School Lunches
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a change in the guidelines for school lunch programs.
The new USDA requirements include whole grains, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, fish and lean meats and skim milk.
The plan is expected to cost $3.2 billion over the next five years. Schools will be given some money from the government to help them make the changes.
School districts will have a choice about whether to adopt the new school lunch program or, instead, to stick with the program they already have.
Note: The numerical scores indicated in the scoring rubrics were for research purposes. Higher scores indicate higher quality argumentation. We encourage you to use a scoring scheme that matches your present goals for students.
A Based on this news story, which of the following do you most agree with?
1 or 2
B Explain why you chose your answer in Part A
I chose selected answer in Part A because ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Plausible reasons for selecting #1:
Plausible reasons for selecting #2:
|
Because it’s a lot healthier to the students Once schools start promoting healthy eating even more, kids will start to change their ways of eating themselves. It will mean healthier kids, by they way the lunch taste horrible. Because the lunches are more healthy. The new lunch program is much healthier. |
| 1 |
Student provides a reason for why they chose their response from Part A. The reason should pertain to whether the new school lunch program should or should not be adopted. |
|
| 0 |
Student describes a reason with that does not bear on the school lunch program |
Frank read the article about the new school lunch program.
C What is Frank’s opinion about whether or not the new lunch program should be adopted?
Frank's opinion is that ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Student writes that Frank’s opinion is that the school lunch program should not be adopted. OR That the new school lunch program costs too much money. |
The lunch program should NOT be adopted. He doesn’t want the new lunch program. Costs too much money They should not be adopted |
| 0 |
Student says something else. |
D What is the reason that Frank gives for his opinion?
Frank’s reason is ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Student writes a reason that connects to the claim identified in Part C, e.g.:
|
The cost is too great and it is unnecessary. It would cost a lot more and the money could be used on the education. Schools can save money to hire more people |
| 0 |
Student writes something else. |
He goes to school and likes the old program Though this is a reason not to support the program, Frank does not say that he is a student or that he likes the current program in the paragraph.
|
E Maddy decides to write a letter to explain why she disagrees with Frank. What should Maddy say in her letter? Make sure to include the reason Maddy would give for why she disagrees.
Dear Frank, I disagree with you because ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Student writes a critique of Frank’s argument, which points out that a deduction is/may be flawed, that there may be exceptions or qualifications to the argument, or that evidence contradicts the idea. e.g. “Dear Frank, I disagree with you because just because they save money, doesn’t mean it will go toward good things.” Spending more money on teachers won’t necessarily be valuable. This type of response provides a critique to Frank’s argument that the school lunch program should not be adopted. |
Children who eat healthier are more likely to understand the lesson. If there are more teachers, what difference would it make as the students can still not concentrate? |
| 3 |
Instead of directly critiquing Frank’s thinking, the student rebuts Frank by advancing an alternative position that is plausible. For example, they rebut Frank’s argument by advancing the argument that the school should adopt the school lunch program. e.g. “Dear Frank, The school should adopt the new lunch program because it will make kids healthier.” |
Her reason should be that promoting healthy eating could have a positive effect on kids for the rest of their lives. Our school lunch don’t have enough fruits and veggies that keep kids healthy. |
| 2 |
Student makes an attempt at constructing an original retort to Frank’s argument, but what they write is only partially coherent (e.g., you can kind of see what the student is trying to say, but their phrasing is too confusing to know for sure) |
Better and Healthier. It’s a lot healthier and a lot cheaper. |
| 1 |
Student only regurgitates given information |
|
| 0 |
Anything else |
F Can you think of a better reason than Frank's for not approving the new lunch program? Why do you think your reason is better than Frank's?
A better reason thank Frank's for not approving the new lunch program is …. I think my reason is better than Frank's because ….
| Level | Description | Student Responses |
|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Examples:
|
|
| 3 |
The student provides a reasonable, original counter argument. AND Student successfully explains why they think this is a superior argument for why the new program should not be adopted |
A better reason than Frank’s for not approving the new lunch program is the lost of money would cripple the teachers. I think my reason is better than Frank’s because if there are no teachers, there will be less focus. Provides a barely original and reasonable (but not necessarily sound) argument, and accompanying reason.
A better reason than Frank’s for not approving the new lunch program is the money could be used for new supplies and tools for the classrooms. I think my reason is better than Frank’s because you don’t need to hire so many teachers at once to teach. |
| 2 |
The student provides a reasonable, original counter argument. But does not explain why they think this is a superior argument for why the new program should not be adopted OR Student does not provide a reasonable or original counter argument But they do provide a reason for why the (unreasonable and unoriginal) counter argument is superior. |
A better reason than Frank’s for not approving the new lunch program is Still the cost. But for different things like improving the school. I think my reason is better than Frank’s because We should give it a chance. If it’s bad, it could be stopped. Goes beyond Frank’s argument against; however, the reason does not explain why the new argument is better than Frank’s.
A better reason than Frank’s for not approving the new lunch program is The amount of money is very low as it already is” I think my reason is better than Frank’s because He doesn’t really tell the reason why they should pay for the new program A better reason than Frank’s for not approving the new lunch program is that the new lunch program costs a lot of money, and if our students like it, we would have to spend all of our money on the new lunch program I think my reason is better than Frank’s because Frank’s reason is to use the money on other activities at school but I’m worried more about how to use the school’s money |
| 1 |
Student regurgitates Frank’s argument |
A better reason than Frank’s for not approving the new lunch program is because we can have more money for our school. I think my reason is better than Frank’s because we need more money for school |
| 0 |
Anything else |
A better reason than Frank’s for not approving the new lunch program is... don’t have a better reason I think my reason is better than Frank’s because it is better |
