Arguing a Point Part B
Sample Essay
When it is time to send their child to high school, most parents have a choice between a single
sex school or a coeducational school. Parents want the best education for their children but it is
difficult to know which type of high school is more beneficial. This essay will argue that
coeducational high schools have a positive impact on students, both personally and
professionally.
One of the most important reasons why a coeducational school is more beneficial for students is
that it provides them with important social and relationship skills. Students who go to
coeducational schools learn to communicate and form relationships with both boys and girls. If
they attend a single sex school, they may not learn how to talk with and how to be friends with
the opposite sex. This may result in difficulties in their adult life. Most people want to have
boyfriends and girlfriends and get married when they are older. However, if they do not have
much experience with the opposite sex when they are growing up, they may not have a good
understanding of them and may find it difficult to start and to maintain good relationships.
Another important point is that this lack of experience with the opposite sex may even impact on
their career and professional lives. In most countries and in most professions men and women
have to work together. A coeducational school teaches boys and girls how to communicate with
each other and how to work together within an educational environment. If students attend a
single sex school, they may not feel comfortable with or be very skilled at constructing good
working relationships with the opposite sex.
Finally, if students attend a coeducational high school, they are exposed to both male and female
culture, skills, abilities and strengths. Even in societies in which men and women are considered
equal and should have equal opportunities, there are usually some differences. In New Zealand,
for example, more women are teachers and more men are scientists, and girls get higher scores
in reading tests while boys do better in mathematics. As a result, single sex schools may focus
on particular subjects and students may be influenced only by the interests and choices of their
own sex. However, if they attend a coeducational school they may be exposed to a wider range
of subjects and interests. If a girl has friends who are boys she may be more likely to share her
interest in science and mathematics and develop her skills in this area. Similarly, a boy who is
interested in reading can have more fellow students to talk to about books at a coeducational
school. In a boys school he may find that his interest in reading is not encouraged or stimulated
by his fellow students.
In conclusion, coeducational schools provide important benefits and are therefore better for high
school students. Coeducational schools help to teach students to interact with the opposite sex,
1
which is important for their personal, social and professional lives as adults. They also provide
exposure to a wider range of interests and skills, which may have educational benefits.
Education: Sample Essay Analysis
1. Does this essay agree or disagree with the statement? Why?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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2. Talk to your partner. How is the essay organised? What is in the introduction?

Introduction
What is in the introduction? Use the boxes next to the sentences to label the
different parts.

Body
What is in the body paragraphs? Use the boxes next to the sentences to label the
different parts.

Conclusion
What is in the conclusion? Use the boxes next to the sentences to label the
different parts.
2
Introduction
When it is time to send their child to high school, most parents have a choice
between a single sex school or a coeducational school.
Parents want the best education for their children but it is difficult to know
which type of high school is more beneficial.
This essay will argue that coeducational high schools have a positive impact on
students, both personally and professionally.
Body Paragraph 1
One of the most important reasons why a coeducational school is more
beneficial for students is that it provides them with important social and
relationship skills.
Students who go to coeducational schools learn to communicate and form
relationships with both boys and girls. If they attend a single sex school, they
may not learn how to talk with and how to be friends with the opposite sex. This
may result in difficulties in their adult life. Most people want to have boyfriends
and girlfriends and get married when they are older. However, if they do not
have much experience with the opposite sex when they are growing up, they
may not have a good understanding of them and may find it difficult to start and
to maintain good relationships.
Body Paragraph 2
Another important point is that this lack of experience with the opposite sex
may even impact on their career and professional lives.
In most countries and in most professions men and women have to work
together. A coeducational school teaches boys and girls how to communicate
with each other and how to work together within an educational environment. If
students attend a single sex school, they may not feel comfortable with or be
very skilled at constructing good working relationships with the opposite sex.
Body Paragraph 3
Finally, if students attend a coeducational high school, they are exposed to both
male and female culture, skills, abilities and strengths.
Even in societies in which men and women are considered equal and should
have equal opportunities, there are usually some differences. In New Zealand,
for example, more women are teachers and more men are scientists, and girls
get higher scores in reading tests while boys do better in mathematics. As a
result, single sex schools may focus on particular subjects and students may be
influenced only by the interests and choices of their own sex. However, if they
attend a coeducational school they may be exposed to a wider range of subjects
and interests. If a girl has friends who are boys she may be more likely to share
3
her interest in science and mathematics and develop her skills in this area.
Similarly, a boy who is interested in reading can have more fellow students to
talk to about books at a coeducational school. In a boys school he may find that
his interest in reading is not encouraged or stimulated by his fellow students.
Conclusion
In conclusion, coeducational schools provide important benefits and are
therefore better for high school students.
Coeducational schools help to teach students to interact with the opposite sex,
which is important for their personal, social
and professional lives as adults.
They also provide exposure to a wider range of interests and skills, which may
have educational benefits.
4
Education: Sample Essay Analysis
EXAMPLE ANSWERS
Introduction
topic
When it is time to send their child to high school, most parents have a choice
between a single sex school or a coeducational school.
restriction/
definition
viewpoint/
thesis
Parents want the best education for their children but it is difficult to know
which type of high school is more beneficial.
This essay will argue that coeducational high schools have a positive impact on
students, both personally and professionally.
statement
Body Paragraph 1
topic sentence
One of the most important reasons why a coeducational school is more
beneficial for students is that it provides them with important social and
relationship skills.
supporting
Students who go to coeducational schools learn to communicate and form
sentences
relationships with both boys and girls. If they attend a single sex school, they
may not learn how to talk with and how to be friends with the opposite sex. This
may result in difficulties in their adult life. Most people want to have boyfriends
and girlfriends and get married when they are older. However, if they do not
have much experience with the opposite sex when they are growing up, they
may not have a good understanding of them and may find it difficult to start and
to maintain good relationships.
Body Paragraph 2
topic sentence
Another important point is that this lack of experience with the opposite sex
may even impact on their career and professional lives.
supporting
In most countries and in most professions men and women have to work
sentences
together. A coeducational school teaches boys and girls how to communicate
with each other and how to work together within an educational environment. If
students attend a single sex school, they may not feel comfortable with or be
very skilled at constructing good working relationships with the opposite sex.
Body Paragraph 3
topic sentence
Finally, if students attend a coeducational high school, they are exposed to both
male and female culture, skills, abilities and strengths.
supporting
Even in societies in which men and women are considered equal and should
sentences
have equal opportunities, there are usually some differences. In New Zealand,
for example, more women are teachers and more men are scientists, and girls
get higher scores in reading tests while boys do better in mathematics. As a
result, single sex schools may focus on particular subjects and students may be
influenced only by the interests and choices of their own sex. However, if they
5
attend a coeducational school they may be exposed to a wider range of subjects
and interests. If a girl has friends who are boys she may be more likely to share
her interest in science and mathematics and develop her skills in this area.
Similarly, a boy who is interested in reading can have more fellow students to
talk to about books at a coeducational school. In a boys school he may find that
his interest in reading is not encouraged or stimulated by his fellow students.
Conclusion
viewpoint
In conclusion, coeducational schools provide important benefits and are
therefore better for high school students.
summary of
Coeducational schools help to teach students to interact with the opposite sex,
main points
which is important for their personal, social
and professional lives as adults.
They also provide exposure to a wider range of interests and skills, which may
have educational benefits.
6
Education: Sample Essay CUT UPS
When it is time to send their child to high school, most parents have a choice between a single
sex school or a coeducational school.
Parents want the best education for their children but it is difficult to know which type of high
school is more beneficial.
This essay will argue that coeducational high schools have a positive impact on students, both
personally and professionally.
One of the most important reasons why a coeducational school is more beneficial for students is
that it provides them with important social and relationship skills.
Students who go to coeducational schools learn to communicate and form relationships with both
boys and girls. If they attend a single sex school, they may not learn how to talk with and how to
be friends with the opposite sex.
This may result in difficulties in their adult life.
Most people want to have boyfriends and girlfriends and get married when they are older.
However, if they do not have much experience with the opposite sex when they are growing up,
they may not have a good understanding of them and may find it difficult to start and to
maintain good relationships.
Another important point is that this lack of experience with the opposite sex may even impact on
their career and professional lives.
In most countries and in most professions men and women have to work together. A
coeducational school teaches boys and girls how to communicate with each other and how to
work together within an educational environment.
If students attend a single sex school, they may not feel comfortable with or be very skilled at
constructing good working relationships with the opposite sex.
Finally, if students attend a coeducational high school, they are exposed to both male and female
culture, skills, abilities and strengths.
Even in societies in which men and women are considered equal and should have equal
opportunities, there are usually some differences.
7
In New Zealand, for example, more women are teachers and more men are scientists, and girls
get higher scores in reading tests while boys do better in mathematics.
As a result, single sex schools may focus on particular subjects and students may be influenced
only by the interests and choices of their own sex.
However, if they attend a coeducational school they may be exposed to a wider range of subjects
and interests.
If a girl has friends who are boys she may be more likely to share her interest in science and
mathematics and develop her skills in this area.
Similarly, a boy who is interested in reading can have more fellow students to talk to about
books at a coeducational school. In a boys school he may find that his interest in reading is not
encouraged or stimulated by his fellow students.
In conclusion, coeducational schools provide important benefits and are therefore better for high
school students.
Coeducational schools help to teach students to interact with the opposite sex, which is
important for their personal, social and professional lives as adults.
They also provide exposure to a wider range of interests and skills, which may have educational
benefits.
8