5. An argument essay

 5. An argument essay

In an argument essay, the writer’s purpose is to persuade the audience to agree with his or her opinion about a controversial topic. In an argument essay the writer states the claim or opinion, gives reasons to support it, and tries to convince the audience that he or she is correct. 

You can argue either for or against a topic. 

Your job as the writer of an argument essay is to convince your readers that your opinion about a topic is the most valid viewpoint. It must include an opposing viewpoint, or counterargument. As soon as you give your opponent’s point of view, you must offer a refutation of it, in other words show how it is wrong. 

The school uniform question 

Individualism is a fundamental part of society in many countries. Most people believe in the right to express their own opinion without fear of punishment. This value, however, is coming under fire in an unlikely place—the public school classroom. 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 the better choice for three reasons. 

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, 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 gives them 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 a large school district in Florida, incidents of school violence dropped by 50 percent, attendance and test scores improved, and student suspensions declined approximately 30 percent after school uniforms were introduced. 

Finally, school uniforms would help make all the students feel equal. Students’ standards of living differ greatly from family to family, and some people are well-off while others are not. People sometimes forget that school is a place to get an 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 expensive clothing. 

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 that they dress outside of the classroom. 

In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits of implementing mandatory school uniforms for students. Studies show that students learn better and act more responsibly when they wear uniforms, students and society as a whole. 

Comparative argument

A high school diploma is not the end of many people’s education these days. High School students who want to continue their education generally choose one of two routes after graduation. Some students opt to attend a community college and then transfer to a university, while others go directly to a university. Making this difficult choice requires a great deal of careful thought. However, if the choice is based on three specific factors, namely, cost, location, and quality of education, students will quickly see the advantages that attending a community college offers. 

Attending a community college is much cheaper than attending a university. For example, tuition at a local community college might cost $3,000 per year, especially for residents of the area. The same classes taken at a nearby university could cost over $25,000. In addition, a university would charge more for parking, photocopying at the library, cafeteria food, and campus health clinic services. No matter how the total bill is calculated or what is included, it is more expensive to study at a university. 

Studying at a community college can be more convenient because of its location. Going to a university often requires recent high school graduates to live far from home, and many of them are reluctant to do so. These students are only seventeen or eighteen years old and may have very little experience with being away from home. It is often difficult for these young people to suddenly find themselves far away from their families. In addition, very few parents are prepared to send their teenagers to distant universities. Because almost every area has a community college, students who opt to go to a community college first can continue to be near their families for two more years. 

Finally there are educational benefits to attending a community college. University life is very different from community college life. A university campus offers a large variety of sports events and social activities, and students can easily become distracted from their studies. Community colleges, which typically have fewer students and extracurricular activities, may be a better environment for serious study. In addition, the library facilities at a community college, though not as large as those at a university, are more than sufficient for the kind of work that is required in first- or second -year courses. Class size is also an issue to consider. Introductory courses at universities often have 50, 60, or even 100 students. In such large classes, student-teacher interaction is minimal, and learning can be more difficult or some students. Finally, the teaching at community colleges is often better than the teaching at universities. Professors at community colleges often have the same credentials as those at universities, but community college professors spend most of their time teaching instead of conducting research, as university professors have to do. 

The decision to enter a university directly or to attend a community college for the first two years after high school can be difficult. Community colleges are not as glamorous as large universities. They are often perceived as second-rate alternatives to the more well-known universities. However, based on the three important factors outlined above–cost, location, and quality of education–it is clear that for many students, choosing a community college is the smarter thing to do. 

Argument

Traditionally , people retire from their jobs when they reach the age of 65. In some jobs, this is not an option but a requirement. Mandatory retirement for capable workers is wrong because it violates personal choice, discriminates against senior citizens, and wastes valuable skills as well as money. 

One reason that mandatory retirement is wrong is that it takes away an individual’s personal choice of either continuing to work or retiring. The older working person should have the right to choose his or her retirement age. A person’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (as written in the Declaration of Independence) is a very special thing. Forced retirement takes away people’s livelihood, deprives them of their freedom to choose how to spend their time, and prevents them from pursuing happiness. 

Second, mandatory retirement is surely a form of age discrimination. A young person might wonder why an older worker should be kept on the payroll when the company should hire someone who is younger and more creative. However, a younger person would not necessarily be a better or more creative worker. Age does not indicate the quality of a person’s work. Many well-known artists, politicians, and writers developed their best work after the age of 60. The common belief that a person’s mind slows down after a certain age is nothing but a misconception. 

In addition to the previous two points, quality of work is another important issue. Older employees have knowledge and experience that can truly be beneficial to a company. Unfortunately, many employers disregard this fact. Captain AL Haynes, aged 58, was able to land a DC-10 that was out of control so that 186 of the 296 people aboard survived when it crashed. The aircraft manufacturer simulated the same situation 45 times, and not one time did they have a successful landing. Safety experts agree that the high survival rate among the passengers on the flight was due to Captain Haynes’s aviation skills. It is doubtful that a less experienced pilot could have accomplished this feat. However, two years later, Capitan Haynes had to retire because he had reached the age of 60, the mandatory retirement age for pilots in the United States. 

Many people, especially fresh college graduates, do not agree that retirement should be an option. They are worried that if older workers are allowed to continue in their jobs, there will not be enough openings for younger people. However, is there really a danger that older people will take away job opportunities from younger people? This situation is unlikely because younger workers and older workers rarely compete for the same jobs. The reality is that older workers rarely seek entry-level positions. Therefore, employers should start looking for ways to attract experienced workers, not retire them. 

In conclusion, the age of retirement should be determined by an individual’s economic need, health status, and personal preference. People’s lives are their own, and they should be allowed to live them to their fullest potential. Without a doubt, mandatory retirement goes against fulfilling this potential and should not be a part of modern society.