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
Brainstorming – School Uniforms?
Pro – 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
Con – Not in favor of uniforms
• 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.
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?
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?
Planning
I.
Introduction (will give background on the topic and include the thesis)
II.
Body Paragraph 1 –
A. Claim (The point this paragraph is making)
1. Evidence – (Q)
2. Evidence – (A)
III.
Body Paragraph 2 –
A. Claim (The point this paragraph is making)
1. Evidence – (Q)
2. Evidence – (A)
IV.
Conclusion
Planning
I.
II.
III.
Introduction (will give background on the topic and include the thesis)
Body Paragraph 1 –
A.
Claim (The point this paragraph is making)
1.
Evidence – (Q)
2.
Evidence – (A)
Body Paragraph 2 –
Claim (The point this paragraph is making)
1.
Evidence – (Q)
2.
Evidence – (A)
A.
IV.
Body Paragraph 3 –
A.
V.
Counterclaim
1. Evidence – (Q)
2. Evidence – (A)
Conclusion
Planning
I.
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.
II.
Body Paragraph 1 –
A.
Claim – Students save time in the morning.
1.
Evidence – (Q)
2.
Evidence – (A)
III.
Body Paragraph 2 –
A.
Claim – Students focus on schoolwork.
1.
Evidence – (Q)
2.
Evidence – (A)
IV.
Body Paragraph 3 –
A.
V.
Counterclaim – Takes away individuality
1.
Evidence – (Q)
2.
Evidence – (A)
Conclusion
Planning
I.
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.
II.
Body Paragraph 1 –
A.
Claim – Students save time in the morning.
1.
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.”
2.
Evidence – (A) Uniforms decrease stress and time wasted because students do not have to consider what
clothing to wear together.
III.
Body Paragraph 2 –
A.
Claim – Students focus on schoolwork.
1.
Evidence – (Q) “Students who wear uniforms can relax during class, not worry about how trendy their
appearances are, and focus on school work. “
2.
Evidence – (A) The focus on schoolwork is greater because uniforms eliminate distraction.
IV.
Body Paragraph 3 –
A.
I.
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!