1. PRACTICE TOPIC WHY SENIORS SHOULD HAVE AN EXIT EXAM

2. HOOK You will want to tell a story or ask questions to get your audience to understand the situation. Imagine sitting in a sterile room with all of the other seniors taking the exam that will determine who graduates. People are sweating. They keep looking at the clock. So much is riding on this final exit examine that determines who graduates. What if you had passed all of your classes and you were on track to graduate—but then you failed the final exit exam and couldn’t go to graduation?

3. BACKGROUND What is the history of this topic? Give your audience a sense for the current situation.

4. THESIS Preview your three main points. Emphasize your position. Although many students may complain about taking an extra test, exit exams would improve the overall quality of education by (1) making sure students take high school seriously, (2) making sure all states are on the same page, and (3) emphasizing skills needed for the real world over grades and compliance.

5. POINT #1—SENIORS WOULD TAKE THE FINAL YEAR SERIOUSLY. Research with Explanation Parenthetical Citations (MLA style) “The man had three sons, all close in age and nearing graduation. One of the brothers had a learning disability in math. He had been unable to pass the math portion of the exit exam after three attempts, even though he had passed all his classes” (Barnett 1). You are putting together a research-based speech. 5-10 citations minimum for the paper, so prepare to have 2- 3 quotes per section. (You can add charts, graphs, etc.) You can use bullet points to emphasize the main points.

6. POINT #2—ALREADY INSTITUTED IN SOME STATES, AND IT WORKS. Research with Explanation Citation (MLA style) Remember to use transition words. Each point need to be persuasive, so we’ll work on gathering evidence for each section separately.

7. POINT #3—TEACHERS WOULD HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE TO TORTURE STUDENTS. Research with Explanation Citation (MLA style)

8. THE COUNTERARGUMENT Concede or refute The opposition has a good point when they say…. Even though the opposition says that exit exams are not effective, my research has shown….(pick apart the argument).

9. CONCLUSION Recap your main points Why is this ultimately important? Explain the ramifications and the ultimate significance SO WHAT?

10. WORKS CITED Must have at LEAST FIVE SOURCES in MLA format. All of these sources should be quoted in your paper 1-2 times. Make sure you have a citation for anything that is not common knowledge! "Awqaf And Minors Affairs Foundation Honors 396 Outstanding Achievers For High Scores In School Exit Exams." Arabia 2000 (2014): Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.