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Ganesh 1
Ashwini Ganesh
Rager 2
HELA II
19 February 2015
Sports in Youth
A sport is defined as a physical activity and can be either individual or with a team. I
have done gymnastics for about nine years now and I can say that it has been worth every penny.
It has kept me healthy, out of trouble, and taught me how to work hard and overcome fears.
These days sports require many hours of practice, time, and money. However, the benefits are
lifelong values that could not be taught anywhere else. Not to mention the health and fitness
advantages, especially with obesity on the rise, sports are a great way to keep people moving and
fit. Many people believe that sports can cause injuries and stress, which may be true but
everything else in life, such as school and the workplace can also cause these same problems so
why not put in effort into a sport and get fit, learn values that school could never teach and even
get college scholarships.
Many think that these sports are getting too intense (AP-GfK Poll). But what these people
do not know is that sports keep one physically fit and this is becoming increasingly important
alongside Americas obesity problem. Many sports such as gymnastics, diving, and swimming
require strength workouts and can help provide a healthier body. Some studies have even shown
that physical activity can help strengthen the mind and enhance performance in school.
Sports also require discipline, responsibility and hard work. Nathan Pitcock talks about
his soccer clubs players, [where I work] I have seen countless kids achieve their potential as a
result of all their hard work. Its the intensity that makes youth sports so valuable(Pitcock). Cole

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Hobson, on martial arts says [It] is martial arts, its a discipline. It gives these kids
confidence(Hobson). Sports teach how to be on a team, self respect, determination, and
sportsmanship.
College is becoming more expensive these days and especially when going out of state.
Being in a sport can potentially give players partial or even full ride scholarships. Researchers
at Michigan State University have studied the attrition rates among youth athletes: 70 percent
dropout by age 13(Hyman). If they had kept going they might have not had to have paid for
college.
Sports may require many hours of work, money, investment and commitment but its
benefits are life long and will pay off in the end. College scholarships are an example of this.
They can keep you fit, teach morals and ethics, and provide stress relief. Gymnastics has helped
me become a better person mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Ethos
Pathos
Logos

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Works Cited
Hyman, Mark, and Nathan Pitcock. "Have Youth Sports Become Too Intense?." New York Times
Upfront. 21 Feb. 2011: 22. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
ProQuest Staff. "At Issue: Sports for Children." ProQuest LLC. 2015: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher.
Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
Hobson, Cole. "MMA Group Touts Youth Events." Times-Transcript. 12 Jun. 2012: A.1. SIRS Issues
Researcher. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.
AP-GfK Poll: Children's Sports and Injuries." Associated Press. 28 Aug. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues
Researcher. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.

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Grading
Criteria

Description

Points

Content
and Ideas

Clear argument
Support uses ethos, logos, and pathos
4 or more credible sources used
Antithesis addressed and refuted

Effective introduction and hook

Paragraphs are organized around claim

statements

Transitions are used between paragraphs

Sequence is logical

Conclusion leaves reader with powerful final

statement

The writer connects with the audience through the

intriguing focus of the topic, selection of relevant
details, and the use of natural, engaging language,
including the use of vocabulary.

Organizatio
n

Voice

Diction/

Five vocabulary words are used naturally

Syntax/
and effectively.
Conventions
Writing is all in 3rd person .

1
4

2
5 x2

3
=

6/10 Alyssa - need to

provide counterargument
7/10 Kaitlyn Davitt More pathos?
8/10 Self grade
/10 final grade from
teacher
1
4

2
5 x2

3
=

8/10 Alyssa - good use

of examples, like
college
9/10 Kaitlyn Davitt Flowed smoothly
9/10 Self grade
/10 final grade from
teacher
1
4

2
5 x2

3
=

7/10 Alyssa - Good job

adding personal
experience
9/10 Kaitlyn Davitt Good work
9/10 Self grade
/10 final grade from
teacher
0

1
4

2
5 x2

3
=

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Publication/
Appearance

Quotations are embedded and cited.

0-3 Errors in grammatical structure

typed and double-spaced

Times New Roman; 12 pt.

proper MLA formatting; heading that includes

student name, instructors name, class, and date

works cited page is included.

9/10 Alyssa- good

connotative words
10/10 Kaitlyn everything included
10/10 Self grade
/10 final grade from
teacher
0

1
4

2
5 x2

3
=

9/10 Alyssa - fix some

citations in the
paragraph, everything
else is good
10/10 Kaitlyn - All
good
10/10 Self grade
/10 final grade from
teacher