Essay 3, RHW 101

Fall 2005, E. Johnson

This essay will offer a public policy argument. You are to construct an argument addressed to your local school board, using the articles we have read from the textbook and the website (or the video we saw in class) as sources. You must cite at least 3 sources in your paper. The essay must be a minimum of three full pages, and a maximum of five, typed in 12-point font, double-spaced. Choose from the topics below. Full draft due 10/27, essay due 11/1.

1. Use of nonstandard dialects of English in US public schools. Write an essay describing what the policy should be, based on your reading and discussion. You may want to consider the following questions in deciding a focus for your essay.

• •What role, if any, should nonstandard dialects of English play in the classroom?
• •Should students ever be allowed to speak or write in dialects other than Standard English in school? Consider various school activities, e.g. presentations, whole-class discussion/ question and answer, group discussion, recess and lunch, writing reports, journal writing, etc.
• •How could nonstandard dialects be useful in teaching Standard English?
• •What are some of the drawbacks of allowing students to use nonstandard dialects in school?
• •What are some of the advantages of allowing students to use nonstandard dialects in school?
• •Should Standard English be emphasized more in speaking or in writing?
• •Accent and grammar are both part of nonstandard dialects. Are they equally unacceptable?
• •Would your answer be different depending on the dialect of the majority of the children and/or of the teacher?
• •Can you reconcile a requirement of Standard English with an appreciation of cultural diversity?

2. Use of languages other than English in US public schools. Write an essay describing what the policy should be, based on your reading and discussion. Be sure to distinguish between transitional and maintenance bilingual education. You may want to consider the following questions in deciding a focus for your essay.

• •What role, if any, should language other than English play in the classroom?
• •Should students ever be allowed to speak or write in languages other than English in school? Consider various school activities, e.g. presentations, whole-class discussion/ question and answer, group discussion, recess and lunch, writing reports, journal writing, etc.
• •How could other languages be useful in teaching English? In helping students stay at grade level in other subjects?
• •What are some of the drawbacks of allowing students to use minority languages in school?
• •What are some of the advantages of allowing students to use minority languages in school?
• •Is there ever a case when maintenance bilingual education is appropriate?
• •Would your answer be different depending on the language of the majority of the children and/or of the teacher?
• •Can you reconcile a requirement of Standard English with an appreciation of cultural diversity?