The School Uniform Question
Introduction with hook, background
information, and one-sentence thesis statement that includes the claim and the
reasons the claim is true
Individualism is a
fundamental value in the United States. Balancing the right to express ourselves
with other rights and needs of society and individuals can be difficult. This
balancing act has become a hot topic in our public school classrooms. The issue is school uniforms. Should public
school students be allowed to make individual decisions about clothing, or
should all students be required to wear a uniform? School uniforms are actually
the better choice because they simplify students’ lives, they help students act
more responsibly, and they bring a feeling of equality to schools.
First
body paragraph with transition, topic sentence, evidence, and elaboration
First, wearing school
uniforms would help make students’ lives simpler. They would no longer have to
decide what to wear every morning, sometimes trying on outfit after outfit in
an effort to choose. Uniforms would not only save time but also would eliminate
the stress often associated with this chore.
Second
body paragraph with transition, topic sentence, evidence, and elaboration
Second, school uniforms
influence students to act responsibly in groups and as individuals. Uniforms
give students the message that school is a special place for learning. In
addition, uniforms create a feeling of unity among students. For example, when
students do something as a group, such as attend meetings in the auditorium or
eat lunch in the cafeteria, the fact that they all wear the same uniform would
create a sense of community. Even more important, statistics show the positive
effects that school uniforms have on violence and truancy. *According to a recent survey in
Hillsborough County, Florida, incidents of school violence dropped by 50 per
cent, attendance and test scores improved, and student suspensions declined
approximately 30 per cent after school uniforms were introduced.
*The same sort of findings came in a study by Virginia Draa, assistant
professor at Youngstown State University in Ohio (Wilde, 2012).
Third
body paragraph with transition, topic sentence, evidence, and elaboration
Finally, school uniforms
would help make all the students feel equal. People’s standards of living
differ greatly, and some people are well-off while others are not. People
sometimes forget that school is a place to get education, not to promote a
“fashion show.” Implementing mandatory school uniforms would make all the
students look the same regardless of their financial status. School uniforms
would promote pride and help to raise the self-esteem of students who cannot
afford to wear stylish clothing.
Counterclaim
and rebuttal to that claim
Opponents of mandatory
uniforms say that students who wear school uniforms cannot express their individuality.
This point has some merit on the surface. However, as stated previously, school
is a place to learn, not to flaunt wealth and fashion. Society must decide if
individual expression through clothing is more valuable than improved
educational performance. It is important to remember that school uniforms would
be worn only during school hours. Students can express their individuality in
the way they dress outside of the classroom.
Conclusion
with transition wraps up the essay
In conclusion, there are many
well-documented benefits to implementing mandatory school uniforms for
students. Studies show that students learn better and act more responsibly when
they wear uniforms. Public schools should require uniforms in order to benefit
both the students and society as a whole.
* Information from an outside source,
cited.
This
model essay is adapted from
Folse, K., Solomon, E. & Muchmore-Vokoun,
A. (2004) Great essay (2nd Edition).United
States of America: Thomas Heinle
http://ourmiowmiowworld.blogspot.com/2013/03/sample-argumentative-essay-on-use-of.html
