ANALYZING A TEXT

WRITTEN TEXTS

When you analyze an essay or article, do the following:

 Summarize the text.

 Title of the text/ author/ source

and answer these questions:

 What is the thesis or central idea of the text?

 Who is the intended audience?
 What questions does the author address?
 How does the author structure the text?
 What are the key parts of the text?
 How do the key parts of the text interrelate?
 How do the key parts of the text relate to the thesis?
 What does the author do to generate interest in the argument?
 Does the author have enough credibility to write such text and present such argument?
 How does the author convince the readers of their argument’s merit?
 What evidence is provided in support of the thesis?
 Is the evidence in the text convincing?
 Has the author anticipated opposing views and countered them?
 Is the author’s reasoning sound?

ANALYZING A TEXT

WRITTEN TEXTS

When you analyze an essay or article, do the following:

 Summarize the text.

 Title of the text/ author/ source

and answer these questions:

 What is the thesis or central idea of the text?

 Who is the intended audience?
 What questions does the author address?
 How does the author structure the text?
 What are the key parts of the text?
 How do the key parts of the text interrelate?
 How do the key parts of the text relate to the thesis?
 What does the author do to generate interest in the argument?
 Does the author have enough credibility to write such text and present such argument?
 How does the author convince the readers of their argument’s merit?
 What evidence is provided in support of the thesis?
 Is the evidence in the text convincing?
 Has the author anticipated opposing views and countered them?
 Is the author’s reasoning sound?
 Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms

School uniforms and why students wear them has been a topic of concern and debate for as long as these clothes
have been around. Though people who argue that wearing uniforms in educational institutions make people appear all
equal, give a sense of community, and teach discipline, I believe there are more disadvantages to wearing uniforms
than advantages. Namely, demanding students to adorn uniforms takes away freedom, they are often uncomfortable,
they are a waste of money, they promote conformity over individuality, and children’s self-image is damaged more
when they wear uniforms at school.

Most developed countries, like the United States of America, believe in one’s right to freedom of expression. Making it
mandatory for students to give up their right to express themselves through clothing is wrong. According to
ProCon.org, “The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees that all individuals have the right to
express themselves freely. The US Supreme Court stated in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community
School District (7-2, 1969) that “it can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their
constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” In the 1970 case Richards v.
Thurston (3-0), which revolved around a boy refusing to have his hair cut shorter, the US First Circuit Court of Appeals
ruled that “compelled conformity to conventional standards of appearance” does not “seem a justifiable part of the
educational process”’ (“School Uniforms – ProCon.org”). So, not only is the demand to wear uniforms in a sense
unconstitutional, it also goes against rulings by the Supreme Court. In this way, it can be said that making uniforms in
schools mandatory is un-American.

On the side of practicality, uniforms are often seen as less comfortable than normal clothes. They can be tight and not
adjustable to different weather conditions. The temperatures in winter and summer can be unbearable in a standard
school uniform. Many students have expressed through surveys that they do not feel comfortable in their uniforms,
and that this type of clothing does not adjust well to varying weather conditions (“Research on School Uniforms – It’s
Clear, They Disadvantage Girls”).

Another practical concern is that paying for uniforms wastes the money of parents, when their children can simply
wear the clothes they have. Also, schools could be selling uniforms for more than necessary. In the United Kingdom,
for instance, the Guardian reports that, “Parents could be spending millions of pounds more than they need to on
school uniforms because of exclusive deals between schools and suppliers, the government’s competition watchdog
has warned. Headteachers and school governing bodies were told by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
on Thursday that they must let parents “shop around” for affordable uniforms for their children, using supermarkets if
they wish rather than be forced to buy more expensive items in exclusive arrangements with suppliers” (Smithers,
Rebecca). This means that not only do parents have to spend extra money on an outfit, but also the uniforms schools
are selling are overpriced.

Leaning more into the abstract, uniforms promote conformity instead of individuality. A sense of individuality is key in
democratic societies. It should be nurtured when young. According to ProCon.org, “At a time when schools are
encouraging an appreciation of diversity, enforcing standardized dress sends a contradictory message. In schools
where uniforms are specifically gendered (girls must wear skirts and boys must wear pants), transgendered, gender-
fluid, and gender-nonconforming students can feel ostracized” (“School Uniforms – ProCon.org”). So, in order for each
person to not feel the pressure of societal conformity, it is important that schools keep a sense of diversity.

Lastly, many students feel they do not look their best in uniforms. That’s due to the fact that uniforms fit the mold of
certain body types, and curvier or plus-size individuals often feel out of place and uncomfortable in uniforms. Wearing
uniforms lends itself to more comparison, and children who do not fit the mold of a “normal” student in terms of body
type are commonly ridiculed by classmates (Flam, Lisa).

Though there are some benefits to wearing uniforms in school, I believe there are more disadvantages than
advantages to using them. This is because they strip away freedom, they are uncomfortable, it is a waste of money to
buy them, they celebrate conformity over individuality, and the self-image of children is damaged more when they
wear uniforms. Let us keep our schools constitutional by allowing students to wear what they deem expresses their
unique personality, within the limits of appropriateness.

PROS

 Enhance student safety and deter crime

 Shift students’ focus to their education, not their clothing
 Foster a sense of equality among students by creating a level playing field and reducing peer pressure and bullying
 Instill school pride, unity, and community spirit
 Improve attendance and discipline, contributing to a more productive learning environment
 Streamline dress code enforcement, saving valuable classroom time and resources
 Eliminate the display of gang colors and insignia
 Facilitate easier preparation for school, potentially improving punctuality and decreasing stress
 Reduce the financial burden on parents by providing a cost-effective alternative to regular clothing
 Gain widespread support from parents and educators for mandatory uniform policies
 Respect students’ legal right to free expression even with a uniform policy in place
 Enhance students’ image among teachers and peers when dressed in uniform
 Allow for personal expression through various accessories and small modifications to the standard uniform.

CONS

 School uniforms may limit students’ ability to express themselves.

 School uniforms may prioritize conformity over individuality.
 School uniforms alone may not effectively address bullying and may even exacerbate violent behavior.
 There is insufficient evidence to support the touted benefits of school uniforms.
 The key findings used to tout the benefits of uniforms are questionable.
 School uniforms may highlight economic disparities rather than bridge them.
 Many students are opposed to school uniforms.
 School uniforms may negatively impact students’ self-image.
 Overemphasizing school uniforms may distract from more significant educational issues that need to be addressed.
 The push for school uniforms is driven by commercial interests rather than educational ones.
 Parents should be allowed to make their own choices about their children’s clothing without undue government
intervention.
 School uniforms in public schools may present an additional financial burden to families, undermining the promise of
free education.
 School uniforms may delay the development of students’ sense of personal style and independence.

Of course, the question of school uniform is still open to discussions. Such questions are hugely popular topics for
persuasive essays. If you need more help and inspiration, or additional examples of works, you can look through
any paper writing service review to find them.

Works Cited

“School Uniforms – ProCon.org.” ProConorg Headlines, school-uniforms.procon.org/.

“Research on School Uniforms – It’s Clear, They Disadvantage Girls.” Girls’ Uniform Agenda, 27 July 2017,
girlsuniformagenda.org/2017/06/14/research-girls-school-uniforms-clear-discriminate/.

Smithers, Rebecca. “Parents Pay Millions More than Needed for School Uniforms, Says Watchdog.” The Guardian,
Guardian News and Media, 15 Oct. 2015, www.theguardian.com/money/2015/oct/15/school-uniforms-cost-parents-
pay-millions-more-than-needed.

Flam, Lisa. “Are School Uniforms Helping or Hindering?” Today.com, Aug. 19, 2013.
School uniforms and why students wear them have been a topic of concern and debate for as long as they
have been around. There are more disadvantages to wearing uniforms than advantages, such as taking
away freedom, being uncomfortable, being a waste of money, promoting conformity over individuality, and
damaging children's self-image. Most developed countries believe in one's right to freedom of expression,
and making uniforms in schools mandatory is un-American. On the side of practicality, uniforms are often
seen as less comfortable than normal clothes and do not adjust well to varying weather conditions.
Uniforms promote conformity instead of individuality, and can lead to ostracization of transgendered,
gender-fluid, and gender-nonconforming students. In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
has warned headteachers and school governing bodies to let parents "shop around" for affordable uniforms
for their children, rather than be forced to buy more expensive items in exclusive arrangements with
suppliers. This means that not only do parents have to spend extra money on an outfit, but also the
uniforms schools are selling are overpriced. It is important to keep a sense of diversity in order for each
person to not feel the pressure of societal conformity.

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