7th Grade Third Quarter Common Assessment



Name: ________________________ Hour: ___

7th Grade Language Arts

Third Quarter Common Assessment

Persuasive Writing

Directions: Choose one of the topics below. Write a five paragraph essay persuading the audience to agree with you. Be sure to clearly state your position and use evidence to support your argument.

1. The mayor of Kentwood is trying to decide if a 9:00 pm curfew for children under the age of 16 is needed. What do you think? Write a persuasive essay convincing the mayor to enact or not to enact the curfew. Give at least three reasons to support your position.

OR

2. The state department of education has provided funding for an experimental online school. All the classes will take place on the Internet, using email, online chat, and the World Wide Web. The students taking classes at this new online school will never meet each other face-to-face. They will only interact online with each other and with their teachers. What do you think?

Write a persuasive essay supporting your position whether this new online school is a good or bad idea. Give at least three reasons to support your position.

Rubric page 774 in The Write Source

Use this space for brainstorming/organization of ideas:

Name _________________________________

Persuasive Rubric

Ideas (clear position, persuasive reasons)

6 5 4 3 2 1

Organization (position statement, supporting details, restated position)

6 5 4 3 2 1

Voice (confident and persuasive)

6 5 4 3 2 1

Word Choice (helps persuade reader, confident, persuasive)

6 5 4 3 2 1

Sentence Fluency (variety of sentence types, starts, and lengths)

6 5 4 3 2 1

Conventions (grammar, punctuation, spelling)

6 5 4 3 2 1

Presentation (overall quality and impression)

6 5 4 3 2 1

Your Strengths:

o Clear position or opinion statement in opening

o Body provides clear support using examples and details

o Use of persuasive language

o Conclusion reinforces the position and includes a call to action

o Generally free of errors

Needs Improvement:

o Weak lead

o Unclear thesis

o Lacks support

o Poor organization

o Weak conclusion

o Conventions

Overall Grade: ______________________

[pic]

Choose from several available in the following pages:

Topics: Pros and Cons of Online Schooling

Pros and Cons of Teen Curfews

10 Facts About Online High School Diplomas

By Jamie Littlefield, Guide

A growing number of students are earning online high school diplomas. Online high school diploma programs certainly offer convenience and flexibility. But, many families have concerns. How do these virtual programs compare to traditional schools? And, how do employers and colleges feel about online high school diplomas? Read on for ten must-know facts about online high school diplomas.

1. Most online high school diploma programs are accredited.

In fact, many online programs have the same accreditation as brick-and-mortar schools. The most widely accepted online high school diploma programs are recognized by one of the four regional accreditors. Accreditation from the DETC is also held in high regard.

2. There are four types of online high school diploma programs.

Public online high schools are run by local school districts or states. Online charter schools are government funded but run by private parties. Online private schools receive no government funding and are not bound to the same state-wide curriculum requirements.

3. Online high school diplomas can be used for college admission.

As long as the school is properly accredited, online high school diplomas are no different from those offered by traditional schools.

4. Online high school diplomas can be used for employment.

Online high school grads do not need to specify that they attended school though the internet. Online diplomas are equal to traditional diplomas when it comes to employment.

5. Teenagers in almost all states can earn an online high school diploma for free.

By attending an online public school, students can get a no-cost education paid for by the state. Some public programs will also pay for curriculum, computer rentals, and internet connection.

6. There are online high school diploma programs for every academic level.

With hundreds of online high school diploma programs to choose from, students can easily find one that meets their needs. Some programs are focused on remedial coursework and job preparation. Others are designed for gifted students, on the college track and bored with the traditional classroom.

7. Online high schools can be used to help students make up credits.

Not all online high school students study exclusively through the internet. Many traditional students take a few online courses to make up credits, improve their GPAs, or get ahead.

8. Adults can also enroll in online high school diploma programs.

Adult online high school diploma programs are available to help grown-ups qualify for employment or college.

9. Student loans are available to help families pay private tuition.

Costs for online private schools can add up quickly. Families can avoid paying in one lump sum by taking out a K-12 education loan.

10. Online students can work during set hours or at their own pace.

Some online high schools require students to log in during school hours and "chat" with instructors online. Others allow students to complete work whenever they please. Whatever your learning preference, there’s an online high school that meets your needs.

Pros and Cons of Online Schooling

By Khieng Chho [pic]

We are now in the era where everything is possible and acceptable. Just like studying outside the school, in front of your computer at the very comforts of your home. This is called online schooling.

Thinking of entering online schooling can arouse discomfort for some. This is quite understandable since it is not the usual way of learning just like those people who have tried airplane as a way to travel for the first time. However, with the reputation online schools are gaining, the way students learn is transforming in an "unconventional way".

If you are one of those students who are considering this relatively new form of learning, here are the things you should know- the pros and cons of online schooling:

Pros

• No time wasted on traveling

Whether you live in the most remote town in the United States (provided you have an internet connection) or at the top of the tallest building in your city, you can always be on time to study your lessons. Online schooling eliminates the time you have to prepare to dress up for school. It also removes the time you have to spend sitting on the taxi or waiting for the green light. With online schooling, your home and your classroom are the same.

• Can attend home needs anytime

For people who need to attend important things around the home, online schooling works best. For instance: you have a baby to take care of or you have a several things that must be done around the house. If before you have to find ways to squeeze all the items in your "to-do-list" for one whole day, now online schooling will give you more time on other things as it eliminates the time you have to spend on preparation for school.

• No more classmates to mind

When you get online schooling, the classroom is all yours. You don't have to fight on your seat, you don't have to get along with a group, and you don't have to be nice or rude to others.

(Pros and Cons of Online Schooling, cont.)

Cons

• Online school competence

There are many online schools to choose from. The question is: would you be able to land on a job after you have spent all your time and money on your chosen online school? One advice is: do research on the competency of several online schools and consider the credit they can give once you step into the working world.

• Personal competence

Can you learn on your own or should you require a board and a talking professor to absorb the lesson? There are some students who are better studying alone. There are some who are not. If you think you are capable of learning without the need of the actual classroom discussion, then you can consider online schooling.

• Environment cooperation

Is your home fit for studying? Can you concentrate with all the destructions you can get in your home? Many homes are not fit to become a school. It may be because there are children around, or the neighborhood's dogs are always barking, or your home is simply not conducive to learning.

All these only say one thing: home schooling is not for everyone. Do more research and consideration before entering home schooling program. If you think you are fit and you can benefit more on home schooling, then it is all up to you.

Khieng 'Ken' Chho - Online Online Schooling Resources. For more, visit Ken's website:

Article Source:

Online High School Education Pros & Cons

By Gerri Blanc, eHow Contributor

An education online can have its setbacks as well as its rewards, allowing people to receive a diploma when they are not able to or choose not to attend a public or private high school. The negative aspects of such an undertaking can leave a person feeling unmotivated, isolated from friends and confused at times, but there are many ways of making an online high school education work.

Pros

1. The nature of an online education is simply unbeatable if you have trouble concentrating among your peers. You will have plenty of time to work on assignments and can avoid distractions like drama among your friends, trying to fit in and so on. If you have to work long hours and simply do not have time to finish school assignments, doing your schoolwork at home whenever you have time is a good option. You can even receive your diploma earlier than most students if you work hard enough.

Cons

2. You may end up getting a less-than-adequate social education when you spend all of your time learning at home. Missing much-anticipated events like the prom, for instance, may leave you feeling isolated from people your own age. You also may realize that learning on your own is not the best option if you need guidance from a professional teacher. You will need to learn how to manage your time and motivate yourself to finish work by the deadlines given. The price of going to some online high schools may also be more than you can afford, whereas public school is free.

Making Online High School Work

3. To avoid the negative outcomes of online high school, you should maintain strong relationships with friends and stay connected to your generation by getting involved in clubs and sports outside of high school. For instance, if you are interested in acting, you can join a local community theater, or if you enjoy playing soccer, you can become part of a soccer team. Because you may feel lost without an actual teacher, you may want to invest



Online High Schools

Attending online high school allows students to complete or continue their high school education through the internet, when they might have dropped out of school in the past. An e-learning study program includes a wide variety of e-learning options, from listening to live teacher lectures or viewing downloaded video classes, to self-paced book tutorials.

Example of an Online High School

Penn Foster is a private online high school and vocational school. There are 17 "modules" in subjects like math, biology, English, history, and other typical high school classes, that each student completes to receive a high school diploma. Students can generally work at their own pace but each year of high school can be finished in as little as nine months.

Pros and Cons of Online High Schools

Pros:

• Self-paced e-learning allows students to adapt the speed of learning to their individual strengths and weaknesses, thereby breezing through easy classes or repeating lessons in more difficult concepts

• Flexibility in scheduling allows students to accommodate jobs, family needs, child care issues or diverse careers in the arts, sports or acting communities

• Individual Learning environments can be created at home distraction free, inclusive of special needs or in hard-to reach rural areas or time zones

• Unique Self-development occurs free of socialization worries, peer pressure, bullying, crime or drug and alcohol influences prevalent in some traditional high schools

• Tailored curriculum is developed for each student’s goals, strengths and needs when they select their own coursework

• Accelerated programs for early graduation plans may be developed for students to meet diploma requirements ahead of their class, or even in half the time of traditional high schools

Cons:

• Traditional social events, pep rallies, homecoming games, class picnics and proms may be missing from most online schools

• Coursework in some areas (math or writing for instance) may be difficult without teacher guidance

• Learning disabled students may miss extra services and accommodations in testing or homework areas

• Students’ isolation or anti-social tendencies may increase

• Students outside traditional charter schools bear the education cost, including computer hardware and software, tuition, curriculum and fees

• Self-guided education without in-person encouragement, may be difficult for some to complete outside of traditional teacher homework and exam schedules

An Online High School Vs. a Traditional High School Diploma: Some Pros and Cons (adapted from .)

Many individuals have made an excellent step towards securing a successful future-going back to school. However, the question remains - what type of school should I attend, online or traditional? This article discusses the pros and cons of getting your high school diploma from an online high school over a traditional high school. Please read on to find out more.

Online High School Diploma Pros

• Work at your own pace: Spend more time on difficult assignments and breeze through easier ones.

• Flexibility: Especially important if you are balancing work and a family.

• Avoid distractions: You don't have to worry about the 'popularity contests' of a traditional high school.

• Develop your own identity: You can avoid the pressure to party and slack off.

• No negative influences: For example, there are no bullies at an online high school.

• Specialization: There is the possibility to focus your studies on a future career or at least take some courses that genuinely interest you.

• Finish early: Depending upon your time constraints and motivation, you can finish your diploma twice as fast.

Online High School Diploma Cons

• None of the fun aspects of a traditional high school: For example, you won't have a prom, a graduation ceremony, etc.

• Classes can be difficult without a teacher: Many students find math to be a difficult subject especially when there is no one there to guide your studies.

• Self-discipline: Your only motivation is yourself so if you're the type of student that needs a firm kick in the rear to get started, online high school may not be for you.

• Isolation: You may have anti-social feelings because you are cut off from your peers.

• Accreditation: If your online high school is not properly accredited, the units you have earned could be worthless in terms of getting a job and transferring to a college.

• Price: Consider that you will need to purchase supplies (books, computer, Internet connection charge, tuition, etc.)

Curfews for Teens

Pros

Facts About Teenagers Curfews

From LoveToKnow Teens

Before deciding what is right for your teen and your community, take a look at the facts about teenagers' curfews. This is often a topic of debate among teens and their parents. The pros and cons of curfews for teens are often discussed among parents of teens and community leaders as well.

Many people support imposing a curfew for teenagers, believing that this will create a reduction in juvenile crime and victimization. Others feel that it is a violation of teenagers’ civil rights to impose a curfew.

Community Curfews

There was a curfew study in US done in 347 communities with populations of at least 30,000 people in 1997. 80% of the communities imposed a nighttime curfew on teenagers, and 26% also implemented a daytime curfew. These curfews were put into place to deter crime, reduce juvenile victimization, increase parental involvement, and to allow police officers the ability to stop people involved in suspicious activity. Of the 72 cities that have daytime curfews, all showed a drop in truancy and daytime burglaries.

Curfew as a Successful Measure in Crime Prevention

Communities that have experienced success in implementing a curfew for teenagers have many common elements. These communities offer one or more of these resources to support teens and their parents in creating a safe community:

• Curfew centers staffed with trained volunteers and social service professionals

• Intervention programs and referrals to counselors for teens and their parents

• Protocols for repeat curfew violators such as fines and community service

• Community recreation and job programs

• Anti-drug and anti-gang programs

• Help hotlines and follow-up services

There is more to effectively fighting juvenile crime than just arresting kids and fining their parents. Community involvement is the key to solving this issue. A curfew will only act as a tool to identify a problem; laws and law enforcement are not the only solutions.

Cons

The Argument Against Teen Curfew Laws

There is no Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of teenage curfew laws. Opponents of these types of laws believe that they are a violation of the first, fourth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth amendments to the constitution.

The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, religion, and right to peaceful assembly. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure and being detained without definitive reason. The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to due process, while the Ninth Amendment is often interpreted as the right to privacy and family autonomy. The 14th Amendment protects persons from being detained without due process, and the right to travel. These constitutional rights are often cited as the reason for fighting a curfew violation in court.

There is no definitive research on the effectiveness of imposing teen curfews. Many studies have been done, but none can provide the controlled environment needed to provide empirical evidence to prove a positive effect on crime rates

Community Curfews

There was a curfew study in US done in 347 communities with populations of at least 30,000 people in 1997. 80% of the communities imposed a nighttime curfew on teenagers, and 26% also implemented a daytime curfew. These curfews were put into place to deter crime, reduce juvenile victimization, increase parental involvement, and to allow police officers the ability to stop people involved in suspicious activity. Of the 72 cities that have daytime curfews, all showed a drop in truancy and daytime burglaries.

Curfew as a Successful Measure in Crime Prevention

Communities that have experienced success in implementing a curfew for teenagers have many common elements. These communities offer one or more of these resources to support teens and their parents in creating a safe community:

• Curfew centers staffed with trained volunteers and social service professionals

• Intervention programs and referrals to counselors for teens and their parents

• Protocols for repeat curfew violators such as fines and community service

• Community recreation and job programs

• Anti-drug and anti-gang programs

• Help hotlines and follow-up services

•

There is more to effectively fighting juvenile crime than just arresting kids and fining their parents. Community involvement is the key to solving this issue. A curfew will only act as a tool to identify a problem; laws and law enforcement are not the only solutions.

The Argument Against Teen Curfew Laws

There is no Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of teenage curfew laws. Opponents of these types of laws believe that they are a violation of the first, fourth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth amendments to the constitution.

The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, religion, and right to peaceful assembly. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure and being detained without definitive reason. The Fifth Amendment guarantees the right to due process, while the Ninth Amendment is often interpreted as the right to privacy and family autonomy. The 14th Amendment protects persons from being detained without due process, and the right to travel. These constitutional rights are often cited as the reason for fighting a curfew violation in court.

There is no definitive research on the effectiveness of imposing teen curfews. Many studies have been done, but none can provide the controlled environment needed to provide empirical evidence to prove a positive effect on crime rates.

Pros and cons of curfews for teens

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Friday, September 24, 2010 By Zachary Connelley

Teen curfews strive to stop juvenile crime. Curfews were mainly put into action in the 1800s, however, most of the cities that had them at that time didn’t have them in the law books or even really enforced them until the 1990s. The majority of the larger cities have them and most of them were only made in the 1990s. These laws tend to be controversial and cause a lot of debate, especially around election time.

Curfews help teens in many ways. Curfews keep teens from becoming drug addicts and alcoholics by keeping them from the night scene that influences that behavior. In addition, curfews improve relations between teens and senior citizens. Senior citizens feel more secure in their homes with curfews because they feel that the teens will not break into their homes and steal from them. It gives parents a more secure feeling that their teenagers are not out committing crimes which improves the teen’s relationship with their parents. Curfews also help to deter teenagers from committing crime and to stop crime against teenagers.

Many people feel curfews hurt teens rights, are unconstitutional and ineffective. Studies show that curfew do not lower the crimes that teenagers commit. Curfews hamper the teen’s right for free speech by not letting them congregate at certain hours. They go against what America was built for - religious, political and economic freedom for all.

Overall curfews are a good thing because it helps teens more then it hurts them. Curfews help teen relationships with other people. Even though curfews hamper some teen’s rights, they also help protect teens from becoming victims.

Bibliography 

From the Left: The Dungeon. Magazine Americana. Retrieved September 17, 2010 from

Should Kids Have a Curfew?

(In Favor of Curfews)By: Helen Polaski

Should kids have a curfew? The answer to that question is an unequivocal and resounding yes. While that doesn't mean children in all age groups should have the same curfew restrictions, it does mean that all parents the world over are responsible for setting, as well as monitoring and enforcing, curfews for their children.

Curfew Guidelines

Each curfew should be age appropriate, allowing for some freedom at the age of 13 and continuing to broaden until the child has turned 18. If your child still lives at home after the age of 18, however, parents are still well within their rights to enforce some restrictions.

Before the age of 13, a child is too young to be attending events alone, especially those that occur after dark. Except for the occasional sleepover with friends, young children should never attend events that require being separated from parents, guardians or older siblings overnight.

Add a half hour each year to the curfew if your child is mature enough to handle it. Cap this at a 9 PM curfew on school nights and 11 PM on weekends. By the age of 16, kids should be allowed to go places without adults as long as they're events that you consider safe.

Why Enforce Juvenile Curfews?

The first job a parent is instilled with is the safety of the child. In keeping their child safe, it is also the parents' job to teach their child to recognize the difference between good and bad and right and wrong, and to understand how to be responsible. Not only do children look to their parents for this guidance, they also look to their parents for reassurance, acceptance, security, support and encouragement, all the creature comforts and also for friendship. 

Being a parent sometimes means enforcing rules and regulations that a child may not deem necessary or fair. Forcing a teenager to stay within a designated curfew is one rule that all parents should follow. A teenage curfew is, in essence, a safety net for your child as she learns to become more responsible and aware of the workings of the outside world.

Learning Curve

Because there is a fine line between being responsible and being irresponsible, parents have their work cut out for them, especially if they have not been disciplinarians up to this point. As adults, we know the dangers that may await teenagers in the wee hours of the morning. We've all heard from our own parents that "nothing good happens after 11 PM" Some of us have discovered firsthand how true that phrase can be.

It's not easy to make an often moody and temperamental teenager understand parental reasoning. Keep in mind that, as the parent, you know what you're talking about because you're working from experience, while your child is working on a learning curve. Don't let your child bully you into changing your opinion on whether a curfew should be enforced. You are the parent; setting up and enforcing a curfew is your job.

Dangers of Breaking Curfew

While all children seek acceptance, reassurance and security from their parents, it's essential that children also understand the most important job their parents hold is safety patrol. The best way to find a happy medium with your child is to sit down with your child and explain how much you love him and then point out the reasons why a curfew needs to be enforced. Keep the channels of communication open, but never default to your child's way of thinking to make things easier on either of you. A curfew that is too lenient or is not enforced is a waste of time for everyone concerned.

Are age-based curfew laws effective in reducing teenage crime rates?

(Against Curfews)

by Camoen Vanwagner

Teen curfew has affected towns and communities across our nation, in an attempt to drop juvenile crime rates. Unfortunately, it has been a failure, and hasn't dropped juvenile crime rates at all, or, if they have, only slightly. Differing towns and communities have different curfews. Also, the rules surrounding this principle are sketchy. Because of this, teen curfew should be removed from cities across the United States because of its proven ineffectiveness in dropping teen crime rates, and its unconformity in different cities.

The first reason that curfews should be abolished is because of how difficult they are to maintain. Teenagers can easily hide from night patrols, and there are many excuses they could give if they are caught. Curfew laws do not affect those who are going directly to or from a recreational event (such as a dance). Nor do they affect those who have to venture onto public roads because of an emergency at home. Adults can send teenagers out at night, if for a legitimate cause. A teenager is also exempted from curfew laws if they are with a responsible adult. The problem is, not all adults are responsible, especially those that have just turned eighteen. Many of these laws exempting teenagers from curfew can aid teenagers while they are giving an excuse to a patrol officer or similar figure. Because of the amount of work needed to maintain curfews, and the many teenagers than can escape them, they are rendered useless.

Another reason that curfews should be abolished is because of they are not the same from city to city or from state to state, which makes it confusing and easy to break the law by mistake. The sketchy regulations surrounding curfews cause many misunderstandings when teenagers are traveling from town to town, or when they are trying to get somewhere at night. One large problem is that there are no state-wide curfews that set the curfew. For example, in one town, people under the age of 16 may have a curfew from 11:30pm to daybreak, and in another town that is only minutes away, all people under the age of 18 may have a curfew from 10:00 pm to daybreak. Therefore, when traveling through a few communities at night, a teenager may risk breaking curfew because of their ignorance of the different town's alien curfew laws.

The third reason that curfews should be abolished is because they are ineffective. Towns set curfews in place, because they hope that by keeping teens off the streets, they will reduce crime rates. Contrary to popular belief, the same number of crimes occur during non-curfew hours as occur during curfew hours in places such as the District of Columbia. It has actually been proven that if there is no curfew and sports facilities, such as basketball courts and swimming pools, are left open most of the night, crime rates decrease, because it gives bored teenagers something to do in the quiet of night. Rather than committing crimes, they would visit these recreational areas to pass the time. Curfews have been proven ineffectual against dropping crime rates.

The confusion of curfews affects teenagers across the nation. The benefits of curfew are few, if any, and are not worth the trouble it is to maintain. Because of its unconformity, teenagers who travel at night may be fined in some towns, and perfectly free in others. Teen curfew has been proven ineffectual against the principal cause for its placement in our culture, yet it still remains. What is the use of teenager curfew, if it brings not benefit, but only perplexity and irritation?

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