ELEMENTS OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH 1- Hook 2- Background Information 3- Counterclaim 4- Thesis Statement BODY PARAGRAPHS 5- Topic Sentences 6- Transitions 7- Supporting Evidence 8- Elaboration/discussion/ explanation CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH 9- Restatement of Thesis 10-Sum up key points 11-Pose a solution to the problem (optional) 12-Revisit the theme of the hook.Sample Essay Analysis Color-Code Guide (scrambled) ‘Thesis Statement = y Background Information ee Hook Transitions _- Elaboration/Discussion Supporting Evidence »> Topic Sentence Restate Thesis & Key Points CounterclaimHighli Counterclaim Transitions Hook Thesis Statement Background Info. SCHOOL UNIFORMS: A TWO-PRONGED SOLUTION & by Jenny Walker One of the biggest concerns in schools today is} declining academic achievement. Another grave concem is students being harassed and harmed by-~ ‘other students. But, what if one simple solution could) address both of these concerns? Currently, in the United States, students are being bullied at an alarming rate. Nearly 1 in 4 students claim they have been verbally or physically abused by another student, Not surprisingly, a consequence of this pattern is that these victims often become academic underachievers. Opponents of schoo! uniforms. argue that requiring students to wear them infringes on their freedom and stifles individuality. This is unlikely true considering most students tend to dress: like their peers anyway. Furthermore, there are many| outlets for students to express their creativity. They can feed their creative desires in art class, music” class, or just about anything else they choose to do... The benefits af uniforms far outweigh any slight —_| inconveniences. School uniforms have been shown: ‘to improve academic achievement in students and also help to alleviate bullying. Therefore, all public. schools should take the smart route and require ‘students to wear uniforms.SCHOOL UNIFORMS: A TWO-PRONGED SOLUTION (P.2) by Jenny Walker The need for students to be high achievers} can't be over-stressed. Those who do not do Transitions well in school are more likely to drop out without} Elaboration graduating, and if that happens, they are at a Evidence greater risk for all sorts negative things, such as Topic Sentence drug abuse, addiction, and alcoholism, to name ‘a few. According to russell Rumberger, a professor at University of California, “Dropping ‘out is more of a process than an event—a process that, for some students, begins in early. elementary school. Poor academic achievement, as early as elementary school, is one of the strongest predictors of dropping out.” This is a sad situation, especially considering that there are solutions that are readily available. Studies. show that schools that enforce school uniforms have a student performance rate of 26% higher considering that it means thousands of students are benefitting from them. There are also other. benefits to school uniforms, Li | than those that do not. This is a striking statisticFind These Elements Transitions Elaboration Evidence Topic Sentence » 7 SCHOOL UNIFORMS: A qi TWO-PRONGED SOLUTION (P23) by Jenny Walker Bullying has the potential to ruin the! education of thousands of victims. But, many instances of bullying can be reduced or stopped altogether if clothing differences were taken out of the equation. Some gang related violence has been reported to have begun over a clothing dispute. According to the National Center For Education Statistics, ) “within one year after the implementation| of uniforms, fights and muggings at man’ schools decreased by 50%, while sexual offenses were reduced by 74%.” Clearly, these statistics prove the needs and benefits of re-thinking school clothing. Wouldn't a simple, and relatively. affordable solution be worth looking into. if it could protect the health and. education of so many students?