ACT writing sample prompt:

In some high schools, many teachers and parents have encouraged the school to adopt a dress code that sets guidelines for what students can wear in the school building. Some teachers and parents support a dress code because they think it will improve the learning environment in the school. Other teachers and parents do not support a dress code because they think it restricts the individual student's freedom of expression. In your opinion, should high schools adopt dress codes for students?

In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

	Exceeds		Parents and educators are increasingly concerned about the trend toward inappropriate dress in our schools. They feel that clothing that is too tight or too revealing may distract students and interfere with learning. They believe that a dress code should be adopted which would set guidelines for what students should wear in the school building. Others feel that a dress code should not be enacted because it would restrict individual students' freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is important, but when inappropriate attire begins to interfere with the educational process, something needs to be done. Allowing students to wear whatever they want is clearly not working. Too many teens today seek to emulate rock stars and pick up fashion tips from MTV. In a culture that is inundated with sexual innuendo or worse, it is not surprising that kids show up at school in suggestive clothing. The educators are right. Short skirts and spandex tops can be extremely distracting to a population group driven largely by hormones. Establishing a dress code could help improve the learning environment in the school; unfortunately, dress codes can be extremely arbitrary and difficult to enforce. What is the solution? I think the answer is school uniforms. This option would be far easier to enforce and has several advantages. From a financial perspective, school uniforms could help even the playing field between poor and rich students. We live in a materialistic world and, for some, it is all about the label. They think that if its not Tommy, Levi, Gap, etc. that it is not good enough. Students can be cruel, and make fun of those who do not dress the same as they do. Wearing jeans with holes may be one student's form of expression but another's necessity. Mandating uniforms would dispense with this kind of discrimination. Purchasing a uniform would be far less expensive than a complete school wardrobe, and if there were some families that couldn't afford it, perhaps the school could provide one for them, or at least help defray the expense. Another benefit of school uniforms is that they could help curb some of the gang-related violence in our schools. Gangs are associated with certain colors and members often hassle students who wear an opposing gang's color. Sporting the innocent-looking sweater Aunt Rose gave you for your birthday could be like waving a red flag in front of an angry bull. With uniforms, this problem would disappear. From a personal perspective, I would enjoy the sheer effortlessness of not having to rummage through my closet each morning trying to decide what to wear. Some may enjoy selecting their outfit for the day, but not me! Having a school uniform would make my morning routine go much faster, and maybe even leave a little extra time to finish up yesterday's homework. While uniforms in high schools promise many benefits, we should not expect that they are a cure-all. Uniforms alone will not raise student grades, confer equality, or make schools entirely safe for all students. Uniforms cannot learn math or earn high scores on state tests. Students must do these things for themselves. However, I do believe that uniforms in high schools can go a long way toward helping students succeed by providing a learning environment that supports achievement rather than one that is distracting, discriminating, and dangerous. So, in conclusion, I strongly support not just a dress code, which would be difficult to enforce, but a resolution to adopt school uniforms for our entire district. Uniforms would not only solve the problems associated with inappropriate dress and create a better learning environment, but could also serve to end inequality, help curb gang violence, and make our mornings a little less hectic.
Organization /Structure	EFFECTIVE use of structural elements of a paragraph or essay
Point of View/Focus	Presentation of ideas and details EXCEEDS assignment expectations
Elaboration /Support	ALL main ideas evenly and fully supported by extensive and varied details
Conventions/ Clarity of Expression	EFFECTIVE and clear flow of ideas; no major errors in logic, punctuation, and/or sentence structure
Overall Effectiveness	EFFECTIVELY fulfills or goes beyond the requirements of the assignment

Created by HEHS English Dept.
11/10/2005