) Con = Against (No) After you’ve got all your ideas together, then you organize them into a plan.

Brainstorming – School Uniforms? Pro – In favor of uniforms Con – Not in favor of uniforms Using your whiteboard or Elmo, review the passages with students and complete the Pro/Con chart. After the class has done it together, compare it to the answers on the next slide.

Brainstorming – School Uniforms? Pro – In favor of uniforms Con – Not in favor of uniforms Cost less Reduce time to get ready in morning Encourages school wide discipline Better concentration on lessons Decreases violence in schools Decreases pressure to wear trendier brands Can be financial burden Takes away individuality Enforcement distracts administration from more important issues Can create target for bullies from rival schools

Now What? After you’re done brainstorming, use your Pro/Con chart to decide which side of the argument you’re going to support in your essay. This step is very important! You want to choose the stance that will be easiest to support with the information from the text. BE CAREFUL to avoid ideas that overlap! If your ideas are too similar, the whole essay will feel repetitive. At this point, go back to the pro/con list to decide which claims would be easiest to support without overlapping.

Choosing Claims Look back over the Pro/Con chart to choose which two claims you will use in your essay. For this example, let’s choose the PRO side of the issue! I think the two claims should be: -Students can save time by not worrying about what to wear in the morning. -Students can focus on schoolwork instead of what they’re wearing. So, are we ready to plan? Kids need to know that: 1. This particular essay could be written from either side of the issue because there is enough evidence on both sides. 2. They do not need to go with their actual, honest opinion. It’s best to let the text guide this decision. If the text presents more evidence for something you disagree with, do it that way anyway. REMEMBER, the bottom line here is to write the best possible essay!

Counterclaims Wait! We need to mention a counterclaim! A counterclaim is an argument that is opposed, or against, the argument you’re writing about. Your argument will be stronger and you will appear more knowledgeable as a writer when your reader sees you not only understand why the opposing side feels the way they do, you also know how to prove they’re wrong. Do this by bringing up something the other side says, and then show how they’re wrong. Simple yet impressive, right? Let’s do this! Which claim from the Pro side of our chart would be easiest to prove wrong? “Takes away individuality” can be easy to prove wrong with the pro text we have. We can use a quote from the fashion editor who likes that the uniforms helped her to focus to find her voice in writing.

Thesis The thesis statement answers the question that you’ve been asked and introduces your claims. It’s usually the last sentence of your introduction. Requiring uniforms in school is a good idea because students can save time in the morning deciding what to wear, and they can focus on schoolwork instead of what they are wearing. So, are we ready to plan now? The thesis is like a road map for your essay. It tells the reader what to expect from the rest of your paper.

Planning Introduction (will give background on the topic and include the thesis) Body Paragraph 1 – Claim (The point this paragraph is making) Evidence – (Q) Evidence – (A) Body Paragraph 2 – IV. Conclusion Explain that this outline works for ALL essays. If students follow this format they can effectively plan for any essay they’ll ever have to write. So, let’s try it together. We’ll start by filling in the claims that we’ve already chosen and the thesis statement. BUT WAIT, WHERE WILL WE PUT OUR COUNTERCLAIM?!

Planning Introduction (will give background on the topic and include the thesis) Body Paragraph 1 – Claim (The point this paragraph is making) Evidence – (Q) Evidence – (A) Body Paragraph 2 – Body Paragraph 3 – A. Counterclaim 1. Evidence – (Q) 2. Evidence – (A) V. Conclusion That’s better! Now we’re ready to fill in the claims, the counterclaim, and the thesis. **Explain to students that, in this case, the counterclaim (limits students’ individuality) is entirely separate from the two claims we selected (focus on schoolwork and saves time in the morning). Sometimes, your counterclaim is the opposite side of one of your chosen claims. Then, you put the counterclaim in the same paragraph as that claim. In this case, though, it needs a separate paragraph.**

Planning Introduction – Requiring uniforms in school is a good idea because students can save time in the morning deciding what to wear, and they can focus on schoolwork instead of what they are wearing. Body Paragraph 1 – Claim – Students save time in the morning. Evidence – (Q) Evidence – (A) Body Paragraph 2 – Claim – Students focus on schoolwork. Body Paragraph 3 – A. Counterclaim – Takes away individuality 1. Evidence – (Q) 2. Evidence – (A) V. Conclusion Now, let’s go back and find the evidence we want to use, the Q = the quote and plan for the A=Analysis. It might help to have students generate their own quote and analysis before going to the next slide.

Planning Introduction – Requiring uniforms in school is a good idea because students can save time in the morning deciding what to wear, and they can focus on schoolwork instead of what they are wearing. Body Paragraph 1 – Claim – Students save time in the morning. Evidence – (Q) “Having a uniform not only caused me way less stress in the morning, but it also ensured that I was always on time.” Evidence – (A) Uniforms decrease stress and time wasted because students do not have to consider what clothing to wear together. Body Paragraph 2 – Claim – Students focus on schoolwork. Evidence – (Q) “Students who wear uniforms can relax during class, not worry about how trendy their appearances are, and focus on school work. “ Evidence – (A) The focus on schoolwork is greater because uniforms eliminate distraction. Body Paragraph 3 – A. Counterclaim – Takes away individuality 1. Evidence – (Q) “. . . You know what I was forced to do in high school? Express myself using words. Something I've found somewhat helpful in my career as a writer.” 2. Evidence – (A) A woman who is now a fashion designer appreciates the uniforms she wore in school because it encouraged her to develop her unique personality through her written work. Conclusion

Intro An introduction should open with giving some basic background information on the issue and end with the thesis. The past few decades have seen much debate over whether or not uniforms should be required in schools. Students, parents, and administration have all weighed in with their personal opinions and experiences with uniforms. Amid the conflicting views, the answer is obvious. Requiring uniforms in school is a good idea because students can save time in the morning deciding what to wear, and they can focus on schoolwork instead of what they are wearing.

Body Paragraph #1 T – topic sentence I – Introduce quote Q – Quote A – Analyze quote Students save time in the morning when they attend a school requiring uniforms. According to Michele Persad, a Huffington Post fashion editor who experienced uniforms growing up, “Having a uniform not only caused me way less stress in the morning, but it also ensured that I was always on time.” Uniforms decrease stress and time wasted because students do not have to consider what clothing to wear together. Students do not need the added concern of what outfit to wear as they prepare for school in the morning; they should be able to quickly select uniform attire when they begin their day.

Body Paragraph #1 T – Topic sentence I – Introduce quote Q – Quote A – Analyze quote Students save time in the morning when they attend a school requiring uniforms. According to Michele Persad, a Huffington Post fashion editor who experienced uniforms growing up, “Having a uniform not only caused me way less stress in the morning, but it also ensured that I was always on time.” Uniforms decrease stress and time wasted because students do not have to consider what clothing to wear together. Students do not need the added concern of what outfit to wear as they prepare for school in the morning; they should be able to quickly select uniform attire when they begin their day.

Body Paragraph #2 T – Topic sentence I – Introduce quote Q – Quote A – Analyze quote Students focus on schoolwork when they are not preoccupied with who is wearing what clothing. According to article #1, “Students who wear uniforms can relax during class, not worry about how trendy their appearances are, and focus on school work.“ A lot of students are concerned about fashion trends, and uniforms eliminate this concern in the classroom environment. The focus on schoolwork is greater because uniforms eliminate distraction.

Body Paragraph #2 T – Topic sentence I – Introduce quote Q – Quote A – Analyze quote Students focus on schoolwork when they are not preoccupied with who is wearing what clothing. According to article #1, “Students who wear uniforms can relax during class, not worry about how trendy their appearances are, and focus on school work.“ A lot of students are concerned about fashion trends, and uniforms eliminate this concern in the classroom environment. The focus on schoolwork is greater because uniforms eliminate distraction.

Body Paragraph #3 T – Topic sentence I – Introduce quote Q – Quote A – Analyze quote Although those who oppose uniforms claim they take away individuality, there are strong opinions to suggest students are encouraged to find themselves while wearing uniforms. Michele Persad from Huffington Post describes her feelings about what happened to her individuality in a uniform school, “. . . You know what I was forced to do in high school? Express myself using words. Something I've found somewhat helpful in my career as a writer.” A woman who is now a fashion designer appreciates the uniforms she wore in school because it encouraged her to develop her unique personality through her written work. Uniforms do not restrict students’ individual personalities, they promote inner growth of students’ individual minds.

Body Paragraph #3 T – Topic sentence I – Introduce quote Q – Quote A – Analyze quote Although those who oppose uniforms claim they take away individuality, there are strong opinions to suggest students are encouraged to find themselves while wearing uniforms. Michele Persad from Huffington Post describes her feelings about what happened to her individuality in a uniform school, “. . . You know what I was forced to do in high school? Express myself using words. Something I've found somewhat helpful in my career as a writer.” A woman who is now a fashion designer appreciates the uniforms she wore in school because it encouraged her to develop her unique personality through her written work. Uniforms do not restrict students’ individual personalities, they promote inner growth of students’ individual minds.

Conclusion A conclusion should restate the thesis and take one last chance to make the audience understand your stance on the issue. Schools, students, and parents should consider the benefits of school uniforms. Implementing a uniform dress code within a school will improve the wellbeing of the student body. Students will arrive to school on time without concern of what to wear in the morning, and will stay focused on their lessons throughout the day without different clothing to distract them.

Wrap up This format can be used with all essays you Read Brainstorm Choose your claims Choose your counterclaim Plan your essay Write the essay!