8Th Grade Practice Prompt

Model Essay 8th Grade Practice Prompt

TOPIC #2: The district school board is reviewing the GPA requirement for participating in extracurricular activities. In order to participate in any activity like sports, student council, band, or other clubs, should students be required to carry a minimum GPA?

Write a five-paragraph persuasive essay to the district school board persuading for or against the GPA requirements.

THINK ABOUT: s impact on student involvement in extracurricular activities s how grade requirements impact school image s Consider the opposing arguments and avoid logical fallacies

Imagine that you are the starting quarterback for your high school football team. (Attention Grabber) The big game is coming up, but you can’t play because your English teacher failed you on your last exam. Is that fair? Should students be required to carry a certain GPA in order to participate in extracurricular activities? (Situation/Problem) Students in extracurricular activities should maintain a certain GPA because they are representing the school, participating by choice and the maintaining good learning habits. (Thesis; position) Students in extracurricular activities represent the school to the outside world. (Topic Sentence; Reason #1) The world beyond school should see the best a school has to offer in both the students’ club activities and their grades. (Concrete detail; Point) If the best is seen, it will reflect well on the school. (Commentary; Illustrate) When the community looks favorably on a school, the students’ self image improves. (Commentary; Explain) Schools should show their best students in the best possible light. (Concrete detail; Point) By showing that students can excel in their chosen extracurricular activity and their classes, schools become a place where higher expectations are the norm, not the exception. (Commentary; Illustrate) Having high expectations helps students seek to achieve more and not just be “average.” By being more than average students will be able to accomplish more, get better jobs and be more involved in their community. (Commentary; Explain) The goal of all schools is to have students achieve more than they thought they were capable of. (Concrete detail; Point) This skill of working hard for two goals will tell employers the students will be valuable to their organization. (Commentary; Illustrate) Students have a lot of pressure to perform in their chosen extracurricular activity, and this extra could lead them to a scholarship to a great school; therefore, putting pressure on them to maintain a minimum GPA may mean that they can no longer perform as well in the activity. However, to get into a great school, students need to have good grades. (Commentary; Explain) So the two things, good grades and being in an extracurricular would seem to go hand-in-hand. (Concluding sentence; Counterargument) Students are the face of the school, but the extracurricular activities they are involved in are just that, extra. (Topic Sentence; Reason #2) The student’s real job in school is to get good grades. (Concrete detail; Point) Grades are equal to a paycheck in the real world, so students should put more importance their on grades. (Commentary; Illustrate) Paychecks are going to be important for the rest of a child’s life, and they need to remember that grades are the first paycheck they will receive. (Commentary; Explain) Students who get good grades are just as likely to get into a university as those who excel in an extracurricular activity. (Concrete detail; Point) Universities look at how well students perform on ACT/SAT scores first, and those scores are based on how well a student has learned. (Commentary; Illustrate) These scores show the potential a student has for learning. And this learning potential is what universities look at. Without the potential to learn a university will not accept a student into their institution. (Commentary; Explain) Students must have a desire to learn and that’s what schools are supposed to instill in students. (Concrete detail; Point) Having students maintain a good GPA would show they have the potential to learn. (Commentary; Illustrate) Some might argue that not all students are going to go to a university. While this is true, employers also base whether they will hire someone based on the potential they have to learn. (Commentary; Explain) Employers expect students to come with a certain set of skills, and then they teach the employee what is needed perform the job for which they are hired. (Concluding sentence; Counterargument) Extracurricular activities may be extra, but they can also promote learning. (Topic Sentence; Reason #3) Coaches and club sponsors who check their students’ grades will help to make sure the students are succeeding and becoming good all-around people. (Concrete detail; Point) Having one more set of eyes checking on students’ grades will help to make them more responsible. (Commentary; Illustrate) There’s an old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” There is no place where this is truer than in school. (Commentary; Explain) Students who have more support will be able to achieve more. (Concrete detail; Point) Students who know that they need to show their grades to many people, not just parents will push themselves to try harder. (Commentary; Illustrate) When a student’s GPA comes up, they will feel successful. And as another old saying goes, “Success breeds success.” This success will help student’s self-esteem to come up and that is something all students could use help with. (Commentary; Explain) Some might argue that this extra pressure from another set of eyes on students’ grades could put too much pressure on them to perform. And while this is true, the pressure is not negative pressure, but positive. Having people support you and want what is best for you should be beneficial not detrimental. (Concluding sentence; Counterargument) Requiring a high GPA can only lead to better more rounded people for the future. (Restatement of thesis) Requiring all students in extracurricular activities to maintain a higher GPA is a regulation that should be put in place to create a better future for all students. (Call to action)

SCORING: Conventions (CO): The writing demonstrates strong control of standard writing conventions. Errors are so few and so minor that they do not impede readability. The writer includes paragraph breaks, correct capitalization, and correct spelling. Internal punctuation presents a little need for editing. Score point is 5. Ideas and Content (IC): Main ideas stand out and are developed by strong support and rich details suitable to audience and purpose. The writer provides a thorough, balanced, in- depth explanation of the topic. One exemplary example of thorough support is “Dreams are what make everything progress. Without them, the human race would be stuck in an endless cycle of monotony. However, because one dared to dream, we live in a more accepting world today.” Score point is 6. Organization (OR): The organization enhances the central idea and its development. The writer uses effective transitions among all elements. While the beginning is a bit slow and somewhat formulaic, the writer employs a satisfying sense of resolution. The sequencing is effective. With a bit more creativity in organization, the paper would have scored a 6. Score point is 5. Sentence fluency (SF): Sentences with strong and varied structure are prevalent. An occasional awkward construction may be noticed, however, sentence structure that enhances meaning emerges when the writer uses the short but effective “They prod.” “They poke.” “They observe.” Score point is 5. Voice (VO): The writing is expressive, engaging, and sincere. There is an exceptional sense of “writing to be read.” The writer creates a sense of interaction through honesty and conviction. This paper has an effective level of closeness to the audience while maintaining a distance complimentary to the topic. Score point is 6. Word Choice (WC): The writer employs a rich, broad range of words such as “poke,” “prod,” “cycle of monotony,” and “exemplary.” The paper is fresh and original. The writer’s word choices are exceptionally appropriate for audience and purpose. Vocabulary is striking and varied but is not overdone. Score point is 6.