Gale Research- Argumentative - Kimmerer: Dress Code

Many schools enforce a strict dress code, arguing that it promotes a professional learning environment, reduces distractions, and fosters equality by minimizing visible socioeconomic differences among students. However, others feel that strict dress codes limit self-expression, place undue restrictions on students, and may unfairly target certain groups or styles. Should high schools enforce a strict dress code for students?

Weigh the claims on both sides, and then write an argumentative essay in your own words supporting one side of the debate or the other. Write an argumentative essay supporting your position, using specific reasons and examples to defend your viewpoint. Be sure to use information from BOTH passages in your argumentative essay.

Be sure to:

• Introduce your claim.
• Support your claim with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, including facts and details, from the     passages.
• Acknowledge and address alternate or opposing claims.
• Organize the reasons and evidence logically.
• Identify the passages by title or number when using details or facts directly from the passages.
• Develop your ideas clearly and use your own words, except when quoting directly from the passages.
• Use appropriate and varied transitions to connect your ideas and to clarify the relationships among claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
• Use clear language and vocabulary.
• Establish and maintain a formal style.
• Provide a conclusion that supports the argument presented.
• Check your work for correct usage, grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

Now write your argumentative essay. Refer to the Writer’s Checklist and outline as you write and proofread your essay.