Monday, December 20, 2010

Persuasive Essay


To the Superintendent, Board of Education:


There is a problem at hand that requires immediate attention. As you all may know, many schools around the country, including ours, are certainly feeling the effects of the ailing economy. School districts are raising taxes. Teachers are being laid off. Sports teams are being dismantled in some schools and other schools are even being shut down. However, there is nothing to worry about; there are solutions to prevent these issues from occurring. One of these solutions is a four-day school week with an extra-hour added on which I think sounds a whole lot better than a five-day school week.

There is a whole list of benefits that go with this type of schooling. For example, there is a Research Brief, concerning the Four Day School Week, put out by the Principal’s Partnership Foundation (www.principalspartnership.com), sponsored by The Union Pacific Foundation, that addresses the specific issues of the four-day school week.

Some of the positive findings of this paper include a decline in student drop-out rates, a decrease in student disciplinary referrals, an improvement in student and teacher attendance; students and teachers benefit from less interrupted class time as a result of longer class periods, and fewer transitions at all grade levels occur, which increases the efficiency of instruction. Students and teachers share more positive attitudes about school, which can lead to improvement in school morale because of the extra day added on to the weekend. School faculty would have more time for quality staff development on the day that there would’ve been school. There would also be more time for student participation in extracurricular activities and for personal business, such as doctor appointments on that extra day added on. Lastly, students report they are better able to manage part-time employment. Some benefits for the school, in general, are significant savings on utility bills, substitute teacher pay, school buses, and building wear and tear. Missed school days due to inclement weather can also be made up on what would have been the fifth school day instead of at the end of the school year. Now doesn’t this already sound a lot better?

With benefits comes disadvantages. For example, A Report from the Middlesex County Public Schools 4-day School Week Exploration Committee (http://www.mcps.k12.va.us/4-Day_School_Week.pdf) states the disadvantages of having a four-day school week. Some of these disadvantages include Child Care issues. This is because parents would now have to find someone or some place to babysit their children while they’re at work (I don’t really think this is a big problem at all though because the school could have some sort of daycare program for students whose parents work). There would also be retention issues for special education students (This could also be easily solved by an alternative schedule for these students). There might also be issues with attention among students who aren’t used to such a long day. Students who receive free or reduced lunch would have to go an extra day without a hot meal but these students could all receive food stamps for the days that there is no school. There would also be a discrepancy in scheduling sports games against opponents who still have five-day school weeks which can easily be sorted out as well.

By now, you may all have a better idea on whether or not you agree with a four-day school week. You have all heard the pros and cons of this type of schooling. In my opinion, having five days of school sometimes feels like forever but having four days of school sounds even better with an extra hour added in. It may not sound so good at first but soon everyone will get used to the four-day schedule. Don’t you think this sounds so much better than a five day school week?! I certainly do.



Jonathan Shalot


Sunday, December 19, 2010

Miami Heat- A Force to Be Reckoned With (A Persuasive Essay)

“It” is official. On July 7th, 2010 King James announced that he would be taking his talents to South Beach Florida along with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. “It”still happened, even though many NBA fans whined about the process in which "It" took place. The Miami Heat has now become an even stronger and more dominant basketball team. In the next few weeks we will see the Miami Heat take over the NBA with their new “Big 3.”
Those who are still sour about Lebron 23's move to go to Miami and become Lebron 6 need to let it go. The emotional unrest of NBA fans won't get in the way of the Miami Heat possibly winning a championship. If anything it might fuel the heat (pun intended) that Miami will generate in the form of total supremacy on the court. Supremacy is the perfect word to use because three of the players from the gold medal winning USA Basketball team in Beijing were Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. They are now a combined force to be reckoned with in Miami.
Can they win a championship in 2011? Shortly, yes and that's because the Heat now present a critical problem for all other teams in the league. Match-ups. Which of "The Big 3" do you focus on? The one who has the hot hand? On any given night that could be any of the three or all three. Whom do you double-team? Whom do you try to contain? What exactly are the things to do to stop Miami? Absolutely nothing.
Dwayne Wade (A.K.A The Playmaker) was selected 5th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat. He quickly emerged as a productive player on a young Miami Heat team. For the last three season Wade has averaged 27 points, 7 assists and there is no reason why he would be slowing down. While being on the Miami Heat Dwayne Wade won the NBA Championship and the Finals MVP in 2006, and he became the Miami Heat all-time leading scorer and all-time assists leader. Enough said.
Chris Bosh (A.K.A The Baller) was selected fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2003 NBA Draft, and he quickly became his team’s captain and a monster off and on the boards. Here is what he has done so far. He made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2003-04. He was in the NBA Rookie All-Star Game from 2003 through 2005. He is the third-youngest player in NBA history to get 1,000 rebounds. He is the fourth-youngest player in the NBA to get 20 points and 20 boards in a game. Also, for the Toronto Raptors he was the all-time leader in points scored, in total rebounds, and in total blocks. Enough said.
Lebron James (A.K.A The Dominator or The Facilitator) was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, and has become known as “The Next Michael Jordan.” Lebron's basketball IQ is very high. His athleticism is unparalleled. His half-court shooting ability is as precise as it is unbelievable. His ball-handling is as good as any point-guard. Lebron's jumping ability is beyond Jordan. His shot blocking is powerful. His first step is monstrous. His energy is explosive. He is half-man and half-amazing. He can play every position on the court and play them all well. He's been in the league for seven seasons and has done a heck of a lot. Lebron James is the most powerful NBA player in the whole entire league. During his 7 years with the Cleveland Cavs he has become a 6 time All-NBA player, a 6 time All NBA All-Star, and won 2 NBA MVP’s. Enough said.
The major pieces are in place for the Miami Heat and the stage is now set. The Heat has also signed a few big-time role players, Eddie House, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Mike Miller. "The Big 3" and the Heat are a force that the NBA is well aware of. Can the Miami Heat win a championship in 2011? Yes, they can. Will they? Too many variables (injuries, lack of team work, etc.) keep the answer from being definite. The case can be made, however, that with Lebron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwayne Wade, it becomes a matter of "When" and "How many" championships the Heat will win.
~Scott Aharoni~