Working thesis: Academic tracking and ability grouping may be used to make learning more accessible for all kids, when in fact it widens the gap between the different levels of learning ability.
Introduction/Thesis: Academic tracking or ability grouping is the practice of dividing students into separate groups based on their learning abilities. It is usually used for Math and English classes. More than 95%of middle and high schools in North America employ some form of academic tracking. Academic tracking and ability grouping may be used to make learning more accessible for all kids, when in fact it widens the gap between the different levels of learning ability.
Area of Support 1: Students placed in less academically rigorous courses lose the motivation to work harder and end up falling farther behind. One study showed that 95% of all gifted students ended up attending a college/university as opposed to 56% and 32% of those in regular and special education, respectively.
Area of Support 2: Tracking, especially when done at a younger age, facilitates teachers to practice "labeling" which could unfairly group students based on factors other than their learning ability. Schools tend to become more segregated when tracking is involved. High-track classrooms tend to have a higher rate of white students than black or other students of color, with the exception of Asian students.
Area of Support 3: The better teachers are usually given to the higher level classes, which means that the students that need more help are getting less experienced teachers and are not having their needs met. There are many factors that contribute to one's education and their ability to learn, including teacher competency. Students that are having more difficulty learning need more competent teachers in order to help them focus and learn.
Area of Support 4: Students will work harder if they see others become successful and will try to achieve their own success. Children that have similar ability levels and backgrounds become increasingly different in aspirations and achievements after they are placed in different track levels.
Conclusion: Ability grouping forces the school curriculum to focus more on the advanced learners, when their focus should be spent helping the students that struggle through school. This creates an even bigger gap between the different academic groups and allows for more children to slip through the cracks. Instead, we need to have more reasonable expectations for the students and provide a strong base from which they can learn.
Angela,
ReplyDeleteNice work. It looks like you changed your point of view as a result of the research. That is interesting when that happens, yes? Sometimes research results are surprising. I think this looks very clear and compelling. You might need to provide a little background in order to define the terms "tracking" or "ability grouping" as well as what other options for grouping are available. I am really interested to see how the project comes together.
Im very intriqued by your topic. Your thesis has the right amount of information so that the reader is inclined and interested enough to read through the entire paper. The support areas back up your topic well. Your writing is great- only your stance itself I question (in other words meaning you had a goodtwo-sided thesis).
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading I couldn't help but hold a skeptic view thinking that those separations of ability tracking are no different than the separations between grade levels-you dont pair an eighth grader and a high school student in the same classes because of their varied learning abilities. How is this any different from academic grouping?
Or when honors or AP classses are held in highschools, its for those that choose to give that extra effort though it isnt required. Its more or less a choice. Should the brighter students be bored in classes that arent challenging enough for them?
I dont mention this to dim down your topic in anyway, but by acknowledging and responding to those critics you can strengthen your argument immensely.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do with it!