Persuasive Writing for the High School Classroom

Assessment Sample 4

Grade 10 2006 Persuasive WASL paper

Required homework for every class To improve student learning, the school board is proposing mandatory daily homework for every class. Take a position on this proposal. In a multiple-paragraph letter, persuade the school board to support your position. To Whom It May Concern: It has come to my attention that the school board has made a proposal to issue required daily homework to each class at Icicle Point High School. Supposedly, the measure would improve student learning as mentioned in the online press release, but I must disagree. Far from furthering the education of Icicle Point students, the proposal if enacted will only serve to increase administrative red tape and possibly become a detriment to student performance. First, the proposal to give homework for every class, every day is unfeasible. It was not mentioned in the report what form the assignments would take or how the administrations would regulate them, but there is simply too wide a variety of curricula within the school to standardize the assignments. There are some classes (e.g. theatre arts, physical education, outdoor sciences) whose course work is structured in such a way that creating daily homework for them is difficult and, indeed, hardly necessary. This measure would put undue pressure or teachers to create and score new assignments every day, and on students to complete them every night. This would be especially trying for the students who often have many other activities and jobs in addition to the already grueling schoolwork. Given the difficulties everyone would have with this proposal, it is simply unreasonable. Enacting this measure would also lead to unnecessary legal complications and tensions between teachers and administration. Just how much control would each of them have over lesson planning, and by extension, what our students learn in school? One of the best aspects of Icicle Point is that every teachers style is unique to this staff. Some are more effective than others, but those personalize their methods to serve their students best. Administrative control over homework would infringe upon this creative ability and create dispute over who should teach the children, who would suffer from the lack of lesson stability. In one case in September 2005, the environmental systems classes were prevented from conducting field studya major part of that curriculumdue to administrative wrangling over transportation. With teachers likely to put up a fight to retain control over course material, even wider disruption would result with the passing of this measure, and students would pay the price. That would be most tragic, especially because the whole premise of the proposal is unnecessary. In the press release, it was stated that the measure is needed to improve student learning at Icicle Point. However, our students are among the best in the state of Washington. Less than one percent of the student body drops out of school every year, and most students receive GPA, SAT, and ACT scores well above average. This would indicate not only the dedication and capability of the students, but also the quality of the Icicle Point teachers and rigorous course work. In addition, each year over one hundred Icicle Point students apply for the International Baccalaureate Program, which is even more demanding
Copyright 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved.

Persuasive Writing for the High School Classroom

than the schools regular classes. Each year about a dozen of them are awarded the prestigious AP Diploma and many more are given an IB Certificate, demonstrating Icicle Points academic prowess. Finally, we have a well-rounded student population and a strong extra-curricular program; Icicle Point holds the title of state champion in many sports, and the theatre, debate, and DECA clubs are regional powerhouses. The fact that Icicle Point students can excel on so many levels signifies that they are already high achievers. To try to improve student learning, therefore, is pointless, and this modus operandi of achieving itby giving students yet more tasks to accomplishcould easily backfire. Your aims to expand Icicle Points educational horizons, I grant, are admirable and wellintentioned. When teachers are in control, sometimes they have inadequate methods of conferring course material onto their students, who risk losing out. Some of them do poorly as a result. Most at Icicle Point, however, take the initiative to learn the material for themselves. This is the sort of personal responsibility that will enable them to go far in the collegiate and working worlds. These same students are more likely to rebel against the introduction of central regulation the administrative homework would bring, dashing any hope of academic cohesiveness that the measure would hope to achieve. This plan is simply too flawed to serve Icicle Point well. In conclusion, I urge you to reject this proposal. Though you sought to improve our schools performance, which I applaud, this type of administrative intervention would only hinder Icicle Point students.

Copyright 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved.