Question

In words a 12 year old can understand write an Argument text portfolio non pladerized about a work of literature or topic of study that you would like to add to your curriculum. Write an Argumentative text in which you clearly state your position and support it with clams, reasons, and evidence. Be sure to address any relevant counterclaims.

Answer 1

Title: Add World Mythology and Folktales to Our Curriculum

I believe our school should add a unit about world mythology and folktales to the curriculum. My position is that learning myths and folktales from different cultures will help students become better readers, kinder people, and more creative thinkers. Below I explain my reasons and give evidence, and I also answer some arguments against it.

Claim 1: Myths and folktales help students understand other cultures.
- Reason: Stories from different places show what people care about, like bravery, fairness, or cleverness.
- Evidence: For example, a trickster tale from West Africa (like Anansi stories) shows how people used storytelling to laugh about problems and teach lessons. A Japanese folktale about teamwork can show how people in Japan think about helping each other. Reading these stories helps students learn that not everyone thinks or lives the same way, and that is okay.

Claim 2: These stories improve reading, writing, and speaking skills.
- Reason: Myths use strong characters and clear plots, so they are interesting and easy to follow. Folktales often repeat phrases and rhythms, which helps memory and vocabulary.
- Evidence: When students read a myth, they practice finding the main idea, summarizing events, and describing characters. Then they can write their own folktale or act it out, which builds writing and speaking skills. Acting out a story also helps students who learn better with movement and talking.

Claim 3: Myths encourage creativity and critical thinking.
- Reason: Myths ask “why” about the world (like “Why does the sun move?”) and give imaginative answers. This sparks students to ask questions and invent ideas.
- Evidence: After reading a creation myth, students can make their own explanations for natural things, draw pictures, or create modern versions of the tale. Comparing different cultures’ answers to the same question helps students think about evidence and belief, which is a basic part of critical thinking.

Counterclaim 1: We already have too much to teach. There is no time for extra units.
- Rebuttal: A mythology unit can fit into language arts, history, art, or music lessons. It does not need to be a separate subject. Even a two-week unit gives big benefits because it combines reading, writing, speaking, and social studies all at once.

Counterclaim 2: Myths are not “true,” so they are not useful.
- Rebuttal: The goal is not to teach facts, but to teach ideas, values, and cultural knowledge. Myths are useful because they show how people explain the world and what they think is important. They also help students learn to tell the difference between fact and story, which is an important skill.

Counterclaim 3: Some myths might be old or show unfair ideas.
- Rebuttal: That is actually a good reason to study them. Teachers can guide students to talk about what was unfair and how beliefs changed. This helps students learn to think critically and to understand history and change.

Conclusion:
Adding world mythology and folktales to our curriculum will help students read better, think more creatively, and understand other cultures. It can be taught in short, fun units that fit into subjects we already have. For these reasons, I strongly support adding a mythology and folktales unit to our school program.