Morgan Sipes

Mr. Salow
English 11
24 January 2017

Research Essay
Some say that core classes are better to take because they teach you to do things in the
real world. But others may say that elective classes challenge you more because they are things
that people actually want to do rather than challenging things that the school makes you take. But
this isnt going to be a typical essay debating whether or not to take electives classes or not. This
is all about the ways to persuade someone to take these classes, trust me there is a difference.
For example people may be headed in an artistic pathway rather than sitting in an office
for the rest of their lives. So art 1, 2, and 3 would really help them get to where they need to be.
Or maybe it helps kids with special needs express themselves and stay calm at school. Whatever
the meaning its good. Im here to show you why and how editors will use these things to show
that we (as readers) should support having electives.
According to Teachingquality.org electives matter because electives help students learn
and focus- and achieve. Rambo, Ernie. Why Electives Matter. Electives help students because
they get free time to do something that they want to do. Not every kid likes math class, otherwise
than history class. So electives give them the time to do something they enjoy. Electives matter
and they matter most when we become full participants in the professional learning
communities of our schools.

This supports why the average teenagers should take electives because they show growth
in why they should have these classes. They give reasons as to why kids should take these
classes, it shows that different kids like different things. It shows the reality in the world because
we arent just paper copies we dont just all need the same things in life. It also persuades
because people focus more when they enjoy what they are doing. Obviously this is already a
known fact that each person can personally experience.
They also have the downfalls in articles that are all for electives. I think this gives
balance and it justifies things and makes it more clear for people to give their own opinion based
off of things that they have just learned reading an article. If you think about it, its a very smart
move because the writer lets the reader think that they are coming up with their own opinion
when in reality they lowkey forced it into their brain. But the reader doesnt realize it because its
so non chalant.
Thurber Rasmussen (Eric.gov) talks about how they have done studies with actual
students in actual schools, about electives vs non electives. There studies conclude that students
tend to do better in school with electives rather than without electives. This is because they are
allowed free time to do as they please with something they enjoy. But they also talk about how
there are students who just dont enjoy and dont do well with elective courses. They do better
with knowledge, core based classes which give more to offer. Some kids just arent for free time
to themselves. These scores are basically 50/50, they show growth and decline. Not all students
are the same, they all learn differently. Thurber Rasmussen, Harriette. Beyond The Core: Peer
Observation Brings Common Core to Vocational and Electives Classes.
I agree that writers should put both aspects into their articles because it gives more room
to talk about the subject and it really puts it all out there. It gives more for the reader to base an

opinion on. I also think that it shows more about how good a writer is by supporting and dissing
a subject even if they are full force for or against it. But overall it makes it diverse.
Most elective classes that dont really teach, (take out things like Law, Creative writing
classes, Sociology, etc.) they dont really make you take final exams. These essays that I have
read have persuaded me on these facts because of their unique style of persuasion. The
persuasion types that they use would have to be things like using tons of details, and examples of
how it would affect people. Things that they would use for details is things like explaining how
things work for other people.
Leon (from Ehow.com) expresses how he thinks that it is up to the person themselves if
they want to take all core classes or core classes and electives. Some kids have such a busy
schedule and do not have time for electives, they want to get the AP classes and things that look
good for a college transcript, rather than just another art class that has nothing to do with their
profession. W.A. Leon. Elective Vs. Required Classes.
I like how this one is wrote because it shows a real life look at how kids (teens) think and
what they (most of them) want to accomplish. Most teenagers want to get some hard classes out
of the way and get into college classes to prepare themselves for the world ahead. I like that they
use real examples from kids and get their opinions on them. I like how they use examples that
the readers would understand instead of statistics showing this percentages struggles versus the
side that doesnt. Its all around different than the rest.
Yip expresses (Eric.gov) that elective/online classes are not important because you are
here to learn about one thing, for instance if you want to go into the medical field you don't need
5 different art classes talking about how to use color. You need math and science classes that will
teach you what you need to know for the rest of your life. She thinks that its important to have

elective classes because online classes are also elective classes. Online classes can help you to
prepare yourself for the world you are going into, also they can give you insight into career paths
you could possibly want to go into and be apart of.
This again (like the last one) is a different perspective, no they dont bring up kids
opinions but its not just focused all on elective classes it brings up online classes and shows how
it would (or could) help any person in the long run. It is a different perspective because it brings
up it more from a college view type, rather than just in high school. They bring it in both, they
put views for everyone to relate to and decide if they should do it.
Eric.gov uses more details in examples and details in general to promote the reader to go
on their side with the story. The writers there more than likely would rather let you form your
own opinion rather than force it on you. Other writers from other sites like to force their opinion
down your throat. Im not saying Eric.gov is better, im saying its more professional. Things that
they would use with examples is (I read one that used this example) how the brain waves show
that electives cause the brain to be happy because they are doing something they want to do.
They make sure to have as many details as they possibly can.
Delta Kappan talks about how why school? this is important because they arent just
talking about elective courses but school in general. Half of the adults in America say that it is
important academically prepare the students for college and or the work field they want to go
into. They want to have as many choices for kids to chose from to have a good college career
rather than a stressful one. Kappan, Delta. Factors That Affect Students' Capacity to Fulfill the
Role of a Learner.
This type of persuasion is iffy, Im not sure it exactly works, they are talking about the
future, and making it seem almost promised. I think that this is a poor way to persuade someone

because nothing is really promised in life, just because someone takes these classes it doesnt
mean that they will get into the college of their dreams. It doesnt mean that they will graduate
college with honors. And it really doesnt mean that you will make it big in the field of interest.
This article makes it seem like if people take certain classes they are set up for nothing but
success. But that is just the furthest thing from reality.
Sanft talks about how Mathematical Biology is now a elective course, this means that
core classes are now starting to be electives. They are stripping the meaning of electives and
making everything core. Electives are classes like Art, Gym, or Woodworking, not Biology, or
Math. These classes are more than likely AP classes that you can choose to take but do not have
to. Sanft, Rebecca. Experimenting with Mathematical Biology.
So what I got out of out of this article was that she (sanft) was trying to say that all
elective courses are now turning into college (AP) classes. I know that every person who reads
articles (any type of article) goes into the article thinking and believing certain things already,
they dont go in dumbfounded and clear of all prior knowledge. But this article made it seem like
everyone who reads this hasnt went to school and doesnt understand the whole meaning in
general. Therefore she (sanft) puts herself on a pedestal and puts the readers below her.
Another main thing that the writers do that make and or persuade me into believing the
things that they write because they have real life examples. Rasmussen College board talks about
how it is important to not only take electives in high school but also in college. It is important to
have time to yourself, to be able to enjoy yourself rather than just work. Especially in college
when everything is super hard and stressful you need a class (or extra time to study) rather than
another hard class to stress you out even more. Rasmussen College Blog Administrators. The
Importance Of Taking Elective Classes As Part Of Your Degree Program.

I agree with type of persuasion because not only does it give tons of real life examples
from actual college students going through all of this but they give examples from people who
already went through the college scene. No, Im not suggesting that they know 100% what they
are talking about or they are 100% correct because I am unbiased, but they have details to
persuade me otherwise. This I think also comes from a more reliable source who knows what
they are talking about, because its a college and it knows hands on from experience.
So overall I learned that each story or essay has a different way of persuading people to
believe in what they believe in. But that doesnt change the way that people see things and it
doesnt change the fact of what people have grew up to believe in. All people live differently and
thats something a little article about electives or core classes cant really change and or affect
how people will go about living their lives. And even though they have some really good reasons
why I should support electives and why I shouldnt support electives, they cant change your
outlook on life.

Works Cited
Thurber Rasmussen, Harriette. Beyond The Core: Peer Observation Brings Common Core to
Vocational and Electives Classes. Eric.ed.gov. June 2014. Eric. Staff. 11/21/2016

Rambo, Ernie. Why Electives Matter. Teachingquality.org. 04/13/2011. Google. CTQ.

11/21/2016.
Kappan, Delta. . Factors That Affect Students' Capacity to Fulfill the Role of a Learner.
Eric.ed.gov. 2015. Eric. 11/21/2016
W.A. Leon. Elective Vs. Required Classes. Ehow.com. 2016. Google. 11/21/2016
Yip, Tor. Evaluation of an Online Instructional Database Accessed by QR Codes to Support
Biochemistry Practical Laboratory Classes. Eric.ed.gov. Sep 2016. Eric. 11/21/2016
Sanft, Rebecca. Experimenting with Mathematical Biology. Eric.ed.gov. 2016 Eric.
11/21/2016