Should School Start Later? — Argumentative Essay — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 8th Grade persuasive writing writing prompt.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet8th Grade · English · Persuasive WritingShould School Start Later? — Argumentative Essay — Answers
Plan
Plan your claim, evidence, and counterargument before you write.
- Claim
- Evidence
- Explanation
- Counterargument
- Rebuttal
- Health experts recommend 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night for teenagers.
- Later start times could make after-school practices and jobs end later.
- Middle and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
- Schedules can be adjusted, but students cannot make up for lost sleep night after night.
- A student who must wake at 6:00 a.m. would need to fall asleep by 10:00 p.m. to get even 8 hours.
Answer: Claim → Middle and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.; Evidence → Health experts recommend 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night for teenagers.; Explanation → A student who must wake at 6:00 a.m. would need to fall asleep by 10:00 p.m. to get even 8 hours.; Counterargument → Later start times could make after-school practices and jobs end later.; Rebuttal → Schedules can be adjusted, but students cannot make up for lost sleep night after night.
- AHealth experts recommend 8 to 10 hours of sleep for teenagers.
- BStudents who are tired may find it harder to concentrate in class.
- CMy favorite class is science.
- DSome communities have already moved school start times later.
Answer: My favorite class is science.
A favorite class has nothing to do with start times.
Answer: Many teenagers drag themselves to the bus stop before sunrise. Middle and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Answer: Teenagers need more sleep than many get. Health experts recommend 8 to 10 hours a night, and an early start makes that hard to reach.
Answer: Rested students learn better. Students who are tired may find it harder to concentrate, remember new material, and stay positive in class.
Answer: Later start times could push practices and jobs later. Nevertheless, schedules can be adjusted, while lost sleep adds up every school night.
Answer: School start times affect the health and learning of every student, so communities should make sleep a priority.
Write
Model answer: On a dark winter morning, many teenagers drag themselves to the bus stop before the sun has even come up. They are not lazy; they are tired. Health experts recommend that teenagers get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, yet early school start times make that goal hard to reach. For this reason, middle and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Success criteria:
- An introduction with background and a precise, arguable claim
- At least two reasons, each supported by relevant, accurate evidence
- Explanation connects each piece of evidence to the claim
- A counterargument stated fairly and answered with a rebuttal
- Logical transitions link ideas and paragraphs
- A conclusion that restates the claim and explains why the issue matters
- A formal tone with correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.