Argumentative Essay

To Wear or Not to Wear School Uniform?

Let us change students’ life at school by making school uniforms compulsory. Uniforms improve discipline, self-esteem and self-respect. Instead buying leisure clothes for your children every month it would be better to buy a school uniform once a year. School uniforms make differences between students from different school and it causes a sort of heed and pride. Therefore, school uniforms help solve many problems. The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit called the "cappa clausa." 

School Uniforms improve students’ attendance and they are free to concentrate on their lessons. They don’t need to spend time on gossips about someone’s clothes and they concentrate on studying. They get use with the idea that they have the same rights and become careless about look of others. On the other hand, uniforms can decrease the child’s comfort level and attentiveness while attending lessons. This problem can be solved by explaining to him that wearing such a uniform is an honour and privilege.

Uniforms will also lower the bullying and the violence in school. They will lower economical, racial or social discrimination. Rich students would not share their new and expensive cloths and they would not make fun of students who are dressed simpler and more modest than they would. No one will be judged because of what they are wearing, because they dress too simple or too nerdy. Nevertheless, another problem can arise. A child wearing uniform can be the target for bullying of students from different schools. However, more violence will be if a child wears the same clothes every year while other children have new clothes once a month.

Students need less time to prepare and get ready for school in the morning and they reduce the pressure of deciding what dress to wear. School is not a fashion show where their appearance is the most important. With school uniforms, students will save their time in the morning. They will not spend a lot of time in front of the wardrobe choosing their best outfit and they will not spend their time in front of the mirror making the best make-up. However, there is another problem that these uniforms would restrict self-expression. Instead, students are free to wear what they want on weekends and vacations when they can share their style to everyone.

According to figures released in 2014 by the National Centre for Education Statistics, the total number of public schools nationwide requiring students to wear school uniforms increased from 13% during the 2003-2004 school year to 19% during the 2011-2012 school year. It is a proof that pro-arguments are strong. Students should be simple, more careless about trends and fashion at their schools because these will not help them to learn harder or pass the exams. School is the place for studying, for improving the discipline, for education and progress. 

Expository Essay

Likely Consequences of Dropping Out of School.

Our century is characterized by materialism. Parents are busy at work with the intention to make money and have no time to spend with their children. They think that money is the most important thing and a way to express their love to them. Children become uncontrolled and too independent. In the Middle School and in the High School children are obsessed by brand clothes, expensive Smartphones and social networks where they share everything about them, their personal life, wishes and thoughts. They live there. All of these take all their time and they don’t have time to study. Consequently, they don’t pass the exams or just drop out of school before them. Reasons of dropping out of school may be unexpected pregnancy, avoid bullying, family emergency, poor grades, depression or just boredom. Moreover, bad influence from the sort of “friends” who make them try drugs and alcohol or some other bad habits turning them into addiction. Therefore, they have problems with law, with their families, good friends and school administration. They don’t realize consequences of dropping out of school.

        The first problem that dropouts face is that most employers require a high school diploma credential to be considered for employment, making it even more difficult for dropouts to earn an income. If they obtain a job, they have a lower economic gain compared with high school graduates. Employers cannot pay a salary to a person without a high school diploma similarly as to a graduate one. Employers cannot be sure in dropout’s skills, knowledge and competence. Thereupon, dropouts are not able to access the wealth producing assets such as retirement pensions, which employers often offer as a benefit. In 2001, 45% of adult high school dropouts were unemployed compared to 26% of high school graduates and 13% of graduates from a four-year college.

Another problem is lack of access to Higher Education. Let us presume that after some time dropouts realize their mistakes and want to continue their study at college or at trade school in order to take a diploma. They will have difficulties in gaining access to financial aid from colleges or trade schools. In fact, most universities and trade schools require students to have a high school diploma before they are accepted into a program. Therefore, the lack of diploma affects their self-esteem and psychological well-being. Their lack of knowledge and skills is an obstacle to their desires and a higher income.
 

The third problem is that Dropouts are 3.5 times more likely than high school graduates to be incarcerated during their lifetime. They become hopeless, disappointed and unsure about tomorrow. The increased likelihood of poverty, along with the decreased access to higher education and career opportunities makes high school dropouts predisposed to crime and possibly substance abuse. Additionally, The Education Testing Service reports that 40 percent of all incarcerated 16 to 24-year-olds in the United States are high school dropouts. Also, 90% of the 11,000 youth in detention facilities have no more than a 9th grade education.

Of course, there are more likely consequences of dropping out of school, but these are the most significant. Teenagers should realize that graduation from school is the turning point. It marks not only the beginning of their adult life but also opens higher education and career opportunities. Parents should talk to their children about the advantages of the High School graduation and about the disadvantages of its lack. 21^st century presuppose development, progress and convenience. All of these are impossible without knowledge, studying and endeavour. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you’ve imagined.

Narrative Essay

A Family Travel

      Time spent with family is worth every second. Our family is a strong one because we are connected and we focus on the time spent together. When I was a child, our family was used to have a summer vacation once a year. Within a year, my parents organized a travel to Yalta. They had gathered some money in order to have a nice rest. I was eight and my sister was five but we remembered every bright moment. By bright moments, I mean not just beautiful places we saw and good rest we had, but also the adventures, we passed through.

      It was someday in August. My mother said to us to pack our luggage up. I put there: caps, T-shirts, flip-flops, shorts, sunglasses and many other things. My father could hardly carry my luggage in the car. However, many of those things I did not need. My poor father! I was not the only one who took too many things. My sister took her clothes, dolls, toys, paper and pencils to draw. She wanted to take her fish with her, but we convinced her to let them home.

      By the time when we were ready, we started our way to new adventures and discoveries. For the first time we traveled by train. When we arrived at the railway station, we were tired and wanted to go to sleep and we fell asleep on the pew. As soon as we woke up, we were in the train. Finally, we reached Yalta on the next day. After the train journey, we felt that the earth was moving under us. This feeling we had had for 2 days. For us it was funny but for my mother it was a problem. She had dizziness and nausea.

      Although a week before my mother had reserved a double room, when we reached our destination we found out that the room was a classroom and the building was a school that was transformed into a guesthouse. It was unsafe and too far from the seaside. My father said to us to take our things out and wait for him while he was looking for another flat. My sister and I were hungry, so that my mother bought sandwiches with vegetables. At that moment, those sandwiches were the tastiest in the world. By the time father had come, we were full and happy. He found a comfortable flat with TV and soft beds. There came a faint sigh of relief from my mother because we were safe.

      We had a 10 days vacation during which we made beautiful memories. We saw Swallow's Nest and Aurora Cliff, Livadia Palace, Park-museum Polyana Skazok (Glade of Fairytales) and of course rocky beach. Our parents spent a beautiful amount of money but it was worth it. We have made many photos, which are in our photo albums now. Each of us has a bright moment from his childhood and this one is mine. As soon as I have my own family, I will take my children there in order to give them priceless memories and experience.

Descriptive Essay

My First Guitar Lesson

    One beautiful and shiny day while I was searching some videos on YouTube I found some amazing videos. These were videos, which made me get in love with guitar sound. I started learning guitar playing when I was 17. I watched many clips where musicians played the guitar and I was astonished. In those videos, their fingers were moving very fast and with accuracy at the same time. After all, I decided to get some lessons.

    I came to musical school where I had my first musical lesson. It was someday in a beautiful and warm spring. The musical school seemed a magnificent, splendid and noble place. The hall was big and there were chairs for the waiters. Four big windows allowed the sunshine to permeate into the main hall. There was a serious woman who was sitting at her table and everyone could ask her to give some instructions. She was dressed in a black-and-white suit just like the colors of the piano keys. 

    Quickly, I went to the second floor to find my classroom. There were a big number of the doors on that floor. From each classroom could be heard many sounds which could tame your hearing. I heard the sounds of piano, violin, cello, double bass and accordion. From the last room could be heard the sounds of a guitar. A student was playing “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. When I started listening to this song, the thrill passed through me. I was not able to distract myself from this song. I decided I would learn to play this song.

    When the lesson ended, I entered the room I was taken aback. It was a big classroom with two pianos next to the wall, two guitars against another wall, and two chairs in the middle where  the teacher and the student had to sit. I greeted the teacher and I sat on the student place. The teacher was old, tall and skinny. He gave me a guitar and started to explain how to take the chords. Because I was a beginner, my chords sounded deafly, irritably and unclear. The guitar was big and I was afraid to hold it. It seemed so fragile. The guitar strings were made of steel and my fingers hurt when I pressed them. After that, my fingers had hurt for one week but I didn't regret this.

    Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. I tried to express myself through the music and my soul was happy. Music is the strongest form of magic. Now, when I remember about this period, my heart struggles more often. Of course, I have learned the song “Tears in Heaven” and I play it when I feel I need some inspiration.

Reflection on Writing (week 1)

        Writing is the best way to share your ideas with others. It is a possibility for communication through creation.

        In my opinion writing is the essential activity for studying, especially for studying foreign languages and our native language. By writing we improve our knowledge and develop our skills. When we have a task to write an essay, a composition or a dialog, first of all, we think about the theme and then state our ideas. During our writing we take into account grammar rules, spelling, syntax and structure.
        We study at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature and we have to read a lot of literary works. I began to read “Gulliver's Travels” by Jonathan Swift and I wish I could write like him. His talent in writing makes us believe in his fantasies as if that world was real.
        At High School I had to write a lot of essays and civilizations preparing for my English exam. This experience helped me to advance my skills and I decided at which faculty I want to study. I like to write because it is a very good way to express my opinions, to develop my creativity and to reflect on some important themes.
        I am very glad to have such an opportunity-to study at this faculty and I will do my best to grow up as a student and personality.