Dominic Amedio
ENGL 101
2/21/2022
Proposal Classical Argument Thesis/Outline Assignment
I. Introduction
A. Education reform has been a tirelessly debated topic in the United States- and yet, the
quality of American education has continued to dwindle. Without serious reformation,
education will become a shell of its once prestigious stature.
B. The need for reformation can be seen in the severely lacking skills of American
students. “For example, one study found that only 31 percent of fourth graders are
proficient in reading on the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) and by
eighth grade this numb er is virtually the same (33 percent)” (Vindis, 2012).
C. Thesis: Education reform in the United States can be properly executed through the
expansion of resources and funding, higher teacher salaries, and a more comprehensive
yet inclusive curriculum.
II. Body Paragraph
A. Education reform can be implemented through increased resources and government
funding programs.
B. One of the biggest causes of educational inequality is the lack of proper resources,
materials, and monetary funding. “Dollars must be at the start of every conversation
around equity. Funding is a central component to providing a high-quality education and
often leads to improved outcomes” (Baffour, Benner, Boser, & Martin, 2018).
C. By providing more funding for education, students and educators will have more
access to better materials, lessons, textbooks, and amenities that facilitate better learning
environments. In return, this will help to bolster the quality of education in America.
III. Body Paragraph
A. By paying teachers a higher, more sustainable wage, schools can ensure that they are
employing teachers that are highly qualified and dedicated to education.
B. Research has steadily shown how higher teacher salaries and cognitive skills are
directly correlat and their students ed. “Notably, teachers have stronger cognitive skills—
perform better in math and reading in countries that pay teachers more, like in Ireland, —
Canada, and Finland” (Will, 2019).
