Thesis Statement: Linda Acri's "A Case for Recess" successfully makes a convincing and persuasive
argument for why we must fight for our children's recess time.
I. Introductory Paragraph
A. Hook: While having tablets, electronic chalkboards, and more intense learning environments in
schools might thrill some parents, there really is no substitute for permitting children to play like
children.
B. Background: Acri's article sets forth the current problem of schools cutting back student recess
time and the importance of recess in a child's educational, psychological, emotional, and
intellectual development and overall life.
C. Thesis Statement: Linda Acri's article, "A Case for Recess," successfully makes a convincing
and persuasive argument for why we must fight for our children's recess time.
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Main Point #1: Acri skillfully undermines the argument that focusing on class work alone is the
key to improving school performance, including the use of an authoritative source.
i. Evidence: Acri points out that "switching between structured and unstructured activities refreshes
the brain and enhances its ability to store new information."
ii. Evidence: Acri cites a study by Doctor Mark Phillips that describes how children become "tired,
bored, depressed, angry, antisocial, and unfocused" without recess.
iii. Analysis: The argument is effective because it takes a popular idea and refutes it with strong
evidence.
iv. Link: Further, the evidence suggests that the benefits go beyond schoolwork.
B. Main Point #2: She broadens her argument by describing additional benefits of recess.
i. Evidence: Recess develops skills such as communication, persistence, and self control that not
only improve academic achievement but also help children improve their social, emotional, and
creative skills.
ii. Analysis: This argument is powerful because it shows that eliminating recess harms not just
grades but personal growth.
iii. Link: More and more, society expects schools to not only teach but also to help raise children: in
order to help children learn life skills we must provide them with time each day just to be kids.
C. Main Point #3: She links the importance of recess to broader realities of contemporary life.
i. Evidence: Many children don't have the opportunity to play outside after school.
ii. Evidence: One mother told Acri, "It’s just not safe to let them go outside. Look at all the child
abductions on television!"
iii. Analysis: Her argument appeals to many readers because it includes a number of scenarios, at
least one of which is probably relevant to almost everyone.
iv. Link: She shines a spotlight on the fact that most children are not able to enjoy the freedom to
play and explore the way their parents did.
III.Concluding Paragraph
A. Synthesis: Acri's argument about the importance of recess in nearly all areas of child
development and happy living convinces the reader to fight for unstructured play time in schools.
B. Final Impression: We must encourage schools to recognize the needs of children to exercise,
socialize, and rest their brains, and to once again see recess as a benefit rather than a hindrance
to academic progress.
Thesis Statement: While entertaining, Lionel Burnett's "Employers Violate Civil Liberties Over Online
Videos and Posts" fails to successfully argue that employer requests for decent online behavior from
employees is a violation of civil liberties.
I.Introductory Paragraph
A.Hook: One-sided and filled with biases, Burnett's article, "Employers Violate Civil Liberties Over Online
Videos and Posts," reads more like an ill-informed rant than a newsworthy opinion piece.
B.Background: This newspaper article is an opinion piece regarding the importance of social media in
today's culture and how employer involvement and concern over employee online activity is unfair and
unlawful.
C.Thesis Statement: While entertaining, Lionel Burnett's "Employers Violate Civil Liberties Over Online
Videos and Posts" fails to successfully argue that employer requests for decent online behavior from
employees are a violation of civil liberties.
II.Body Paragraphs
A.Main Point #1: Burnett assumes that most people agree with him regarding the importance of an
online
presence and profiles in cultivating an active social life.
i.Evidence: Burnett claims that interpersonal activities are no longer necessary because we can find out
everything we want or need to know about everyone online.
ii.Analysis: Burnett fails to take into account that many people are not active online and still value
meeting
their family and friends in person.
iii.Link: Focusing only on his own positive views of social media, Burnett blatantly ignores that what
people
post online has the potential to harm others.
B.Main Point #2: Burnett appears to feel that online actions should have no real life consequences.
i.Evidence: Burnett is shocked that Aaron was fired from his position as a schoolteacher after sharing
information involving guns, even though he had been warned about doing so.
ii.Analysis: The school has an interest in seeing that its employees do not post online material that may
reflect poorly on its staff and upset parents.
iii.Link: Similarly, Burnett's employer is not acting unlawfully by requesting that its employees be
mindful about their online practices.
i.Main Point #3: Employers are within their rights to expect decent behavior from employees—both
online
and offline.
ii.Evidence: Human Resources asked its employees to sign a social media contract and although Burnett
claims to be vehemently opposed, he went along with it.
iii.Analysis: If Burnett is such an advocate for online legal freedoms, why did he sign the social media
contract rather than finding a new job with a company that doesn't require such a contract?
iv.Link: While Burnett makes an interesting point about his boss—that company expectations regarding
online and offline social behaviors are not consistent—he offers no real evidence to support his
argument that his employers, or Aaron's for that matter, acted unlawfully (or even unreasonably).
III.Concluding Paragraph
A.Synthesis: Although Burnett's commentary highlights some trends in social interactions in this
country, i.e., a moving away from live interpersonal contact to a more virtual reality, it falls short of
supporting his claim that employers violate civil liberties over online videos and posts.
B.Final Impression: Burnett offers no facts, just his opinion and personal outrage, on what's becoming a
common human resources requirement: the social media contract.
