READ the following quotation: In the United States today, about 45 million kids play some kind of after‐school, organized sport. Yet, by age 15, about 80 percent of them have quit. One reason is that many youths play sports to have fun while the adults who are observing, coaching, and parenting place too much emphasis on winning as the ultimate goal.

– Boston Globe, May 4, 2014

THINK carefully about the following question.

Why should students be encouraged to stay involved in after‐school sports through their high school years?

WRITE a multi‐paragraph argumentative essay in which you persuade readers to see the benefits that students receive by being involved in after‐school sports through their high school years

Be sure to ‐

* state your claim clearly

* organize your essay in a purposeful way, including a thoughtful introduction

* develop your essay with appropriate details, providing explanations for each point

* write a persuasive conclusion that restates your claim

* check for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization