
State legislatures believe that students’ driving
privileges should be directly linked to their
performance and attendance in school. For
example, students should be required to
maintain a certain grade point average and
attendance record in order to drive. Or, if
students fail a class, they would not be allowed
to drive until their grade was improved. State
and defend your position on this issue to an
audience of state legislators. Be sure to include
specific reason to support your position.

In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther
King, Jr. described his vision of equality in America,
that his four children “will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character.” Suppose you
were asked to share with a group of students your
vision for a better society.

Explain to these students what vision for society that
you would like to see occur. Be specific and support
your explanation with details and examples.

Write a story in which a character or
characters experience an ordinary day that
becomes unforgettable. Develop your story
with details.

A presentation or essay is more effective if the
presenter or writer anticipates the questions and
concerns of the target audience. Imagine Kerry
has been asked to speak to a group of
elementary school children who will be going to
the middle school next year. This will be their
first experience with following a schedule and
changing classrooms. Give two questions or
concerns that Kerry should anticipate from the
children, and explain how she would effectively
respond to each one.

People often make a positive difference in
others’ lives. Think of a person who affected
your life or the life of someone you know.
Provide specific details about the person,
what the person did, and how this person
made a positive difference in someone’s life.

Your town is considering a curfew. According
to the curfew, no person under age eighteen
may be out after ten o’clock on weeknights
and after midnight on weekends.

You are planning to address your town
council to discuss the issue of the curfew.
Write two arguments you would use to
support or oppose the curfew.

Think about a time you or someone you know
was given advice and then had to decide
whether to follow it. Write a story of such a
time. Make sure your story includes details
about the situation, the decision, and the
consequences that followed.