Required Composting Should composting be required in school cafeterias? Some people believe that uneaten food from school cafeterias should be composted to help reduce the amount of trash in landfills. Others argue that composting is time-consuming and difficult for schools to manage.

In a well-developed essay, persuade the members of a local school board to support your viewpoint on mandatory composting in school cafeterias. Be sure to include evidence that supports your argument.

As you write, remember your essay will be scored based on how well you:

develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your thesis to the audience.
support your thesis with meaningful reasons and sufficient details.
address the readers' concerns, opposing viewpoints, or counterarguments.
organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
Use any of the tools available to you, such as the Checklist, Spellchecker, or Graphic Organizer.