Writing Standards > Writing Arguments and Counterclaims (CCSS.W.8.1) Practice Test

Graduating with skills that strengthen communities should be a shared expectation. Our district should require every student to complete at least 20 hours of community service before graduation. This requirement would not be busywork; it would build real civic habits. In districts with structured service programs, schools report higher rates of youth volunteering and better attendance at school-sponsored events. Students also gain workplace skills—communicating with adults, managing time, and following through on commitments—that colleges and employers value. Some argue that a requirement would burden students who already juggle jobs or family responsibilities. That concern is valid, which is why schools should offer flexible options on weekends and during advisory periods, provide transportation to partner sites, and allow students to choose causes they care about. Our own youth commission and local food bank have both asked for more teen volunteers. Requiring service, with support, would help students learn by doing while meeting real community needs. A thoughtful, well-organized program can make graduation more meaningful without squeezing academics.

Graduating with skills that strengthen communities should be a shared expectation. Our district should require every student to complete at least 20 hours of community service before graduation. This requirement would not be busywork; it would build real civic habits. In districts with structured service programs, schools report higher rates of youth volunteering and better attendance at school-sponsored events. Students also gain workplace skills—communicating with adults, managing time, and following through on commitments—that colleges and employers value. Some argue that a requirement would burden students who already juggle jobs or family responsibilities. That concern is valid, which is why schools should offer flexible options on weekends and during advisory periods, provide transportation to partner sites, and allow students to choose causes they care about. Our own youth commission and local food bank have both asked for more teen volunteers. Requiring service, with support, would help students learn by doing while meeting real community needs. A thoughtful, well-organized program can make graduation more meaningful without squeezing academics.