27.4. On the Importance of Parents W1.

What Are We Trying to Do Well Today?
Today, we are practicing the timeless art of writing out our arguments (our opinions backed with the world's facts) about a topic. (This is W1., which is all of the parts of writing an argument essay combined into one standard - thesis, introduction, transitions, writing formally . . .* all of it)
We are also trying to think carefully about what we think about something that has a huge effect on all of our lives -- parenting. As teens, youu probably think mostly about things from a child's perspective. As you know, though, our job here in Language Arts class is to learn to look at things from foreign perspectives.

What Do We Need to Remember?1. Don't start writing until you have a thesis -- your position and three ideas. This is a 30 minute timed prompt, so make sure that you limit your thinking to 5 minutes; if you only have two supporting reasons, get moving.
2. Every argument essay can be started with the rhetorical question hook, so don't hesitate. Teachers who taught you that the explanatory prompt was radically different weren't totally wrong, but they were mostly wrong. Unless the prompt asks for a story, the 3?RT introduction works fine.
3. Don't forget your transitions! They're easy, and they're worth points.
4. Sensory details and a great simile in the conclusion.
5. When you're finished with your draft, don't ask me what to do. I am telling you right now that you should add specific examples to the shortest of your body paragraphs, and try to include something smart in quotations.

The TextConsider the following quotation from a great American writer:

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” 
― James Baldwin

Do you agree or disagree with the idea expressed by the author? In your opinion, then, what should a parent do in order to try and help their children become successful?

Writing PromptWrite an essay in which you express you position on this topic. You have 30 minutes to write. Make sure to  use supporting reasons and examples from your own life, your knowledge of the world, and any texts that you deem appropriate.

How Will We Know When We've Done Well?Criterion's going to grade this baby, and then we'll have a peer grade it for the ideas. I'm going to take a nap in the back of the classroom, because you guys should be self-sufficient at this point in the year. Wake me up if the classroom catches fire, or if you forget how to spell "detrimental."

Footnote on Language Use:* That ellipsis is to indicate an omission. There are two or three other parts, but we've gone over them, so I am just using the ellipsis [. . . ] to show that there are others, but I am not going to include them, in this case because you'd already know them if I did.