Rationale

I begin the paper by announcing my topic and the issue (which education policy is more effective) and explain why I am writing the essay. To clarify this, I added a sentence for each policy explaining what they consist of. Throughout the paper I find facts to support my statements. I use direction quotations from scholarly sources about each education policy to ensure that I have credible information while supporting my argument. Providing background information helps the reader understand the paper (in my case, understand what each policy is and consists of) in order to keep wanting to read it without getting confused. I state my thesis at the end of the introduction to give reader expectations of my essay. 

The next section in my paper will focus further on the description of both education policies. I go further in depth of the policies and what the main points to each one are. I include critiques on both of the education policies which describes the viewpoints and the bad and good sides to each. By comparing the policies to each other, it allows the reader to see how the education policies have changed over time and how their rules are similar but a little tweak can make a huge difference in the education system. Describing the policies in this order will keep the reader on track and help them understand the point of this research paper. 

The next section I go on to describe creationism vs. evolution. I begin with explaining what they are and I go on to describe the conflicts of creationism and evolution being taught in schools. I explain that creationism and evolution have been a major conflict since the late 18th century. I later explain how some schools don’t typically allow both to be taught in the school because they contradict each other and cause problems. I include examples of the conflicts that have happened throughout the United States and what has happened due to teaching either creationism or evolution. By explaining these theories it shows the reader that there are any underlying problems in the schools district and kids are getting punished for it. 

In the next paragraph I explain what an effective teacher is and how important it is in the education system. I begin with describing low achieving schools and how they typically have less qualified teachers which plays a big part on why they perform so low. I go on to describe tenure and what it is. I then give examples of how tenure has protected teachers even when they were actually really ineffective and made no positive impact on a student’s education. I explain everything about tenure because it is important that the reader understands how it effects the students and that it’s actually a really crucial problem when the kids performance is suffering due to bad teachers.

In the next paragraph I explain the current qualifications that most companies require for their employees, and the main point of this paragraph is to question if students are actually ready to move on from high school into the workforce and/or college. I describe the necessary skills for these changes in life and how they can help. Another question that comes up is if teachers engage their students enough, which goes back to being effective or ineffective in their teaching methods. I show facts describing how high school students have failed to demonstrate that they’re ready to go into higher levels of education after high school. I talk about engaging students because it ties in with the last paragraph of “what an effective teacher is and how important it is in the education system.” This shows the reader that ineffective teachers are a huge problem in public schools throughout the country and both policies fail to fix that.

Moving on to another important aspect in the school system; standardized testing. I go on to ask if standardized testing is effective and I back it up with evidence from scholarly journals, giving credible proof to the reader. I explain how standardized testing is a huge part of the policies which brings negative consequences for both. I explain the negative consequences to show how much of an impact these tests can make on students. I include ways to improve or change testing methods which could allow for a better policy, showing the reader how this could help schooling. 

In the next paragraph I differentiate public schools and charter schools and describe what they are and what makes them different. I give evidence from articles and authors which goes into depth describing that there isn’t a huge difference in public/charter overall school rating. I include this because it shows the audience that it doesn’t really make a huge difference on where you go to school, but how effective your teachers are and how much you get engaged. I go on to further explain teacher unions and which school has them and which doesn’t. Teacher unions make a huge difference in the education system because they can prevent bad teachers from being replaced which not only effects them, but their students too, ruining their education because they don’t get the education they deserve. The reader should know this information because most students don’t and suffer from having ineffective teachers. 

I then give examples of underfunding of schools across the country. Students are suffering because of the underfunding of schools; less resources, fewer classes, less teachers. It doesn’t sound like much but it makes a huge impact and limits the student’s education. I explain the consequences when schools are underfunded then further explain how you can improve schooling. I describe how RTT policy plans to improve teacher effectiveness, turning around low achieving schools. I then compare NCLB and how it failed to improve school achievements. 

 My conclusion consists of the different aspects of the education policies and I thoroughly describe them both. I explain flaws in both policies to show the difference in them and how they are effective. I will end it with stating which policy has overall been more effective in improving the school system. Doing this will show the reader all of the aspects in the policies, doing what they can to understand or improve the school system.