Zach Voelker
Source: A New Assignment: Pick Books You Like, August 30th, 2009, Motoko Rich.
List each claim made in argument: It would be more helpful for students to choose there own books. Students would learn more when reading what they want rather than having the teachers choose books for them. It would also help them with standardized testing.
Data used to support each claim: Better test’s scores, more involved in reading and class work, and they would challenge themselves rather than have to teacher do it.
Identify the warrants: Reading is a good thing!
Backing of warrants: students are finding what they have in common with the literary culture. It is more helpful to the students when picking out their own book. From a students point of view they would have to really enjoy the books or get scarred into reading them. Like, fail to get into college.
List of qualifiers: Some books are gonna have to be assigned. Other books can be chosen buy the student as long as they are for their reading level. The lady who bought all the books spent a lot of money, that would mean even more for teachers around the country. Some kids might fail but they will have to just keep working at it.
List any rebuttals: The community is not built, which means even if that one teacher said it worked not everyone would want to follow in her foot steps. Ms. McNeill knew she didn’t succeed in persuading all the students to read but she did get many of the students reading.
Overall: I could see this both ways, I see it as a good argument because students are learning to like reading more than they would if they just had it spoon fed to them. They are also choosing books that interest them so they would want to continue reading the older they get. I could also see it as a failed attempt because the other teachers around the country may not have the same outlook as she did. It may be a personal view to read certain books, and it could also be students being pier pressured into reading certain books. They may feel obligated to read books of a higher reading level. Students can’t start off reading books like Moby Dick, they have to start small. “You have to walk before you can Run.”
