Composition: Composing Argumentative Texts (TEKS.ELA.7.11.C)
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Texas 7th Grade ELA › Composition: Composing Argumentative Texts (TEKS.ELA.7.11.C)
Students should be allowed to use cell phones during class for learning. Phones can act like mini-computers, and lots of teachers already use them for timers or quick polls. In my science class, I once looked up a definition and finished my lab faster. If we banned phones, we would lose helpful tools and get bored. Teachers could just remind us to stay on task. Plus, most students are responsible and know when to put phones away. Our school wants us to be ready for the future, and the future is digital. Letting phones in class shows trust and prepares us for real life. We don't need strict rules; we just need common sense and the chance to use technology wisely every day at school.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument by adding stronger evidence, clear reasoning, or an effective acknowledgment of counterclaims?
Add: Phones make learning exciting and modern; when students are excited, they do amazing things. Using music and fun apps will definitely make everyone pay attention.
Add: Some say phones distract, and they're probably right, so phones should be off during most classes and only allowed at lunch.
Add: In a recent district pilot at two middle schools, classes using teacher-managed phone activities saw 18% more on-task behavior and higher quiz scores than classes with full bans; clear rules and docking stations reduced off-task use.
Add: In my opinion, teachers should trust students to do the right thing with phones.
Explanation
Choice C adds credible, relevant evidence and shows how clear rules address the distraction counterclaim, strengthening the argument. The other options are emotional, concede the claim, or rely on opinion.
Texas neighborhoods should limit lawn watering during droughts. When sprinklers run every day, it wastes water that communities need for cooking, cleaning, and fire protection. Last summer my street looked swampy, and that didn't seem right when the creeks were low. If we set certain watering days, people would pay attention and probably use less. Droughts are part of life here, so we should plan ahead instead of waiting for emergencies. Grass can bounce back after a dry spell, and yards don't have to be perfect to be useful. Turning off automatic sprinklers more often would help the environment and save money. Our state cares about conservation, and neighborhoods can do their part by being careful with hoses and sprinklers, even when mornings feel hot.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument by adding stronger evidence, clear reasoning, or an effective acknowledgment of counterclaims?
Add: City water-use data show that in summer, outdoor irrigation can account for nearly half of neighborhood household use; during weeks with watering limits, total demand dropped about 20%, and most lawns recovered. Acknowledge: While some worry about plants dying, native and drought-tolerant landscaping plus deep, infrequent watering keeps yards healthy.
Add: Lawns look nicer when watered a lot, and everybody loves nice yards; beautiful grass makes people happy.
Add: Some say watering limits save water, but they also ruin landscaping, so we should probably skip restrictions altogether.
Add: I think rules are helpful, so we should have them.
Explanation
Choice A provides relevant data and addresses the counterargument with a practical solution, strengthening the claim. The other options are emotional, undermine the position, or rely on opinion.
Schools should switch from heavy textbooks to e-books on tablets or laptops. Carrying big books hurts students' shoulders, and sometimes we forget the right textbook at home. With e-books, everything is in one place, and updates happen fast. In English, I used an online book and could tap to see a definition. That saved time for reading. E-books also take up less space in backpacks and lockers. Paper books can get torn or lost, but files are easy to keep. If the school provides chargers, the devices will work all day. Technology is already part of our lives, so school should match. E-books are modern, and modern tools help students succeed. We should make the switch this year to reduce heavy backpacks and missed assignments.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument by adding stronger evidence, clear reasoning, or an effective acknowledgment of counterclaims?
Add: Tablets are cool and make school feel futuristic; students get excited when lessons look like apps.
Add: Since some people prefer paper, we should keep both for every class so nobody has to change.
Add: I believe e-books are simply better, period.
Add: Health groups advise backpacks weigh less than 10% of a student's body weight; replacing several textbooks with one device can meet that guideline. Research also shows e-texts can match print for comprehension when features like adjustable text and note-taking are used. Address screens by setting brightness limits and offering print options.
Explanation
Choice D offers credible guidelines and research and addresses screen-time concerns, strengthening the argument. The other choices are emotional appeals, concessions that weaken the claim, or mere opinion.
Our district should prioritize air conditioning on school buses. Afternoon rides can feel like ovens, especially during Texas heat waves. When buses are sweltering, students arrive home drained and sweaty, which makes it harder to do homework. I've stepped off a bus with a red face and a headache more than once. AC would make rides safer and more comfortable, and drivers would focus better. Some buses already have fans, but they just blow hot air. If the district invests in AC now, buses will last longer because equipment won't overheat. Families expect safe transportation, and that includes reasonable temperatures. We say we care about student well-being, so we should show it by cooling the buses as soon as possible, before next summer's hottest days.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument by adding stronger evidence, clear reasoning, or an effective acknowledgment of counterclaims?
Add: Riding in heat feels awful; no one likes being sweaty, so AC is obviously the answer.
Add: Recent measurements on local buses showed cabin temperatures topping 100 degrees even with windows open. Health guidance warns that heat illness can begin quickly in enclosed vehicles. Address cost by phasing AC onto the longest, most crowded routes first and using efficient units that curb fuel use while idling.
Add: Because AC is expensive, we should wait until the district has extra money, maybe in a few years.
Add: Comfort matters more than money, and that's that.
Explanation
Choice B adds relevant data and a cost-aware plan, and it addresses the counterargument about expense, strengthening the claim. The other options are emotional, concede too much, or rely on opinion.
Students should keep phones put away during class because constant notifications make it hard to focus. When a phone buzzes, even if someone tries to ignore it, curiosity pulls attention away from learning. I have seen friends miss instructions because they were checking messages, and later they felt frustrated. Teachers also waste time reminding people to silence devices, which slows lessons for everyone. Some students say phones help them check facts quickly, but most of the time they are used for games or social media. If we want a calmer classroom, we should require phones to stay in lockers until the final bell. Learning would feel less stressful, and students would talk to each other more during breaks instead of staring at screens between classes.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument?
Add: Phones are ruining our generation; it breaks my heart to see kids glued to screens.
Add: Some students feel safer with phones, so we should let them keep them out on desks just in case.
Add: In a semester-long pilot at a Texas middle school, an off-and-away policy reduced teacher redirections by 40% and raised homework completion by 12%. To address safety concerns, the policy kept phones accessible in lockers and required the office to manage emergencies, so families could still reach students quickly.
Add: I know from personal experience that classes go smoother without phones.
Explanation
C strengthens the claim with relevant data and acknowledges a common counterclaim (safety) while explaining a workable solution. A and D rely on emotion or personal opinion, and B weakens the original position by inviting phones onto desks.
Our coastal Texas town should encourage stores to stop giving out single-use plastic bags because they end up in ditches and the bay. I often see bags blowing down the street after a windy day, and they look ugly along fences. Reusable bags are easy to bring, and many people already have them. Some stores offer thicker bags, but those still get tossed. If we want cleaner neighborhoods, we need fewer flimsy bags floating around. Tourists will like visiting more when the roadsides look neat. The plan could start with a simple pledge for shoppers to carry their own bags. This small change would show we care about the environment and help wildlife that could mistake trash for food in our bayous, rivers, and marshes.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument?
Add: During last spring's monthly cleanups, volunteers collected over 400 plastic bags from ditches and bay edges, and a city storm-drain report listed bags among the top three blockages after heavy rain. To address store cost concerns, a nearby Gulf town saw bag purchasing costs drop 18% after switching to low-cost reusable options with a customer reminder program.
Add: If we don't act, sea turtles will cry and beaches will be ruined forever.
Add: Some shoppers forget reusable bags, so the policy should be dropped to avoid annoying them.
Add: I think reusable bags are simply better, period.
Explanation
A provides concrete local evidence and addresses the counterclaim about store costs. B is emotional, C abandons the claim, and D is opinion without support.
Students should be allowed to use AI writing tools for brainstorming and revising because these tools can help us learn how to improve our ideas. When I ask a program to suggest transitions, I can see examples and pick which ones fit. It feels like having a tutor that never gets tired. Also, AI can point out repeated words I didn't notice. Teachers want students to think critically, and AI can spark that by offering options to compare. Some people worry that AI will make students lazy, but responsible use is possible with clear rules. If teachers show us how to use AI for planning and editing instead of full drafts, assignments will be more polished and less stressful for everyone, not just strong writers.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument?
Add: AI is the future, and it's scary to fall behind, so we must use it now.
Add: Because AI sometimes writes better than students, it should draft whole essays for everyone.
Add: In my view, using AI just feels right and modern.
Add: In a randomized pilot across two seventh-grade classes, students who used teacher-guided AI prompts for brainstorming and revision improved rubric-based organization and clarity scores by 15% without an increase in plagiarism reports. To prevent misuse, students submitted their prompts, highlighted changes, and explained how AI feedback informed revisions.
Explanation
D adds credible evidence and a clear safeguard that addresses the counterclaim about misuse. A and C rely on emotion or opinion, and B undermines the original position.
Our district should require more shade and scheduled water breaks for outdoor PE and practices because Texas heat can be intense. On hot days, students feel dizzy and sweaty, and it is hard to concentrate on drills. I have seen classmates sit out because they felt overheated, which isn't safe or fun. Coaches already remind us to drink water, but it's not always consistent. Adding pop-up canopies near fields and setting timers for cool-downs would make activities safer. People might say this takes time away from exercise, but staying healthy matters more. If we make small changes now, we can avoid problems later and keep students participating instead of staying home to avoid the heat. Clear rules would help coaches plan safely on every team.
Which revision would best strengthen this argument?
Add: The sun is like a fire-breathing dragon melting us during PE.
Add: District injury logs from August–September show 22 heat-related nurse visits last year; a neighboring school that scheduled water breaks every 15 minutes and used portable shade cut such visits by half. Following state athletic guidelines, coaches can use a heat index threshold to add rest without reducing total practice time by more than five minutes.
Add: Since heat is dangerous, schools should cancel all outdoor PE for the semester.
Add: I think more shade would look nice by the fields.
Explanation
B offers specific data and a practical guideline that answers the time-loss concern. A is emotional, C overcorrects and weakens the claim, and D is unsupported opinion.