Writing Workshop AP #2

Topic Selected? Topic: Standardized Testing Your Claim: Disagree

Other Side: Reasons FOR standardized testing 1. 2.

Thesis Statement Standardized testing should not happen in schools because of unfair advantages, lack of testing stability, and student stress levels. Improve It! Although standardized testing occurs nationwide in public and private educational venues, it should not happen anymore due to student stress levels, lack of testing stability, and unfair advantages.

Three topic Sentences Although standardized testing occurs nationwide in public and private educational venues, it should not happen anymore due to student stress levels, lack of testing stability, and unfair advantages. BP 1: Standardized testing should not occur due to student stress levels. BP 2: The lack of testing stability is another huge issue with Standardized testing. BP 3: Another reason for ridding the education field of standardized testing is unfair advantages within certain school systems.

Outline I. Introduction A. Hook B. Transition C. General Explanation D. Thesis

Your head pounds as you bubble the 100 th answer. The pressure in your brain mounts as your heart begins to beat faster. You only have five minutes left, and 20 questions until completion- how will you ever finish the Graduation test? Without it, you will remain in high school, forever. Unfortunately, standardized testing is a dilemma faced by all high school students during their junior year. Leading experts in the educational field argue about whether standardized testing is beneficial or harmful to a student. Some say that testing helps to compare students on the same level. Other believe that standardized testing is unfair. Although standardized testing occurs nationwide in public and private educational venues, it should not happen anymore due to student stress levels, lack of testing stability, and unfair advantages.

Body Paragraphs A. Topic Sentence If necessary include a definition B. Reason #1 C. Support (Use a source) D. State how this sources demonstrates xyz. E. Example F. Relate back to your topic sentence!

Body Paragraph 1 Standardized testing should not occur due to student stress levels. Students have many things to deal with in school and outside of school, and testing for graduation is simply too much pressure. Leading experts in the field agree with these statements. According to Ben Fisher from the Educational Research Facility, “Students under pressure tend to perform on a level that is not indicative of their normal educational stature” (para 3). This demonstrates that a test does not readily evaluate a student’s skill level because they are too stressed to give the test their best effort. For example, up to 10% of students taking standardized tests have their scores destroyed during the test because they have to leave during testing due to feeling pressured or sick (Arnold, 67). All of these emotions tie back into a students level of stress.

Things to be cautious of! Be consistently mindful of your topic sentence!!! Know your sources Be careful with sources ▫too many ▫Not enough Do not be afraid to ask for help! Proofread aloud at least three times! Even if you are the only one listening

Let’s Recap! Introduction ▫Hook, Transition, General Info, 3 Part Thesis Three Body Paragraphs ▫Taken from your 3 part thesis (organized by weakest to strongest!) Rebuttal Paragraph ▫The other side!

Rebuttal… Why? Why should we talk about the opinion opposite from ours? SO WE CAN PROVE THEM WRONG! It is THE strongest argument you can give.

How to … Rebuttal You need to present a source for the other side, and then present your own source for why they are wrong. Use details and examples when appropriate.

The reasons against standardized testing are strong and varied. However, many people still believe in testing children throughout their schooling years. Joan Potamae is one such person. She works for the ACT Board and states “In order to gain an adequate standing for all students, testing must be mandated in all grades for the major subject areas” (Para. 8). Adequate standings are important, but there are many other ways to assess and rank students outside of traditional testing. By stating that the only way we can get standings for students is standardized testing affronts teachers nationwide. Do teachers not grade students? Do teachers not work to make these grades fair and adequate? Michael Aspert from the Educational Research Department of Alabama says, “We have to put the faith back in the classrooms, not in some test written by another person residing states away” (Para. 31). Clearly, Aspert understands the needs of the students over the wallets of test makers.

The Final Paragraph: Conclusions Four Strategies: ▫Summarize Information (DO NOT JUST COPY AND PASTE IT!!!) ▫Connect it to your hook (if you can) ▫Encourage Action, A call to action! ▫Remember you purpose: Convince the reader, and remember this is your LAST CHANCE to do it!

Pieces of Advice There is no perfect formula for a conclusion paragraph Emotions are good! End on a positive note Repetition can be POWERFUL

LET’S LOOK AT MY HOOK AGAIN. Your head pounds as you bubble the 100 th answer. The pressure in your brain mounts as your heart begins to beat faster. You only have five minutes left, and 20 questions until completion- how will you ever finish the Graduation test? Without it, you will remain in high school, forever.

Altogether, the effects of testing on students is truly detrimental. The pounding hearts of stressed students, the mounting pressure in their brains, and the looming fear of never making it out of high school can easily be avoided! No one wants to be tormented by these feelings of unease; getting rid of standardized testing is the easy solution. Aren’t students under enough pressure with their classes? Aren’t students under enough pressure dealing with their home lives? Aren’t students under enough pressure coping with the everyday stressors of being a teenager? And aren’t teachers competent enough to assess students without the ever-watchful eye of the government? Think carefully about these students; they are the future of tomorrow. We need to encourage and support them- not test their lives away and tear them down. Together we can encourage change in the world of education, and together we can make a difference in the world of many young people.