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Topic: Writing Prompt

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1

Which type of class would u pick and why in response to the following writing prompt?

The writing prompt is:

Imagine that business owners in your community have asked your high school to add several optional week-long courses to your high school's curriculum. They have suggested that these classes focus on practical skills such as choosing a dependable used car, renting an apartment, writing a resume, finding a good part-time job, or using a credit card responsibly. The school board has asked students which classes they would like to see added to the curriculum. Write a letter to the school board in which you urge them to choose one of these week-long courses or suggest one of your own. Explain why you think this class would be both popular and useful with your peers.

2

mshurn

Finding a good part-time job would be my choice because it would help the largest number of students. Most high school students don't buy cars, rent apartments, or use credit cards, considering that high schools include mostly younger students, as well as 18-year-olds. Many 16-year-olds, however, look for part-time work and would benefit from a class that helped them find a good job. In this economy, any class that helped a student land a job would be a very timely one.

3

For me, it would be using a credit card responsibly.  Or maybe just handling money responsibly.  At any rate, a major economic problem we have as a country is that we don't save enough and therefore have to rely on borrowing money, often from foreign countries.  That's not good for us as a nation.  Maybe more importantly to what you're talking about, getting yourself too much debt (credit card, car payment, more house than you can afford) is not at all good for your future.

4

ask996

Renting an apartment would offer a wide range of choice for the author of the letter. Look at all the areas that “renting an apartment” could address. First and foremost, the course would have to teach students how to find an affordable apartment. This would obviously have to address rent, security deposit, utilities, cable, and etc., and it would involve research of classified ads as well as internet resources perhaps. Next it could address consumer issues such as furnishing the apartment and everyday living supplies. Best bargains and cost per unit would address math skills, as would determining what percent of paycheck could be sacrificed to rent. There are many other areas that could be explored in this class such as finding a roommate, living with someone else, communication skills, good finance skills, and etc.

5

archteacher

I would add a general household finance class that would cover the following:

Maintaining and balancing checking/savings accounts

Distinguishing between wants and needs and understanding how to budget for both

Understanding pricing on everyday items (cost per unit, etc.)

Understanding credit cards vs. debit cards, interest rates, finance charges, etc.

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