NAME: _________________

This weekend your family received the following letter in the mail:

Dear Students, Staff, and Parents of Wake County Public

Schools,

At our most recent meeting, the Wake County School Board began
discussing the possibility of enacting a countywide dress code at the
Middle and High School levels to promote academics and avoid
distraction and discrimination in our schools. This dress code would
require male and female students to wear collared dress shirts of their
school colors, khaki dress pants/shorts, and closed-toed shoes during
instructional hours. While the decision is ultimately ours to make, we
are open to hearing the opinions of those who would be most affected
should we choose to go forward with the implementation of this dress
code. We will be accepting kindly worded letters from students, staff,
and parents should you desire to argue in favor or against the
proposed dress code.
Because of your strong feelings on the matter, you decide to talk to your friends
about toshould
Letters understand their claims
be addressed to and conduct
the Wake research
County on both
School Boardsides
andofcan
the
argument.
be mailed to the Wake County Public School System at 5625 Dillard Drive,
Cary, NC 27518.
Thank you,
After all your research, you have decided to write a 2-3 page argumentative
WCPSSB
essay addressed to the Wake County School Board. You should support your
argument with at least three claims. Each of your three claims should be
supported by at least two pieces of evidence. In your essay, you should
address the counter claims that may be made in other letters to the school
board.

Remember to:
● Organize your claim(s), reasons, and evidence logically
● Support your claim(s) with clear and relevant evidence from credible
sources
● Use appropriate words, phrases, and clauses to transition and clarify the
relationships between claim(s), reasons, and evidence
● Create and maintain a style that is appropriate for your intended
audience
● Provide a concluding statement that supports your argument
 NAME: _________________

Rubric:

Concerns Criteria Advanced

Areas that Need Work Standards for This Performance Evidence of Exceeding Standards

Claim(s) are introduced and

organized in a logical manner.

Addresses alternate or
opposing claim(s).

Supports claim(s) with logical

reasoning and relevant
evidence, using accurate,
credible sources.

Uses words, phrases, and

clauses to create cohesion and
clarify the relationships among
claim(s), reasons, and evidence.

Establishes and maintains a

formal style that is appropriate
for the intended audience.

Provides a conclusion that

follows from and supports the
arguments presented.