Essay Writing Practice--5 Paragraph Essays

Improve your 5 paragraph, persuasive and argumentative essay writing skills through weekly practice and supported planning.

This is an ongoing class--feel free to join in at any time for as many weeks as you like. This ongoing course will give students a chance to practice planning and writing a 5 paragraph essay each week.  Weekly essay prompts will be provided.  In class, the students will work in a workshop style to walk through the steps to planning and constructing an essay.  Together we will choose one side of the issue to prepare, brainstorming together, working on building a strong thesis, outlining, and planning evidence and support.  We will also plan introductory hooks, transitions, and other aspects of strong essay writing.  Each week is independent from the others, as we will look at a new topic each week and go through the process of planning and writing.  Students are welcome and encouraged to pursue their own point of view in their writing.   

I highly recommend taking my 4 week essay writing course first. This class is a great follow up to that to solidify the skills we learn there.

Following class each week, students will have the opportunity to message me their completed essays for individualized feedback.  This individualized feedback makes this class appropriate for beginner and advanced writers, as I can work with students at their own level.  Students are welcome to write any viewpoint, even the side that isn't planned in class.  

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Week of July 11-Are there moral concerns that should cause genetic cloning to be made illegal?
Week of July 18-No class
Week of July 25-Do you think that TV channels should censor explicit content because programmers should produce family-friendly programming?
Week of August 1-Social media brings us together and pulls us apart; Do you believe that the great outweighs the bad or vice versa?
Week of August 8-No class
Week of August 15-Are violent video games harmful?
Week of August 22-Do you think that businesses should be required to hire for diversity?
Week of August 29-Do you think that schools should be required to offer art courses?
Week of Sept 5-Will AI help the world or hurt it?
Week of Sept 12-Do you think that high school pupils should be allowed to work during the school year?
Week of Sept 19-Are parents responsible for childhood obesity?
Week of Sept 26-Is it worth exploring space?
Week of Oct 3-Should everyone be entitled to free health care?
Week of Oct 10-Is technology beneficial or harmful to society?
Week of Oct 17-Do you think that manufacturers are responsible for the effects of the chemicals used in creating their products?
Week of Oct 24-Do you think that an elected leader represents the interests of their own political party, or is it best to try to compromise?
Week of Oct 31-Is art education important?
Week of Nov. 7-Is a gap year a time for exploration and reflection or a year-long vacation?
Week of Nov. 14-Is digital censorship needed or necessary?
Week of Nov 21-No class
Week of Nov 28-Should physical education classes be obligatory?
Week of Dec 5-Are college entrance exams necessary?
Week of Dec 12-Do smartphones actually help the learning process?
Week of Dec 19-Is it ethical to replace human workers with automation?
Week of Dec 26-No class
Week of Jan 2-Should voter registration be automatic?
Week of Jan 9-Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
Week of Jan 16-Is co-education more advantageous than single-sex education?
Week of Jan 23-Teenagers feel more comfortable talking on social media rather than face to face.
Week of Jan 30-Should it be legal to get a tattoo for kids younger than 18?
Week of Feb 6-A negative high school experience I agree is important when it comes to personality
Week of Feb 13-The Supreme Court ruled that random drug testing is constitutional for high school students involved in athletics and other extracurricular activities. Write an essay that argues for or against random drug testing of all students.
Week of Feb 20-In the last 40 years the United States federal government has accumulated unprecedented debt, meaning that it has spent more money than it has collected in revenue. In fact, the national debt is approaching $20 trillion and rising by the day. The debt crisis is a complex problem that could eventually cost citizens and weaken the U.S.'s standing in the global community. In a problem-solution essay, explore the causes and effects of the national debt problem. Then outline possible solutions and recommend how the federal government should act to solve the crisis.

Week of Feb 27-Should the government regulate fast food?
Week of March 6-Should college athletes be paid for being on sports teams?
Week of March 13-Should people in prison be allowed to vote?
Week of March 20-Should books with objectionable words be banned?
Week of March 27-Should content on YouTube be better regulated?
Week of April 3-Should parents be able to modify their unborn children?
Week of April 10-Do GMOs help or harm people?
Week of April 17-Should there be laws against using cell phones while driving?
Week of April 24-Has the internet positively or negatively impacted human society?
Week of May 1-Should dietary supplements and weight loss items like teas be allowed to advertise through influencers?
Week of May 8-Should Supreme Court justices be elected?
Week of May 15-Should animal testing be allowed?
Week of May 22-Should corporations have a higher or lower tax rate?
Week of May 29-Are school uniforms a good idea?
Week of June 5--Is art education important?
Week of June 12--No class
Week of June 19-Should art and music sharing online be allowed?
Week of June 26-Should we allow political donations?
Week of July 3-What, if anything, do rich nations owe poor nations?
Week of July 10-Does prison work?
Week of July 24-Should “hate crimes” be punished more severely than the same crime with different motives?
Week of July 31-Are school uniforms a good idea?
Week of August 7-Is art education important?
Week of August 14-Should art and music sharing online be allowed?
Week of August 21-Should we allow political donations?
Week of August 28-What, if anything, do rich nations owe poor nations?
Week of September 4-Does prison work?
Week of September 11-Should “hate crimes” be punished more severely than the same crime with different motives?
Week of September 18-Are there moral concerns that should cause genetic cloning to be made illegal?
Week of September 25-Do you think that businesses should be required to hire for diversity?
Week of October 2-Do you think that TV channels should censor explicit content because programmers should produce family-friendly programming?
Week of October 9-Social media brings us together and pulls us apart; Do you believe that the great outweighs the bad or vice versa?
Week of October 16-Are violent video games harmful?
Week of October 23-Are there moral concerns that should cause genetic cloning to be made illegal?
Oct 30-Do you think that schools should be required to offer art courses?
Week of Nov 6-Will AI help the world or hurt it?
Week of Nov 13-Do you think that high school pupils should be allowed to work during the school year?
Week of Nov 20-No class
Week of Nov 27-Are parents responsible for childhood obesity?
Week of Dec 4-Is it worth exploring space?
Week of Dec. 11-Should everyone be entitled to free health care?
Week of Dec 18-No class
Week of Dec 25-No class
Week of Jan 1-Is technology beneficial or harmful to society?
Week of Jan 8-Do you think that manufacturers are responsible for the effects of the chemicals used in creating their products?
Week of Jan 15-Do you think that an elected leader represents the interests of their own political party, or is it best to try to compromise?
Week of Jan 22-Is a gap year a time for exploration and reflection or a year-long vacation?
Week of Jan 29-Is digital censorship needed or necessary?
Week of Feb 5-Should physical education classes be obligatory?
Week of Feb 12-Are college entrance exams necessary?
Week of Feb 19-Do smartphones actually help the learning process?
Week of Feb 26-Is it ethical to replace human workers with automation?
Week of March 4-Should voter registration be automatic?
Week of March 11-Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
Week of March 18-Is co-education more advantageous than single-sex education?
Week of March 26-Teenagers feel more comfortable talking on social media rather than face to face.
Week of April 1-Are there moral concerns that should cause genetic cloning to be made illegal?
Week of April 8-Do you think that TV channels should censor explicit content because programmers should produce family-friendly programming?
Week of April 15-Social media brings us together and pulls us apart; Do you believe that the great outweighs the bad or vice versa?
Week of April 22-Are violent video games harmful?
Week of April 29-Do you think that businesses should be required to hire for diversity?
Week of May 6-Do you think that schools should be required to offer art courses?
Week of May 13-Will AI help the world or hurt it?
Week of May 20-Do you think that high school pupils should be allowed to work during the school year?
Week of May 27-Is technology beneficial or harmful to society?
Week of June 3-Are parents responsible for childhood obesity?
Week of June 10-Is it worth exploring space?
Week of June 17-Should everyone be entitled to free health care?
Week of June 24-NO CLASS
Week of July 8-Should the government regulate fast food?
Week of July 15-Should college athletes be paid for being on sports teams?
Week of July 22-Should people in prison be allowed to vote?
Week of July 29-Should books with objectionable words be banned?
Week of August 5-Should content on YouTube be better regulated?
Week of August 12-Should parents be able to modify their unborn children?
Week of August 19-Do GMOs help or harm people?
Week of August 26-Should there be laws against using cell phones while driving?
Week of September 2-Should students use AI to write essays?
Week of September 9-Has the internet positively or negatively impacted human society?
Week of September 16-Should dietary supplements and weight loss items like teas be allowed to advertise through influencers?
Week of September 23-Should Supreme Court justices be elected?
Week of September 30-Should animal testing be allowed?
Week of October 7-Should corporations have a higher or lower tax rate?
Week of October 14-Are school uniforms a good idea?
Week of October 21--Is art education important?
Week of October 28-Should art and music sharing online be allowed?
Week of November 4-Should we allow political donations?
Week of November 11-What, if anything, do rich nations owe poor nations?
Week of November 18-Does prison work?
Week of November 25-Should “hate crimes” be punished more severely than the same crime with different motives?
Week of December 2-Are school uniforms a good idea?
Week of December 9-Is art education important?
Week of December 16-Do you think that TV channels should censor explicit content because programmers should produce family-friendly programming?
Week of December 23--No class
Week of December 30--No class
Week of January 6-Social media brings us together and pulls us apart; Do you believe that the great outweighs the bad or vice versa?
Week of January 13-Are violent video games harmful?
Week of January 20-Do you think that schools should be required to offer art courses?
Week of January 27-Will AI help the world or hurt it?
Week of February 3-Do you think that high school pupils should be allowed to work during the school year?
Week of February 10-Is technology beneficial or harmful to society?
Week of February 17-Are parents responsible for childhood obesity?
Week of February 24-Is it worth exploring space?
Week of March 3-Are college entrance exams necessary?
Week of March 10-Do smartphones actually help the learning process?
Week of March 17-Should teenagers be allowed to vote in elections?
Week of March 24-Is social media a positive or negative influence on teenagers’ mental health and well-being?
Week of March 31-Should teenage drivers be subject to stricter regulations, such as curfews and passenger limits, to reduce accidents and fatalities?
Week of April 7-Is it ethical for teenagers to participate in protests and other forms of civil disobedience?
Week of April 14-Should schools provide more opportunities for creative expression and the arts, or is the focus on STEM subjects more important for future success?
Week of April 21-Should teenagers have their own credit card to establish credit history?
Week of April 28-Should teenagers be allowed to work part-time jobs while in school?
Week of May 5-How important is academic honesty for future success?
Week of May 12-Should social media platforms be held accountable for the spread of fake news?
Week of May 19-Are video games a harmful or beneficial form of entertainment for young people?
Week of May 26-Should schools replace textbooks with tablets and laptops?
Week of June 2-Is technology making us more or less productive in the workplace?
Week of June 9-Should there be stricter regulations on the collection and use of personal data by tech companies?
Week of June 16-Is artificial intelligence a threat to human jobs and job security?
Week of June 23-Should there be limitations on using facial recognition technology by law enforcement agencies?
Week of June 30-Should governments impose stricter regulations on corporations to reduce their carbon footprint?
Week of July 7-