7/28/2019 Assessment Sample 4

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Persuasive Writing for the High School Classroom

Assessment Sample 4

Grade 10 2006 Persuasive WASL paper

Required homework for every classTo 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 theschool 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 dailyhomework to each class at Icicle Point High School. Supposedly, the measure would improvestudent learning as mentioned in the online press release, but I must disagree. Far fromfurthering the education of Icicle Point students, the proposal if enacted will only serve toincrease 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 notmentioned in the report what form the assignments would take or how the administrationswould regulate them, but there is simply too wide a variety of curricula within the school tostandardize 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 homeworkfor them is difficult and, indeed, hardly necessary. This measure would put undue pressure orteachers to create and score new assignments every day, and on students to complete themevery night. This would be especially trying for the students who often have many otheractivities and jobs in addition to the already grueling schoolwork. Given the difficultieseveryone would have with this proposal, it is simply unreasonable.

Enacting this measure would also lead to unnecessary legal complications and tensionsbetween teachers and administration. Just how much control would each of them have overlesson planning, and by extension, what our students learn in school? One of the best aspectsof Icicle Point is that every teachers style is unique to this staff. Some are more effective thanothers, but those personalize their methods to serve their students best. Administrative controlover homework would infringe upon this creative ability and create dispute over who shouldteach the children, who would suffer from the lack of lesson stability. In one case inSeptember 2005, the environmental systems classes were prevented from conducting fieldstudya 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 isunnecessary. In the press release, it was stated that the measure is needed to improvestudent learning at Icicle Point. However, our students are among the best in the state ofWashington. Less than one percent of the student body drops out of school every year, andmost students receive GPA, SAT, and ACT scores well above average. This would indicate notonly the dedication and capability of the students, but also the quality of the Icicle Pointteachers and rigorous course work. In addition, each year over one hundred Icicle Pointstudents apply for the International Baccalaureate Program, which is even more demanding

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

7/28/2019 Assessment Sample 4

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Persuasive Writing for the High School Classroom

than the schools regular classes. Each year about a dozen of them are awarded theprestigious AP Diploma and many more are given an IB Certificate, demonstrating IciclePoints academic prowess. Finally, we have a well-rounded student population and a strongextra-curricular program; Icicle Point holds the title of state champion in many sports, and thetheatre, debate, and DECA clubs are regional powerhouses. The fact that Icicle Point studentscan excel on so many levels signifies that they are already high achievers. To try to improvestudent learning, therefore, is pointless, and this modus operandi of achieving itby givingstudents yet more tasks to accomplishcould easily backfire.

Your aims to expand Icicle Points educational horizons, I grant, are admirable and well-intentioned. When teachers are in control, sometimes they have inadequate methods ofconferring course material onto their students, who risk losing out. Some of them do poorly asa 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 andworking worlds. These same students are more likely to rebel against the introduction ofcentral regulation the administrative homework would bring, dashing any hope of academiccohesiveness that the measure would hope to achieve. This plan is simply too flawed to serveIcicle Point well.

In conclusion, I urge you to reject this proposal. Though you sought to improve our schoolsperformance, which I applaud, this type of administrative intervention would only hinder IciclePoint students.

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