ENGLISH ESSAY

For this essay, your objective will be to use the resources provided to write a well-informed, carefully 

considered persuasive essay which discusses an on-going conversation about a controversial issue about 

education. Your audience for this essay will be scholars (your classmates, teacher, other) who are interested in your topic. Some readers may be aware of the texts, thinkers, 

and arguments frequently cited within that conversation; some may not. These academic readers may 

appreciate definitions of unfamiliar terms. They respect well-read participants in the conversation, so you 

should use reliable textual support, as well as data found in credible websites, as a way of establishing 

credibility. 

 

Take a few minutes to reread your previous exercises and review some of the points your academic audience 

will expect you to make as you write your essay. Your readers will expect you to discuss established claims 

already being discussed within the conversation, and they will expect you to give these ideas a full and fair 

trial. But most of all your readers are interested in your response, and in your contribution to the 

conversation. As before, keep in mind that while your evidence provides the foundation for your work, you 

need to keep your voice and your thinking front and center. 

 

Protect your ethos: remember that academic readers like a calm and methodical consideration of ideas; 

making an argument does not mean being argumentative or shouting or belittling the opposition. Even 

though you may criticize another scholar’s position, your readers will not respond favorably to a strident or 

sarcastic tone. Repetition will not convince your reader, either; solid reasoning, current and pertinent 

information, and a reasonable tone will win over your readers. 

 

notes: Your essay should be no more than 4 or 5 pages, 12-pt font, double-spaced, and use MLA 

documentation with a Works Cited. Edit thoroughly and proofread carefully. 

  

PersuasiveTexts to Use for this Progression:

Cannon, “Petty Crime, Outrageous Punishment”

Monroe, “Social Labeling.” (New Voices)

Sommers vs. Pollitt: Gender & Education (Moodle)

Hawkings, “Education vs. Incarceration”

Martinez, “Out of the Comfort Zone”

Obama, “Entitled to a Fair Shot”

WuDunn, “Our Century’s Greatest Injustice” (TED)

McAuliffe, “How Should We Respond to Malala?”

1. After Title IX law saw the light, women were able to seize more opportunities and fully express themselves in all fields. They were able to compete with men in many different events and even surpass them sometimes. More surprisingly, women were able to break world records and carve their names at the top of the charts. It was an extremely beneficial law for them and they have proved that they also could work, compete and succeed. They have definitely exceeded a lot of expectations

2. A lot of men see this law as a big disadvantage towards them because they now share equal opportunities with women. Men who oppose this law and think that it should be abolished are afraid that their chances will reduce if women shared everything with them.

3. People share the same rights and should all have equal opportunities. Men aren’t better than women, we are only two different genders, but whoever commits, works hard and fights can succeed and excel. Women shouldn’t be prevented from having a bright future.

4. I don’t agree with men who want to abolish this law. Women deserve to learn, participate in sports and get scholarships. This law encourages women to succeed and become better. It gives them what they deserve which is being equal to men and the ability to take different important roles and jobs, to become able to represent themselves as important individuals in society. Why would we want to prevent women from something that would help them develop themselves and become better?

5. A lot of people will agree with me and specially women and a lot will also disagree and fight my claim, but equality is justice, and we are all equal.

6. Later in 2012 and for the first time, women were able to exceed men in the Olympics. According to Leslie Martinez: “the U.S.A. sent 268 women but only 261 men.” And they proudly came back with the most gold medals in a lot of several events