argumentative essay about skipping school

The New York Times

The learning network | should students be allowed to skip senior year of high school.

Should Students Be Allowed to Skip Senior Year of High School?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

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Is senior year just about partying? If so, should prepared students be allowed to skip it and spend a year volunteering, or go on to college early? Or, does senior year play an key role in helping students transition emotionally to being on their own?

Would you want to skip senior year? Why or why not?

The Sunday Review regularly posts invitations to a “dialogue” with readers about topics in the news. Last Sunday, Marc F. Bernstein began the conversation on “A Cure for ‘Senioritis’?” by writing:

Most students in the United States spend four years in high school, grades 9 through 12, whether they benefit from the fourth year or not. Individualizing the high school experience by permitting students, parents and educators to jointly decide, student by student, if three years, three and a half years or a full four years are required to meet that student’s educational needs is an imperative, especially given how unproductive the senior year — the infamous senioritis — can be for so many students. During my many years as a superintendent of schools and more recently as an education consultant, I have noted the large number of highly underscheduled high school seniors. Having met their high school graduation requirements, they have chosen, with their parents’ and counselors’ permission, to have late school arrivals, multiple lunch periods and only two or three classes. I propose that by the time a teenager is in 10th grade, the student, family and counselor plan either a traditional or alternative grade 12. Far superior alternatives to the traditional 12th-grade year exist for many students: beginning full-time college earlier, taking selected college courses on the college or high school campus, working to pay for college, and participating in a volunteer, apprenticeship or service experience.

Students: Read what others have posted in response to Mr. Bernstein, then tell us …

• Is this writer correct? Are many seniors so “underscheduled” that the year is a waste? Should students, in collaboration with their parents and schools, have the opportunity to go to college early, or take other alternative learning routes, like internships, that year?
• Do you think students need the fourth year of high school to be emotionally ready for college?
• What about the rituals of senior year, like prom and senior trips? What would be lost if they were skipped?
• Do you think a policy like this would further divide students by ability, class and race since only highly prepared students would be able to do this?
• Would you want to skip senior year? If so, what would you do instead?

NOTE: Students, please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

I think studentsshould able to skip their senior year of high school because they are virtually finished with their studies and deserve a break from their constant stress and worry. This will help with ‘senoritis’ and students will feel more comfortable and will have time to relax and do things that all teenagers should have an opportunity to do.

The year is not a waste in my opinion because being a senior provides fun experiences and you still take classes that you may need or want for college, I think they should have the opportunity to go to college early. I do think that the fourth year of high school prepares you for college depending on who you are. If you are taking many ap classes or doing duel enrollment, then you will kind of know what to expect when you go to college. Prom and other things you do in senior year are very important to attend because those are the experiences that you remember forever and tell your kids about. Those times help you create friendships. I do think that this policy would further divide race and stuff like that because some people are more willing to do more work and be more prepared for college. More people want to be ahead of other people in college which will separate people. I wouldn’t want to skip senior year because its the most memorable. I would take a couple classes in high school that will further me in college and do duel enrollment. Senior year is something that you shouldn’t skip because you miss out on things and you might regret it.

Teenagers who believe that their senior year should be skipped to either do a intership, voluneteer for that whole year or take a early year to college should go for it if they want to. “Its really their choice if they wanted to, if they believe that their already mature for college or for anything else they should go for it.”

~Gabriella.

I think that kids should take senior year to have fun before going to high school

I have to disagree that students should be allowed to skip senior year because we are only creating a year of ‘partying’ for the students. because they now have a full year free of school and there are some students that will not be taking total advantage of their free time. In addition, we are cutting the amount of college credits they can get. I can completly understand that some students may ‘underscheldule’ themselves but the majority of seniors take advantage of their last year and take the most college couses out of their student profile. I think that this idea sounds good on paper but in actuallity it hinders the success of our students.

Many students are underscheduled senior year. I have a feeling that I will be underschedule and I do wish that the school would give students a chance to volunteer or have alternative learning oppurtunities. If senior year was skipped completely, the students would miss out on all the senior rituals like prom and senior trips. I think students should have to come to school sometimes, but if they are underscheduled they should not have to come to school every day for all of the periods. Perhaps it could be like collage, where it is a transitional year. Students only go for the classes they have and then they leave.

Teenagers should skip their senior year after they went through years of school. Teens should enjoy what years they have with their friends until their off to college to begin another era called “life and work.”

The Senior year is now a contraversial topic but I see it as a necessary step in completeing education. It is a relaxed version of College and the point on senior traditions is backed by me and most likely most senoirs. The last year may seem unessential in the writer’s eyes but it necissarily isn’t. It prompts them for college and allows everyone to say that one last goodbye.

I believe that students should have the decision to decide whether they want to have a senior year. If you have all the required credits to graduate, you could just graduate instead of just sitting in classes that you don’t need to take. You could also start an internship or go to college earlier. It’s up to the students if they want an extra year to emotionally prepare themselves for college. Some students may not be ready for college and want to have an extra year, other students may be ready and want a head start into college. Prom and senior trips are memorable moments that you treasure for the rest of your life, Highschools should have these memorable moments, just do it in the third year. No, I dont think it would make a diverse conflict between races, ability, or classes.

Yes, I some what agree with the writer that most students are so unscheduled that the year is a waste. Yes I think students in collaboration with their parents and schools should have the oppurtunity to go to college early or take internships instead. I think if the students are really serious about skipping their senior then they shouldn’t be as emotional and know thats the decision that they are making as adults. I think only friends will be lost but if they’re really your friends then they’ll support you and whatever you want to better yourself. No I do not think it will divide students by ability. I would consider skipping senior year but it wouldn’t be a garuntee. I would get a job or an internship instead.

Many seniors don’t take senior year seriously. They take classes that they can get an “easy A” and that don’t require much work. I think students should have the option to skip senior year, have only a few required classes a day, or only go for half of the year if they have met all of their requirements. I don’t think it helps students become “emotionally ready” for college by taking pointless classes their senior year. They would miss out on good prom and field trip memories, but they should be allowed to decide to do that. Some students can also take some college classes during senior year at a local college instead of going to school for a full day.

Personally I don’t think that students should be allowed to skip senior year due to the fact that it’s your last year of childhood education and it’s the time where you choose your college and get all your acceptance letters. This is your last year to enjoy being a kid and see all your friends before everyone goes off on their own journeys and succeeds in life. Skipping senior year is just a waste of happiness. This is the time in your life to just enjoy yourself and realize that all the hard work you have done throughout the years has finally paid off.

Students senior year of high school does often carry around a bad perception. Many students and teachers feel that seniors just take as little classes as the can so they can waltz right through the year. I feel however that senior year isn’t only about the education, but the experience you gain. Senior year allows you more time to have mental growth, so you can go into college mature and emotionally strong enough to handle the pressure. I feel that if a student feels they are ready to take on the challenge a year early, they should be allowed to if they have the number of required courses completed. I also feel that senior year has a lot of important social memories to be created, like going to the prom and senior trips. These events are things that the students will remember for a long time, and help create a positive atmospher throughout the school. If I could skip senior year I wouldnt, because I have enjoyed my highschool experience and see no reason to grow up so quickly.

I personally think that that students should not skip their senior year and use it as a sort of prep for college. That year you could attend classes that could benefit you during college for review or a personal interest. It would help if your having difficulty with a subject and this would be the oppurtunity for that.

I don’t think that senior year is necessarily a “waste” because it is a year that is supposed to be more relaxed and enjoyable. Graduating early is an option if some students feel that they are ready to go to college and don’t want to finish out the high school year. I do think, however, that students do need senior year to become emotionally ready for college. All of highschool students work hard to get the good grades for college and senior year is more about spending time with classmates you won’t see again after you graduate. I went on the senior trip and for me it is something I will never forget. Also, senior prom is memorable as well as graduation day. These are memories that people will keep with them for the rest of their lives. I would most definitely not want to skip senior year because I don’t think I am ready to go off to college just yet, plus it is fun and an important part of life.

I do not agree with this writer that students should be allowed to skip their high school senior year. I believe that senior year is very important in preparing students for college. In some cases, seniors do come in late and leave early. However, there are many students like me who are continuing to take rigorous courses. I only have one free period this year! Students should not be allowed to skip their senior year because students who have loaded courses and care about getting a good education would most likely continue going to school anyway. Therefore, the only people who would consider this option probably wouldn’t even use the year to do things to benefit them and their society. In addition, senior year helps kids get emotionally ready for college. The teachers treat the students more like adults and the students are allowed to experience more freedom and have opportunities to respect that freedom. This makes the transition into college much better. Also, I went on the senior trip and I can say that it would be missed. The senior trip allows people to come together one last time and have fun. People put away their predetermined social groups for a period of time and everyone is suddenly nice to each other again. Lastly, some of your classmates have become really close to you. You have been attending school with some of them for 12 years! I think you should graduate with them and share that final step into the world. For that reason, I would not want to skip my senior year.

No. I dont think students should take off senior year only because senior year is the best year of high school. Also you learn the most about leaving high school and transfering to college. Not to mention the friends you make and th things you get to do on graduation day you would miss all that. You get to have fun as a senior.

yes I think they should skip their senior year because they need their break from school.

I think that if your gardes and GPA is up to date, then you maybe could tget out of school earlier then before. But if nothing is up to date then you should stay in school a little bit longer. Because it makes no since to get out early if your grades and GPA is not right.

I believe that they should not skip senior skip day because they need to be up on the stage to take their diploma and show people that you’ve finally finished high school and showed examples to other kids or students that they can graduate soon and be better. And teachers in school would allow them to have free time and make all the decorating for your senior year or your graduation.

No i dont think students should not skip senior year because some people say its the best time of the year.going to college early can be a good thing but no the law should not change a thing.

i think students should just do all for years of highschool because highschool only comes around once. enjoy it when you can

I dont think that students should skip the senior year. Because probably they need to have more time to learn before they are ready to get out.

I feel that senior year is a preparation year for high school students. While it is true that most students in their last year of high school have a good chance at catching the infamous epidemic, “senioritis” it is also true that they could spend their last year taking college level classes. Advanced Placement courses are college level classes that students can take in high school. Students who complete an AP course and receive a grade of three or higher on the AP exam can get one college credit. This will help students graduate college more easily and will give them more time to relax. Therefore, while taking senior year off may seem fair, it is truly foolish to skip out on some of the “best times of your life.” Graduation, prom, and senior trips are just some of the many events a student will miss for graduating a year early. If I had to pick, stay in school.

On this topic I speciffically think that if you do have your work for that entire year done then you can skip school. But I highly doubt that any one would have that done. So with that beeing said I think you should not skip senior year and you also need to graduate if you are going to college.

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Argumentative Essay: The Benefits of Going to School

Many young people see going to school as a chore and only go because they absolutely have to, while some will even skip school because they see it as boring and unnecessary. However, going to school is incredibly important for your career, future education you may wish to pursue, and social and communication skills.

Teenagers are forever being told that they need a good education so that their can have the career they want, but many do not listen. However, it is important to remember that your schooling, no matter how long it may feel, lasts for a just a few short years compared to the rest of your life ahead of you. Therefore, it is better to sacrifice a little bit of fun now so that you can find happiness in later life, as you will be happier if you can do a job that you enjoy and afford to do the things you want.

Integrally linked to your career is the fact that you will only be able to achieve a higher level of education later on if you work hard in school now. Although at the age of fourteen and fifteen many young people may not think they want to go to college or university, you don’t know how this may change as you get older. And with unemployment among young people in the USA at its highest since the early 1960’s, you may find that you need a college degree to secure a good job because there is so much competition for so few jobs. Many people also decide that they want to study further when they get a bit older, perhaps after they have got married and had children, sometimes because they want a career change as they are not happy, or just to prove to themselves and others that they can do it. Those that don’t succeed in compulsory education will not have the opportunity to even start many courses because there will be plenty of better-qualified candidates that also want a place.

Finally, school is the place where you learn a great deal of very important life skills. From communicating and empathizing with people of both genders and different ages, to listening to instructions and following orders, and developing leadership skills. It is not a coincidence that there is a negative correlation between criminal offences and level of education, in all races, ages and genders all over the world, and one of the main reasons for this is that the lessons that are learnt in school are so much more than just academic. So, although most of us only consider our career when we think about what school may do for us, the life skills we learn are equally important.

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To start with, parents of a student who skips school lose huge amounts of money (given that it is not the student who pays for studying). In the United States, free education is a rare privilege; every single class skipped is worth a certain amount of money. Whether a student studies at high school, college, or university, it does not matter— the average cost of a skipped class is in the range between $50 to $100 (IFR). If a student chooses to skip classes regularly, it will cost him or her or his or her parents a lot of money annually, without getting the result: education and knowledge. The likeliness to get lower grades when skipped classes is another consequence. Whereas those who stay in class obtain at least some knowledge, even if they are not bright, a person who skips classes is at higher risks of obtaining no knowledge at all. Besides, teachers may have a bias toward such a student, and will treat him or her unfairly even though this person might be bright and studied the subject on his or her own. Needless to say, this situation can lead to a failure during exams or getting expelled from an educational institution (FRI). According to research, only five absences is usually enough for a student’s academic performance to drop. Five more absences would most likely lead to a decreased chance to graduate a particular educational institution: on average, skippers are about 20% less likely to successfully graduate. If a student studies at high school, he or she has a 25% less chance to enter any type of higher education institution. They are also 2.5 times more likely to have to live on welfare compared to their more disciplined peers ( Middle Earth ). Skipping classes has yet another not-so-obvious consequence: a student is more likely to become engaged in activities that neither the American society nor the legislative system would approve. Skipping classes does not always imply staying at home; more likely, a student would spend their time outdoors, and chances to get involved in antisocial behavior (substance abuse, shoplifting, gambling, and so on) increase. No need to say it can cause a person to enter prison eventually. Skipping classes is not so harmless as it might seem. It is a direct waste of money for all those who have to pay for the education—and such people are the majority. Students who skip classes are more likely to get lower grades and face a biased attitude from their teachers; moreover, they have lower chances to successfully graduate, and enroll in a college—of any type. Such students are also more likely to live on welfare, and get engaged in antisocial behavior. Therefore, this problem should be treated with all possible attention from teachers, parents, and authorities.

“The Impact of Skipping School.” Middle Earth. N.p., 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <https://middleearthnj.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/the-impact-of-skipping-school/> “Why Skipping Classes is Bad.” IFR. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <instituteoffakeresearch.org/artile/sep/1443> “Skipping Classes? Have Fun While You Can.” FRI. N.p., 12 June 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <fri.net/research/fake/articles/4392898/skipping-classes>

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It is a good essay which changes mind for many people 🤣😸

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15 Persuasive essay topics for students

In this guide

• 1. Is it better to have recess indoors or outdoors?
• 2. Which is more important, math or reading?
• 3. All school lunches should come with dessert
• 4. Is it better to watch TV or read books?
• 5. Students should be allowed to bring their pets to school
• 6. Schools should not assign students homework
• 7. There should be more diverse lunch options in school
• 8. Is it better to learn from books or from technology?
• 9. Middle schools should still have recess
• 10. Students should be allowed to wear whatever they want to school
• 11. Should schools ban the use of phones during the school day?
• 12. Are group projects fair?
• 13. What is one school rule that should be changed?
• 14. Is social media beneficial or harmful to teens?
• 15. Should Shakespeare still be taught in schools?

Persuasive writing is writing that is used to convince someone to take action or believe in an author’s take on a topic or issue. Sometimes it is also referred to as argumentative writing. 

The best way to get students excited about writing, generally, is to offer them topics that they are excited to write about. 

When students are writing persuasive essays, they should include several elements. These include a strong thesis that clearly states the writer’s position, facts and examples to support the thesis, and clear reasons that the reader should agree with the writer’s point of view. 

Another important aspect of persuasive writing is rhetorical devices. These rhetorical devices are ethos, pathos, and logos . 

When creating persuasive essay topics, it is vital that the correct elements of a persuasive essay are examined, explored and modeled for students. 

Topics should be selected based on the responses the teacher would like to elicit from the students. Teachers can also focus their teaching on one element of the essay itself, structure or persuasive devices for example, but allow free choice of the topic to increase student engagement. 

Persuasive essay topics themselves can be given in more than one format. They can be presented as a question with two sides or they can be a statement that students defend or refute. Many persuasive topics include a “should” statement. 

One activity that can help students to write a stronger persuasive essay is to have a class discussion or friendly debate about a topic before students write. Talking about a subject before writing gives teachers the opportunity to engage prior knowledge, guide students to independent thinking, and to ask questions. 

Talking about a subject before writing also allows students to interact with their peers, to hear different opinions, and to form reasons for their own opinions. 

It can also be beneficial for students to read about a subject before they write about it. This allows for students to grow and develop their background knowledge on their topic. It helps students to gain an understanding of a subject before they begin to write. 

This article is broken up into three categories – elementary, middle school, and high school topics. The purpose of this distinction is that persuasive writing can look vastly different based on the grade level of students. What is appropriate for elementary is not always appropriate for secondary. 

Elementary topics

1) is it better to have recess indoors or outdoors.

Recess is an important part of the school day for many students. It is often the only unstructured time students may have during the day. Students will give varying responses to this topic due to location, temperature, their personal preferences, and the types of activities that occur indoors vs. outdoors. Teachers could use this topic to explore the range of different arguments and viewpoints that can arise from a single topic. 

2) Which is more important, math or reading?

Students usually have strong opinions on school subjects. This topic gives them the opportunity to express their opinions and learn the structure of a persuasive essay. 

Giving a topic that has both an academic focus as well as a way for students to learn about persuasive writing is a great way to create interest in writing for young students. 

3) All school lunches should come with dessert

Many of the students I have had over the years have complained about school lunches. Writing about dessert being included in school lunches may be a good motivator for students to write a convincing persuasive essay. 

4) Is it better to watch TV or read books?

As teachers, we know that reading books is an important part of learning. However, television can be educational and can help students to develop language skills. Students can use this topic to research each activity and provide evidence to support their choice. 

5) Students should be allowed to bring their pets to school

During the pandemic, many students shared their pets on camera. Young students often like to share things that are important to their lives. Pets are part of their family and can provide comfort and reassurance to students. 

If a student does not have a pet, this can be changed to accommodate the student’s needs. Perhaps they can write about bringing a family member to school or a treasured object.  

This topic could be used to show how multiple viewpoints can be discussed within the one essay. 

Middle school topics

6) schools should not assign students homework.

Homework is a topic that many people, teachers and students, can feel very strongly about. This provides the opportunity for research . Students can identify reasons why homework is unhelpful and cite evidence to support their claims. 

7) There should be more diverse lunch options in school

Nothing motivates middle school students quite like food! As a former middle school teacher, I can say that middle schoolers are always hungry. 

Something that many students complain about is school lunches. This topic gives them the opportunity to give their opinions on school lunches and write about diversity, health and choice in a structured way. 

8) Is it better to learn from books or from technology?

Using this topic can open up a heated classroom debate. It also gives students an opportunity to research the benefits of technology and books. There is also the added topic of textbooks versus other forms of books. 

This topic would allow students to combine their research and persuasive skills within the one topic.

9) Middle schools should still have recess

As a former middle school teacher, I can attest to the fact that middle schoolers still need to burn energy. It can be mentally and physically taxing for students to sit and learn all day without movement breaks. 

Another way to approach this topic is by having students write a letter or email to the principal (or even the school board) that explains their position. Combining letter writing and persuasive writing opens up the opportunity to teach aspects of both writing genres at one time. 

10) Students should be allowed to wear whatever they want to school

Students use their attire to express themselves. In middle school this starts to become how they show their identity and who they are as a person. Most schools have some sort of dress code, if not school uniforms . 

Students will have an opinion on what they want to wear! Some students may argue the opposite and give reasons why a school dress code is appropriate. 

Not only will you end up with some passionate feelings on this topic, the subject matter is more familiar, allowing them to focus more on the overall structure required in a persuasive essay. 

High school topics

11) should schools ban the use of phones during the school day.

One way to get students excited about writing is to have them write about something they feel passionate about and this is a subject they are guaranteed to have an opinion about! 

This would make a good introductory persuasive essay topic as students debate their points of view, and often their parents, to come to an overall conclusion. 

When giving this prompt, the teacher can also require students to address concerns regarding students paying attention in class but otherwise students should be encouraged to make a list of arguments for both sides of this topic and build their essay from there. 

12) Are group projects fair?

My own students recently discussed this topic and are in the process of writing a persuasive essay to present their opinions. I was surprised by how passionately my students felt about group projects and about working with groups. 

This particular prompt also lends itself to students writing a persuasive essay in the form of a letter. They can write a letter to their teacher asking them to include more or less group projects in their subject and provide a range of reasons why. 

13) What is one school rule that should be changed?

There are always rules that students do not agree with. This prompt allows students to express their thoughts, but also to form arguments that explain why they feel the way they do. 

This prompt encourages students to develop their own topic and structure their own argument around this topic rather than simply responding to a given question. 

This broader option will also provide the structure for students to write about how they will change the rule and how the change will benefit not just them but all students. 

14) Is social media beneficial or harmful to teens?

This is another topic that will require students’ research skills. Focus on the use of data and statistical information when writing.

Students often have very specific views on social media. As a high school teacher technology is a very spicy subject and having students argue their viewpoints beforehand and then supporting them with empirical evidence will allow students to develop their thinking and reasoning skills. 

Once the in class exploration, discussion and research have been completed students can begin to write a thorough and well reasoned essay on the topic of social media . 

15) Should Shakespeare still be taught in schools?

Many students (and honestly, many teachers) find Shakespeare to be cumbersome to learn (and teach!) and irrelevant to current society. 

Including this topic in the same time frame as teaching Shakespeare can make the prompt relevant to the students’ current situation. They must defend or rebuke the teaching of Shakespeare in the high school setting with specific evidence to support their position. 

Writing a persuasive essay can be a beneficial learning experience for students. No matter the topic, students are being asked to form coherent arguments and support those arguments with reasons. This is an important skill for students to begin early in their learning so that there is time and space for these skills to be built upon as they move through their schooling. Exams and essays still provide the basis for testing in many subjects and thus we would be doing a disservice to our students if we did not give them the skills to tackle these writing styles.

• Motley, N. (2016) Talk Read Talk Write . 2nd edn. San Clemente, CA: Seidlitz Education.
• Saint Louis Community College (2024) Pathos, Logos, and Ethos. Available at https://stlcc.edu/student-support/academic-success-and-tutoring/writing-center/writing-resources/pathos-logos-and-ethos.aspx (Accessed: 11 September 2024). 

Mattie Farrer

AVID Site Coordinator / Content Curator

Mattie Farrer has been an educator in various grade levels and capacities during her career. She has a passion for supporting English learners and their language development. She also loves helping teachers reach all students.

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3 Strong Argumentative Essay Examples, Analyzed

General Education

Need to defend your opinion on an issue? Argumentative essays are one of the most popular types of essays you’ll write in school. They combine persuasive arguments with fact-based research, and, when done well, can be powerful tools for making someone agree with your point of view. If you’re struggling to write an argumentative essay or just want to learn more about them, seeing examples can be a big help.

After giving an overview of this type of essay, we provide three argumentative essay examples. After each essay, we explain in-depth how the essay was structured, what worked, and where the essay could be improved. We end with tips for making your own argumentative essay as strong as possible.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument being made.

A good argumentative essay will use facts and evidence to support the argument, rather than just the author’s thoughts and opinions. For example, say you wanted to write an argumentative essay stating that Charleston, SC is a great destination for families. You couldn’t just say that it’s a great place because you took your family there and enjoyed it. For it to be an argumentative essay, you need to have facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of child-friendly attractions in Charleston, special deals you can get with kids, and surveys of people who visited Charleston as a family and enjoyed it. The first argument is based entirely on feelings, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven.

The standard five paragraph format is common, but not required, for argumentative essays. These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

• The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
• The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

3 Good Argumentative Essay Examples + Analysis

Below are three examples of argumentative essays, written by yours truly in my school days, as well as analysis of what each did well and where it could be improved.

Argumentative Essay Example 1

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.

The author begins by giving an overview of the counter-argument, then the thesis appears as the first sentence in the third paragraph. The essay then spends the rest of the paper dismantling the counter argument and showing why readers should believe the other side.

What this essay does well:

• Although it’s a bit unusual to have the thesis appear fairly far into the essay, it works because, once the thesis is stated, the rest of the essay focuses on supporting it since the counter-argument has already been discussed earlier in the paper.
• This essay includes numerous facts and cites studies to support its case. By having specific data to rely on, the author’s argument is stronger and readers will be more inclined to agree with it.
• For every argument the other side makes, the author makes sure to refute it and follow up with why her opinion is the stronger one. In order to make a strong argument, it’s important to dismantle the other side, which this essay does this by making the author's view appear stronger.
• This is a shorter paper, and if it needed to be expanded to meet length requirements, it could include more examples and go more into depth with them, such as by explaining specific cases where people benefited from local libraries.
• Additionally, while the paper uses lots of data, the author also mentions their own experience with using tablets. This should be removed since argumentative essays focus on facts and data to support an argument, not the author’s own opinion or experiences. Replacing that with more data on health issues associated with screen time would strengthen the essay.
• Some of the points made aren't completely accurate , particularly the one about digital books being cheaper. It actually often costs a library more money to rent out numerous digital copies of a book compared to buying a single physical copy. Make sure in your own essay you thoroughly research each of the points and rebuttals you make, otherwise you'll look like you don't know the issue that well.

Argumentative Essay Example 2

There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the program was active.

One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to. Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.

Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can ill afford it.

Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective, reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can further bring down the productivity of the region.

One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).  These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them. While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets.  Bed nets are also very effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful. Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.

Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick. When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of.  

This essay begins with an introduction, which ends with the thesis (that malaria eradication plans in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on prevention rather than treatment). The first part of the essay lays out why the counter argument (treatment rather than prevention) is not as effective, and the second part of the essay focuses on why prevention of malaria is the better path to take.

• The thesis appears early, is stated clearly, and is supported throughout the rest of the essay. This makes the argument clear for readers to understand and follow throughout the essay.
• There’s lots of solid research in this essay, including specific programs that were conducted and how successful they were, as well as specific data mentioned throughout. This evidence helps strengthen the author’s argument.
• The author makes a case for using expanding bed net use over waiting until malaria occurs and beginning treatment, but not much of a plan is given for how the bed nets would be distributed or how to ensure they’re being used properly. By going more into detail of what she believes should be done, the author would be making a stronger argument.
• The introduction of the essay does a good job of laying out the seriousness of the problem, but the conclusion is short and abrupt. Expanding it into its own paragraph would give the author a final way to convince readers of her side of the argument.

Argumentative Essay Example 3

There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach, where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.

Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training, participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports. In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.  

Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke, it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer. In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.

Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team. There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.

People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that certain teammates are making more money than they are.

They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money. Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.

Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.

People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.

While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school, but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.

This argumentative essay follows the Rogerian model. It discusses each side, first laying out multiple reasons people believe student athletes should be paid, then discussing reasons why the athletes shouldn’t be paid. It ends by stating that college athletes shouldn’t be paid by arguing that paying them would destroy college athletics programs and cause them to have many of the issues professional sports leagues have.

• Both sides of the argument are well developed, with multiple reasons why people agree with each side. It allows readers to get a full view of the argument and its nuances.
• Certain statements on both sides are directly rebuffed in order to show where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lie and give a more complete and sophisticated look at the argument.
• Using the Rogerian model can be tricky because oftentimes you don’t explicitly state your argument until the end of the paper. Here, the thesis doesn’t appear until the first sentence of the final paragraph. That doesn’t give readers a lot of time to be convinced that your argument is the right one, compared to a paper where the thesis is stated in the beginning and then supported throughout the paper. This paper could be strengthened if the final paragraph was expanded to more fully explain why the author supports the view, or if the paper had made it clearer that paying athletes was the weaker argument throughout.

3 Tips for Writing a Good Argumentative Essay

Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay samples look like, follow these three tips when crafting your own essay.

#1: Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear

The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn’t clear or readers can’t find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn’t fit in that spot for your essay, try to at least put it as the first or last sentence of a different paragraph so it stands out more.

Also make sure that your thesis makes clear what side of the argument you’re on. After you’ve written it, it’s a great idea to show your thesis to a couple different people--classmates are great for this. Just by reading your thesis they should be able to understand what point you’ll be trying to make with the rest of your essay.

#2: Show Why the Other Side Is Weak

When writing your essay, you may be tempted to ignore the other side of the argument and just focus on your side, but don’t do this. The best argumentative essays really tear apart the other side to show why readers shouldn’t believe it. Before you begin writing your essay, research what the other side believes, and what their strongest points are. Then, in your essay, be sure to mention each of these and use evidence to explain why they’re incorrect/weak arguments. That’ll make your essay much more effective than if you only focused on your side of the argument.

#3: Use Evidence to Support Your Side

Remember, an essay can’t be an argumentative essay if it doesn’t support its argument with evidence. For every point you make, make sure you have facts to back it up. Some examples are previous studies done on the topic, surveys of large groups of people, data points, etc. There should be lots of numbers in your argumentative essay that support your side of the argument. This will make your essay much stronger compared to only relying on your own opinions to support your argument.

Summary: Argumentative Essay Sample

Argumentative essays are persuasive essays that use facts and evidence to support their side of the argument. Most argumentative essays follow either the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. By reading good argumentative essay examples, you can learn how to develop your essay and provide enough support to make readers agree with your opinion. When writing your essay, remember to always make your thesis clear, show where the other side is weak, and back up your opinion with data and evidence.

What's Next?

Do you need to write an argumentative essay as well? Check out our guide on the best argumentative essay topics for ideas!

You'll probably also need to write research papers for school. We've got you covered with 113 potential topics for research papers.

Your college admissions essay may end up being one of the most important essays you write. Follow our step-by-step guide on writing a personal statement to have an essay that'll impress colleges.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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