Writing Question

For my Proposal Argument Essay, I plan to focus on class size limits in Virginia public high schools. Even though there are some guidelines in place, class sizes in public schools can still be large number of students depending on the district and available staffing. When classrooms are overcrowded, it becomes harder for teachers to give students individual attention, manage behavior effectively, and maintain strong academic performance. This directly impacts the quality of education students receive.

My proposal will be directed toward the Virginia General Assembly or Board of Education, since lawmakers control education funding and have the authority to establish enforceable statewide policies.

Claim:

The Virginia General Assembly should enforce maximum class size limits for public school classrooms to improve student learning and overall educational quality.

Solution:

The state could set a reasonable cap for core academic classes (ex: 10-15 students) and provide funding for districts that need to hire additional teachers. Also increase the salary that is paid to the teachers and school staff. Schools would report compliance annually to ensure consistency.

Benefits:

Smaller class sizes would allow for more individualized attention, stronger teacher-student relationships, better classroom management, and improved academic performance.

Opposing Views:

Some may argue that hiring more teachers would be too expensive or that staffing shortages make class size limits unrealistic.

Refutations:

While there would be upfront costs, investing in smaller class sizes strengthens long-term student outcomes and educational quality. A phased approach would also allow districts time to adjust without immediate strain.

This essay will meet the required guidelines because it identifies a problem, proposes a solution, considers opposing views, and logically explains why the change would benefit students statewide.Hint: Here is a breakdown of how your paper should be developed.

Introduction: hook the reader with a strong opening, general sentences, and transition to the debatable thesis statement. Hook: third person personal example, quotation, fact or statistic, rhetorical question, current events, or contrast to the thesis

In the introduction, give an overview of the issue. Goal: establish the writer as credible and knowledgeable.

In the introduction, the policy claim (thesis statement) must be strong, valid, and debatable. The writer must include words such as “should/should not, ought/ought not, must/must not” to state the solution to the problem.

Note: The words below do not belong on the outline. The content, key words, or key phrases from the paper belong on the outline.

Explanation of the problem: Identify the problem and fully explain why the problem needs to be solved (Kirszner and Mandell 427). Goal: give the audience information about the problem and context of the problem (who, what, how, why, when, to what extent is the problem an issue). Be sure your explanation offers supporting scholarly evidence.

Identification and explanation of one solution: Fully explain your solution to the problem (Kirszner and Mandell 427). Goal: Give your solution. Be sure you have supporting evidence to support your solution.

Benefits of solution (Supporting Arguments (pros)): Fully provide at least three supporting arguments (benefits) [separate paragraphs] with scholarly evidence that will help you build your rational for this solution. Again, you must have evidence to help demonstrate the effectiveness of those benefits (Kirszner and Mandell 427). [Each benefit should be developed in a separate paragraph.]

Opposing arguments: Share arguments that oppose your solution. Explain the opposition views. Summarize opposing arguments without bias tones. Provide supporting evidence of their opposing arguments.

Refutations: (What are the objections to the argument?) Discuss the arguments you identified above. Then, refute each of those opposing arguments Show what loopholes are present in those arguments; show the weaknesses of those arguments; also, show how those arguments are not as effective or strong as yours. Again, scholarly evidence must be used to help refute these arguments.

Conclusion: Make final strong points about the proposal. Summarize the argument. Call the reader to act or think. Reiterate the main points. Goal: to leave transforming mental impression on the audience about the issue.

Use the breakdown above to plan and develop a great essay!

Plan and conduct scholarly research to gather evidence to support, oppose, and refute points noted in your essay.

Two controversial images must be included in your essay. Wrap the text around the images. Cite the images directly beneath each one. Use sound judgment for size and placement of images.

Required Research:

Explore various databases such as Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Issues and Controversies, CQ Researcher, EBSCO, and others on our college Library website at Camp’s Library Learning CommonsLinks to an external site.

MLA in-text citation is required for all borrowed content integrated into your essay.

MLA works cited is needed to list fully the bibliographic information for each source that was used in your paper.

Formatting and Development

Keep in mind your purpose, audience, and tone for this essay.

This multi-paragraph essay requires 1,000-1,250 words not including the works cited.

This essay will be evaluated for focus, content, organization, style, conventions, and documentation.