Question

Writing Prompt
Read the information and respond to the prompt.

The passages explain how having a voice allows people to share ideas, participate fully, and make a difference. In Out of My Mind, Melody finds a way to express her thoughts, while Passage 2 explains why student voices matter in schools.

Think about a time when having a voice was important.
This could be a time when you were able to share an idea, or a situation where someone else’s voice made a difference.

Write an argumentative response of at least three paragraphs explaining why having a voice is important for individuals or communities.
In your response:

clearly state a claim about the importance of having a voice,

support your claim with evidence and reasons from the passages, your own experiences or ideas, or both,

and include a conclusion that restates your claim and explains why it matters.

make it sound like a 13 year old wrote it

Answer 1

Having a voice is really important for both people and communities because it lets us share ideas, be included, and make real changes. In Out of My Mind, Melody shows how finding a way to communicate completely changes her life — when she can finally speak, people understand her thoughts and treat her differently. Passage 2 also says student voices matter in schools because when students are heard, schools make better choices and students feel like they belong. My claim is that everyone needs a chance to speak up so they can participate, be respected, and help improve things.

In Out of My Mind, Melody couldn’t speak the way other kids could, but when she finds a device to express herself, she becomes part of conversations and can prove how smart she is. That shows that having a voice is more than talking — it’s about being seen and having your ideas count. I remember a time in middle school when my group project wasn’t going well because only two people were deciding everything. I was nervous to speak up, but I finally suggested a different way to organize our report. My idea made the presentation clearer, and our whole group got a better grade. That moment made me feel important and showed me that my thoughts could actually help others.

Passage 2 explains that when students are included in school decisions, the school gets better ideas and students feel more responsible for their learning. This makes sense because kids who are listened to care more about rules and respect. If schools ignore student voices, they miss useful ideas and students can feel ignored or shut out. When people in a community share their ideas — like students giving feedback about lunches, teachers listening to classroom needs, or residents speaking up at town meetings — solutions are more fair and work better for everyone.

In conclusion, having a voice matters because it gives people respect, helps solve problems, and makes communities stronger. Melody’s story and the ideas in Passage 2 show that when people are heard, they can participate fully and improve things around them. That’s why adults and kids should make chances for everyone to speak and actually listen when they do.