You are to select an issue from the list provided by the instructor and formulate a written argument, using
all the critical thinking tools studied during this class.
Use Chapters 7, 8, and 9 of your course text, A Rulebook for Arguments, by Anthony Weston, to guide
you in formulating your paper’s argument.
The argument paper will be in APA format, and should be 750 words in length. Select an issue to argue.
Writing Tips
• Select an issue to argue — be sure to focus on a specific issue
• Gain Instructor approval — during week 2
• Outline your argument
• Research the facts
• Polish and prepare your final paper
The Argumentative Essay will have:
• A title page (cover page)
• An introduction
• The body of your paper
• A conclusion (that summarizes the content of your paper)
• A reference page
. A clear statement of the issue
What is your position on that issue?
What is your basic argument on the issue?
What is a possible rebuttal of the argument?
Parenthetical citations and reference page: Be careful when using direct quotations, paraphrases or terms
suggesting absolute facts or values, as these must be supported by parenthetical citations in the body of
the paper, and an entry on the reference page.
You must use a minimum of five scholarly sources, with citations and references formatted in APA Manual
style, which are recent (within 5 years).
My argument; School Vouchers (School Voucher Bill should not be passed)
Type of argument; Argument of Authority
The school voucher bill does not show accountability to tax payers
The school voucher bill should not be passed because the private schools are not held
accountable for the funds. School vouchers are a taxpayer-funded certificate. Thus this causes
taxpayers to have to pay more taxes. Although the taxpayers are the ones fitting the bill for the
voucher system, there are no financial accountability standards in place to assure the taxpayers
that the money is being accounted for. For instance public schools are held accountable to the
Department of Education for all funds, whereas private schools are not held accountable to such
measures. Without there being any accountability level in place, it opens the door for abuse of
funds. Take for instance the situation in Colorado. According to the ACLU, when Douglas
County implemented a pilot program for school vouchers, the money was used but there was no
evidence that the students were actually attending the private school. Thus 500 students were
offered these vouchers but no one was held accountable for where the money went. Moreover,
“For the purposes of obtaining state per-pupil educational funds, Douglas County still counted
these children as “public school students” attending an imaginary school that exists only on
paper”(ACLU, 2011). With that being said, the school voucher bill will allow for abuse of funds.
Douglas County allowed its voucher program funds to be abused. Thus showing the school
voucher bill will be abused.
School vouchers will take away from the education of public school students
The voucher program takes money away from the public schools which means the public schools will
have fewer resources with which to provide educational services to its students. Thus each student the
public school losses, the fewer funds they have to work with. Considering that, nationwide, almost 4,000
students have already signed up for the school voucher program, the public schools will be losing funding
preventing them from offering a quality education. According to Dan Klien of WLFI 18 online news station,
“for traditional public schools, it means more than $16 million gone. Furthermore, although there
is a cap on vouchers this year of how many students can get them, by the year 2013 there will
be no cap on vouchers, making the chances of public schools losing more funds for education
even greater. Not mention that many of the public school districts are facing budget crisis, which
only adds to the loss.
Thus with the loss of students to private schools, because of the voucher program, the schools
will continue to be underfunded. It is not possible for public schools to give quality education
with underfunded schools. Thus it is not possible because without sufficient funds the public
schools cannot afford the many supplies and materials needed to help educate the students.
Moreover in order to adequately educate students, each child needs to have access to
textbooks, computers, smaller class size, and many other programs. However, without sufficient
funds the schools cannot afford enough of these things for all students’ benefit. Something as
simple as teaching students the past tense is no longer affordable for the Phoenix school
system’s primary and secondary schools. This is a program that helps to teach students how to
identify past tense. However, as stated by a Phoenix school principal, “With our current
budget, the past tense must unfortunately become a thing of the past ( ) Moreover, in
Tuscaloosa AL, the public school system had to drop its history and social studies
classes because of lack funds. Take for instance the Texas school system. A student
was interview there where she stated that the reason she does not do here homework is
because the school cannot afford to provide every student a textbook to take home. Not
only is there a lack of textbooks, many public schools nationwide cannot afford enough
copy paper to make copies of the lesson. Clearly, when public schools lose students,
they lose funds. By losing students to private schools through vouchers, the public
schools will continue to lose funds. Therefore school vouchers will cause public schools
to lose funds which will hinder student learning.
No Proof That the School Voucher Program Works or Will Work.
Because schools accept vouchers, students would not have to be administered the same assessments as
administered in public schools, parents would not be able to compare the performance of their public
school to that of the private school.
School Vouchers Violates 1st Amendment of Constitution
There have been negative points with the decisions for granting the school voucher. Many
private schools have been affiliated with a particular religion. Thus government might be
violating first Amendment of Constitution through providing the funding for the students to
attend such schools. Thus the Constitution states that the Congress should not make any law
respecting the establishment of the religion. Such differentiates government from any religion,
either through assisting that or through preventing that freedom. Therefore, to provide the money
to students to attend a religious school could have been construed as aiding such religions.
Although the vouchers say that parents have a choice of schools, they are not given many
choices other than private religious schools. Thus, according the ACLU, “In Cleveland, for
example, 96 percent of the students in the voucher program attended parochial schools” (ACLU).
Thus this is making it a violation of the first Amendment.
Rebuttal argument from supporters
School vouchers helps to enhance the education of inner-city youths
References
ACLU. (2011). ACLU Calls Supreme Court Ruling on Vouchers "Bad for Education, Bad
for Religious Freedom”.
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. (2011). Take action to stop vouchers. Pft.org