LESSON
Write a statement of opinion
WRITING
GET READY
Sam is interested in majoring in education. He reads an article about an opinion on
standardized testing. What standardized tests have you taken?
STUDY THE MODEL
A
Read the article. How does the author feel about the issue?
Students have to take standardized tests
throughout their academic careers.
Standardized tests are not a new concept.
They have been part of the education
system for over 150 years. However,
standardized tests are hurting, rather than
helping, students.
Some people think that standardized
tests are objective. For example, they are
often multiple-choice tests in which each
question has one right answer. In my
opinion, multiple-choice tests are not a
good way to assess students. Real life is not
that simple. Students need to be able to
think critically about situations and realize
there isn’t always a “right” or “wrong”
answer.
It can be argued that standardized tests
are fair because the questions are the same
for all students. But I believe standardized
tests are not fair. Students from different
backgrounds or with different native
languages and skills all have to take the
same tests. They don’t have the same
knowledge or ability as someone who grew
up in the country. For instance, a student
whose native language is English is likely
to do better on a standardized test.
It is true that standardized testing may
seem less expensive. However, standardized
tests actually cost more money. The cost of
testing students, correcting grading
mistakes, and checking for accuracy hurts a
state’s education budget. I think that money
could be better spent on teachers, books,
and tests that will help a student succeed
after graduation.
In conclusion, standardized tests have
existed for a long time; however, they are
not the best use of resources and are not the
best measure of students’ progress.
Are Standardized Tests Good for Students?
6
Writers use certain
language to persuade
readers to agree with their opinion.
Emphasize Opinion
Provide Examples
I believe . . .
In my opinion, . . .
For example, . . .
For instance, . . .
Discuss Opposing Arguments Summarize Opinion
It can be argued that . . .
Some people think that . . .
It is true that . . .
In conclusion, . . .
In summary, . . .
To sum up, . . .
Writing Tip
138
UNIT 10
