As the title of this blog suggests, practicing these prompts leading up to the exam will help you to do your best on the exam. Additionally, practicing how to argue is at the heart of AP Language and Composition. You have read and analyzed many, many arguments and have written your own. This prompt is about community service, so many of the information you might want to use is fresh! I implore you to try this pre-writing exercise and upon completing it, set a timer for 40 minutes and go to town! Make sure your essay is fully developed. When you are finished writing it, click on the link below and read the samples. After checking the samples, choose and comment on three of your classmates' essays. Give them a score and give a synopsis of why you awarded the score you did. Be specific and refer to their argument. Do not just say it is good or that you liked it, comment on what was good about it and what they might consider improving.
Pre writing Question 3
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Sample Responses
Entitlement? Is this really what community service is all about? Too often today, children and adults alike demand something in return for any act they perform. “I studied for an hour, so I should have received an ‘A’ on the exam.” “I practiced for my interview; I deserved that job!” Now, while these are, of course, often said out of simple frustration, it seems that a more valid application of this mentality has carried over into community service; many demand and, quite frequently, receive some form of compensation for charitable acts performed, a practice that appears morally incorrect on the outside and inside, and only furthers the culture of entitlement present today.
ReplyDeleteIn the most sold book throughout the world, the Bible, the life of a courageous, loving, compassionate man, Jesus Christ, is detailed. The latter portion of his life on earth, his Passion and Death, provides an example of the ultimate sacrifice of self for the salvation of many (while receiving nothing in return). In much the same way, while on a much smaller level, we have the opportunity to show a similar selfless love through charitable acts. However, to incentivize such charitable acts take away, well, the “charitable” part of the phrase. Charity requires a selfless love, a selfless devotion to another, whether this be an individual or a group. It strips away the dignity of service.
What appears to be missing from the opposing side’s argument is the idea that service to others, in its fullest, most beautiful, truest form, is a moral obligation of every individual; it is our duty to humanity. Now, while some might question this idea because they do not believe in Christianity or any other faith whose mission is to serve others, it seems to be assumed that the vast majority of the human population is born with an innate desire to love others and to empathize with those who are less fortunate. Such a desire, such an intrinsic quality, demands a selfless love for others that does not demand reward. At my school, every year, students are required to earn 20 service hours and complete a “Pay-It-Forward” project in their sophomore year (with no compensation). In my own personal experience with this, I helped those who were less fortunate than myself at a local Boys’ and Girls’ Club. The feeling felt following this act was payment enough, and to have received compensation for the act would have entirely taken the selflessness by which I acted.
Compensation in return for community service is an act that fully undermines what society has valued in years past — a sense of service and selfless devotion to others. Such an undermining of ideals only serves to make more entitled and fewer devoted to serving others. Such action will only impede progress made for the betterment of others. Without this progress made for others, how can society continue to build on the advancements of the societal condition so that more may thrive?
Isaac, for this essay, I will be giving you a 6/7. I chose this because I really liked how you incorporated the Bible into it. However, those who do not follow it may completely ignore all the information that paragraph includes. Also,I feel like you ramble on too much for example, “the life of a courageous, loving, compassionate man” or “in its fullest, most beautiful, truest form”. All of these words seem as if you are just trying to have more words. That is why I decided you should earn a 6. The 7 is because you had a very good argument and went into depth the entire time. Well done!
DeleteWhy do we do something for the good of others when the outcome does not affect us at all? This question is what many high schoolers ask. The truth is, despite seeming like one does not receive anything from doing community service, these tasks actually help both the giver and receiver. The one who does the task gets the feeling of accomplishment, and they also should feel a large sum of happiness. On the other hand, the receiver is able to relax about something that could have been very difficult for oneself to do alone. Just because you help someone out does not mean that a physical object, such as money, should be received in return. The simplest tasks can completely change someone’s mood for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different community service projects that can be completed. The task does not have to be something that is not enjoyable. One way to earn many service hours is to be apart of a school sport. This is because these sports usually have to work some form of a clinic. Basketball players and football players may be required to lead a clinic for elementary aged children about how to excel in that particular sport. Also, cheerleaders may host their own cheer competition. These are all something that can be very enjoyable as well. There is an endless possible of what type of service can be done to help out someone else.
Community service can be used in many different ways. Some people do it because it is a requirement for graduation, while others do this service because they need to be taught a lesson. This makes community service more beneficial. The goal the school has for the students involves them learning the importance of community work. It also helps teach discipline to those who may have done something wrong, and this is how they make up for it. For this group of people, community service is not supposed to be enjoyable. Despite them not enjoying it, they are still doing something for a cause, which may include picking up trash on the side of the road. There are also many more benefits such as improvement in health and personal development. It is clinically proven that volunteer work can help lower depression and stress. This is because the action may distract someone from what is happening outside of the work. It is also physically healthy too because someone has to stay very active usually while volunteering. By doing community service, one becomes an active member in their community.
Community service is one way to become more social and involved in not only just a community where one lives, but also a community of many different clubs and even sports. It is made to improve some else’s life, and also your own. One needs to realize that it is not all about him/her, but it is about helping those who need it the most. Even if you think that someone might not need help, you should always lend a helping hand.
4/5
DeleteBethany, while I do feel that you use many great examples, I also feel that at many points, you don’t relate it back to the prompt directly. A lot of what you’re saying seems to be more implied than stated directly, and I feel that it is important to make the connection for the reader. For example, your statement that “some people do it as a requirement for graduation .... This make community service more beneficial,” doesn’t really convey to me why this matters (the “so what” question). However, I will say, because of how thorough you were with your examples, I think that if you take the next step and make the connections, this would have potential to earn a higher score.
5/6
DeleteBethany, you provided many examples towards your idea and you even included some proven facts to build it up, I enjoyed your essay but I feel as though you could have gotten more into depth.
The meaning behind community service and charitable acts has become increasingly misconstrued over the past few years now. Charity, by definition, means the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need. Voluntary is then defined as done, given, or acting of one's own free will. When incentives are then offered for completing charitable acts, it ruins whole purpose and meaning behind the act. By analyzing the definitions of both charitable and voluntary with regards to doing community acts for incentives, one can conclude that it is morally wrong and unethical.
ReplyDeleteWhen people now are entertaining the thought of engaging in community service or a charitable act, they may focus more on getting something in return, whether it be financial compensation, praise, or recognition. Sure, there is not anything wrong with wanting to get recognition for an act you have completed, but when the driving force behind your decision to choose to help or not is how much praise and recognition you will get when it is over, that is when it becomes a problem. People have began to express a feeling of entitlement when they are thinking about community service. When they decide to help somebody out, they expect a favor back in return, rather than just helping them with no intentions of having a service done for them as well. That in no way can be considered a “charitable act” because the only reason help was given in the first place was only to gain it back later in the future, and does not match the definitions of charitable or voluntary.
Community service, when done properly, can benefit both the doer and the receiver. The person completing the act of service can get a sense of accomplishment, knowing they were able to unselfishly help another person, and the person who is the recipient of the service obtains another helping hand in a project they did not have previously. There is nothing wrong with needing help with something, and surely there is absolutely nothing wrong with lending them that hand if your intentions are set properly. When the intentions are focused purely on incentives and recognition, it is both morally wrong and unethical, and cannot be considered a true act of service or charitable act.
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Delete4/5
DeleteErick, while I do feel you made good use of the definition of charitable and voluntary to establish your argument on this topic, I feel that you could have knocked at the other doors of invention (especially testimony) to further your point. I did notice a lot of observations and opinion in there, for example, in your second paragraph when you state that “people have begun to express a feeling of entitlement,” but I think it’s necessary that you back those points up with more facts.
6/7
DeleteAlthough I do not completely agree with your argument you gave good points and you backed the up well. I think you could have had a bit more evidence but all in all it was good. Maybe some more examples next time!
Solid 5
DeleteI feel like you do a good-enough job establishing your position on the argument. You also have some very good points, namely that community service, done properly, benefits the doer and the receiver. However, I felt that your argument was a little broad. I feel like your argument would have beeen helped out by using some more concrete examples, as the prompt says to use examples from your experience and/or knowledge.
6/7
DeleteDefining charity and voluntary is a good move because you set up your argument well. By defining these, you were able to support that they are being used incorrectly by society. I also like how you mentioned that is not wrong to want to get recognized for an act, but it is wrong to only do the act to get recognized.
5/7
DeleteI feel like you did a really good job here. Especially how you go about approaching this argument. Defining charity and voluntary works in a community is particularly effective, I feel like you could have improved your body paragraph with some more examples. It was lacking in that regard. Otherwise, I found it all very clear.
Part 1
ReplyDeleteIn today’s world, much of culture is about self-gratification. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it is more factual than not. This quality of culture strongly reverberates in the stigma surrounding charity work and volunteerism today. It is not entirely uncommon for a person, when confronted with the opportunity to do a good deed, to ask “Well, what do I get out of it?” This is precisely the problem. When you expect or perhaps require a reward or material gratification for the good works you do, it immediately loses some — if not all — of the sincerity surrounding the act. This only feeds more and more into the self-gratification society we live in.
Through many of my years, and from multiple sources, I have been instilled with the ideal of “service without expectation of anything in return.” A major component to this learning has been my local Boy Scouts of America Troop. There, I have learned the value of community service and laboring for nothing more than a smile on someone else’s face or a firm handshake after I have finished. I feel it has truly inspired me to be a life-long volunteer and, in a way, a servant. I can confidently say that, should I have been paid or otherwise reimbursed for my efforts, I surely would not have learned the value of service. Instead of learning the notion that the service itself is as self-gratifying as anything, I would have learned that service is just a springboard to selfish interests. I will admit there are times when I did at least hope I would receive some kind of compensation for work performed, particularly when the task is a true drudgery, but after the job is completed, with or without compensation, I find myself, in some way at least, a better person, and that is all the payment I need.
Stemming off that idea, I believe that community service and charity can be a method of self improvement. As I stated, difficult tasks can sometimes improve a person themselves. One such task was a local campaign named “Scouting for Food.” In this event, we scouts would place plastic bags on doorknobs or something similar, explaining what exactly the program was and who it benefited. The program was in essence a collection for the food bank. People would find the bags on their doors, fill them with canned goods and other non-perishables, and then set them out on their porch on a designated pick up date. The bags were there to be used, of course, but some families filled large cardboard boxes with canned foods. So much so that it took two or three of us to lift the box into an accompanying adult chaperone’s vehicle. This was very early on in my scouting career, and for some reason, the troop has not repeated it for the past few years. I will say, however, I still specifically remember instances of extraordinary generosity from people who were not receiving anything in return. Most of the time, we did not know whose house was whose. No one was keeping track of who donated what. But yet, some families (or individuals, for all I know) felt the need to go above and beyond, stocking multiple boxes and crates, just because it was the right thing to do. This inspired me beyond measure. I cannot say I have always lived up to this standard, but I am working on it. This kind of charity, the kind where you do not expect nor receive anything in return, is the most sincere form of service one can render, and inspires more than just the recipient of the action. Every single person touched and affected by an act is able to be inspired.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteHowever, if one of those families were to include a note saying something like “I am only donating this much food so you can put my name in the paper,” or, “I am expecting full compensation for what I’ve given,” that Inspiration would not have taken place. While yes, it is entirely understandable to desire something in return for services rendered, and it may make the doer feel better about themselves or feel like they were not troubled by the workload as they knew it had a payoff. In contrast however, as beneficial as that may be, I think the greater good is just what those families did. Work charitably, that is, without expectation of reward, and you can inspire one person or possibly a whole town. Who knows? Indeed, without putting your name along with the act, you may be pushed to the side, not recognized or cared about in the scope of the charitable act, but if you can inspire just one person to act similarly, who knows when the cycle ends? I believe the lack of recognition is a small price to pay for the difference truly charitable acts may have in people’s lives.
7/8
DeleteLuke, I think your use of personal experience here was phenomenal and really strengthened your ethos. You further build on this aspect of the rhetorical triangle by using phrases such as “I will admit there are times when I did at least hope that I would receive some kind of compensation” and “I cannot say I have always lived up to that standard.” With these phrases, you show that you feel you have had shortcomings in this area, which makes you more of an equal, not a superior. I think this would resonate with many. You are also extremely thorough throughout your essay, which was just as effective.
What is the purpose of giving when both sides are receiving? Donations and volunteering are both victims of offering a reward for participating. This defeats the purpose of charity work because it is not completely selfless. Performing an act or sending in a donation are meant to be out of kindness, not for receiving a prize. The understanding of charity work has been stretched and made into a two sided situation.
ReplyDeleteThe blood drive has become a key organization that gives its “donators” prizes. People often receive a gift card or cash for the donation of their blood. Is this really a donation? The act is a moral one, but the drive behind it is not. Those who donate blood simply to receive a gift are changing the definition of charity. While there are many people who do donate for the sole satisfaction of knowing they helped others, the others are only helping themselves.
At Elk County Catholic, the Spanish classes have parties (fiestas) once in a while to celebrate a special occasion or a Spanish holiday. In order for the parties to have snacks, the students are asked to bring them in. There is a sign up sheet in the front of the room about four days before the party for signatures. Many students participate, and they do not receive a grade for this act. The students bring in snacks solely to make the party complete for others. This is how charitable acts should happen because there is not a reward for participating. The students donate for the thought of others and are left with a feeling of satisfaction.
The food bank is a positive organization that reflects the true meaning of charity. People donate food and drinks in order to feed men, woman, and children. These donators do not receive a physical prize, only a emotional one. The food bank then organizes these donations to make food packages for the needy. True charity is shown through this process. There are people who need help and there are even more who are willingly to help without reward.
Students should not be given incentives for performing good deeds because it defeats the purpose. Donating ones time and energy for others rewards people with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing they made a difference. At the end of someone’s life, it will not matter to them how much they had, rather it will be how much they did that will matter.
6/7
DeleteI do feel that you brought forth very good arguments, especially when you said “People often receive a gift card or cash for the donation of their blood. Is this really a donation?” and “This is how charitable acts should happen because there is not a reward for participating. The students donate for the thought of others and are left with a feeling of satisfaction.” However, I feel like you could have elaborated on these claims further, building on them even more.
7/8
DeleteMaddie, you did a great job at defining your side and then defending it with real life examples. You posed a good question at the begininning and ended with a sentence that clearly sums up what you think is right.
Is doing something for the good of others worth it if it’s done for the wrong reason? Can it really be considered doing charity work if you are made to do it? These are hard questions to answer, but they plaque the minds of society today. Before answering these questions one would need to think of this, how do people become involved in charity work if they are never given the push to do so? Depending on the way it is perceived schools awarding students points in exchange for charitable actions could actually be good. Without this kind of influence as children would the future adults participate in charities and other organizations?
ReplyDeleteIn high schools throughout America the requirement of service hours differ but in the end that word still haunts people’s minds , “requirement” Having a set requirement in schools for service hours is not a bad thing. For some these requirements could help develop a love for serving others, for others it may do the opposite but they could at least say at some point in their lives they were given the opportunity to help others. Having students complete a requirement for community service hours could potentially make helping others second nature which would be very beneficial to their lives.
In my high school in particular we are required to earn a minimum of twenty hours each year but are encouraged to obtain more. Not all students take this opportunity to get more just out of the kindness of their hearts but some do which is amazing. Also as a school community we participate in Pay it Forward projects, donate clothes and toys to organizations and pay one dollar in order to dress down on selected days. When we hear the amount of things or money we were able to donate we all feel apart of something special, that is it is all about it’s a satisfaction with knowing you were able to make a difference.
Without the opportunity schools give to students to complete service projects not many kids would do it on their own. This is way it is safe to presume that he requirements students are expected to complete in schools for community service are not bad things. Some kids may be doing this for the wrong reasons and just to get it over with but others are truly humbled to be able to participate. So is doing the right thing for the wrong reason ok?, yes it truly is.
7/8
DeleteYou established a good argument and gave proper amounts of evidence. I think a little more evidence or personal experience would be good. Also maybe make it a little bit longer, but it looks good.
6/7
DeleteThis was a very well written argument. I like the connection you made between having th push to do community service and the people who do it actively now. You backed up your points very well and gave great examples. Maybe just a bit longer next time but overall great job!
6/7
DeleteI really liked how you set up your argument with questions that make the reader think, followed by how the reader should be interpreting the questions. Your examples of the service hours and Pay It Forward project were great to support your idea that the mindset may be wrong but the act is still good.
Giving away to charity is a good thing, right? After all, the Bible tell us to do so. However, when does this act go to far? I believe that receiving incentives for giving away to charity is okay, as long as those incentives do not cross the line.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading the column from the prompt. I immediately agreed with the writer at first. However, they soon began to talk about the use of bonus points as an incentive to donate. I see nothing wrong with incentives such as a pizza party or another activity, however I think that bonus points or curving grades is completely immoral. A student’s grade should not just be a number that defines their intellectual ability, it should define their character. Characteristics such as grit, persistence, and their hard-working attitude should shine through these numbers. After all I believe that is what truly matters, not that a student will become smart but that they will learn these valuable skills. Handing out A’s to students who bring in money is not teaching kids these valuable lessons. Regina George, from the book Etched in Sand, is a great example of this kind of student. She learned these valuable skills because she was forced to through her tough home life. Because of these skills she inherited, she was able to go very far in life. She got to where she is today because of hard work, not because of having things handed to her. Students like Regina, who maybe couldn’t bring in that money, would not be able to succeed in these classrooms. A great example of how to use charitable donations in a moral way is the way that it is run at Elk County Catholic. Students are asked to hand in at least one dollar. In exchange for this, students are allowed to dress casually, instead of the normal school uniforms. This is the perfect example because it’s a good thing for everyone.
Many people might not agree with my standpoint. Someone might say, “Well the Bible tells us to give charitable donations, what’s wrong with getting a good grade because of it?” To those people, I would point out that the Bible also warns us of coveting and greed. Wanting good grades put in the palm of your hands with no hard work would certainly be greed, wouldn’t it? That’s why a dress down day, or a pizza party is perfect. These events will gift the students with happiness rather than with material things, which we all know don’t make people truly happy. Other people might try to refute my claims by saying that all incentives that come with donating to charity are bad. To them I would ask, what is wrong with making everyone in the situation happy? When it comes to the moral incentives, money is still given to charity, the people who donated are happy, and students still have an opportunity to thrive no matter their circumstance. Everyone is happy!
I whole-heartedly believe there is nothing wrong with incentives that come along with donating, as long as those incentives don’t cross the line of morality. After all, what’s wrong with morally making everyone happy?
7/8
DeleteYou gave a great position on the topic while backing it up with lots of evidence. You straight out gave you’re opinion which I think is great. You also covered the part of someone in the opposite position which was good.
I chose to give you a 6/7. I gave this score to you because I believe that you made your stance clear and offer a good amount of supporting examples to make your point. You also provided a great refutacion. You stuck with your opinion throughout the entire was well done!
Delete6/7
DeleteYou did a great job posing the side but you also developed an outlook from each standpoint. You incorporated a sufficient amount of examples and detailed to clearly define your opinion.
7/8
DeleteYou have really great points throughout your argument. I like how you see it from both sides. I totally agree that making everyone happy is what matters,
Solid 7
DeleteYou are very, very clear on establishing your position in the argument, and the way you spoke sounded very genuine, and not generic. And you used great concrete examples, though the fact that they are Biblical would probably turn off the super-progressive, liberal people that judge these prompts, but that’s beside the point. Your passion does wonders for your argument, though.
The definition of donation is something that is given to a charity. Now realize, donations are given, not exchanged. There is a striking question posed however, is the exchange of donations okay for grades OK?
ReplyDeleteMany schools and clubs require donations in order to dress down, be included, and some even require them for a grade. Now, this may be a good thing, pushing kids to do acts of kindness and bring in donations! But handing out grades in return ruins the point. I think that dress down day donations are a good thing and a good way to raise money, but requiring kids to donate for their grades is not!
Although requiring these acts and charitable donations may help the student get in the habit of doing so, when will they stop doing so in hopes of something in return? I fail to believe that they will magically hit a point where they will donate and hope to receive nothing. In order to hit a goal one must practice how they want to perform. There is also another part of donating that is more from a mental standpoint. When you donate something in hopes to help someone else there is s feeling that you get like “you just did something good.” That feeling fades away though if you only donate in hopes to receive.
I have had situations in my life that are relevant to the argument. When I was little I would always play with legos, everyday.....nonstop! As I grew older I began to do other things like sports and just grew away from them. When I was around the age of nine my mom encouraged me to give them to little neighbors down the street because I never used them and they took up space in the house. I did not even play with them anymore but they had a sentimental value to me and I put so much time until building creations. But, I had realized I had got my use with them and it was time for someone else to use them. I honestly did not even realize that they were gone afterwards but I felt good that I gave something I liked so much to someone else to like. I think that everyone probably has had this situation concerning getting rid of toys when they are young but if I would have asked for money in return then it would not have been the same.
Requiring donations to receive school grades or bonus points is not okay, it gives one the wrong sense of what donating or GIVING is. There is a special token or feeling given in return of a donation that is better than money in exchange. There is a feeling that you just did something to benefit someone else because you have the ability to do so
I would give this essay a 5/6. It might just be me, but I am very confused by what, “is the exchange of donations okay for grades OK” means. I think it might just be a typo, but I am not sure. I did like how you get very personal at the end of your essay. You did a great job with that part. I think it is important to always include two different perspectives when writing. Well done.
DeleteSolid 5
DeleteI think the essay was a little on the short side, however what you said about the toys was very very good. All in all I think you did great
Charity. By definition it is the voluntary giving of help. This means that if the act is not something you would do without reward, it is not true selflessness. Many schools and work places mandate charity work for the continuation of the person’s stay. While some people offer praise and joy for others accomplishing charity work, the moral hand is at stake. The idea of voluntary work has become twisted into entitlement and self praise without the correct moral mindset. Generations upon generations of people are passing away, leaving behind the corrupt society of only looking out for themselves.
ReplyDeleteAs a moral standpoint, in my opinion, the interchanging of donation for a reward is not okay. It is wrong. The means of a donation is doing it for the good of others while offering something of yourself up. The good of others does not mean the good of your grades. At the school I attend, the mandate service hours. While I think it is an amazing thing to make younger people go out and do something they might be uncomfortable doing, it is also not technically service hours. The students are doing the hours because they have to. It is not voluntary; although most students would volunteer some hours in their personal time because that is how they are morally.
In my own personal experience, I have seen people donate blood just to get a $25 amazon gift card. Society has changed compared to older times where people donated blood to save lives. Their moral beliefs of helping others has put them in that situation. People at church have also changed, donating no money but still proclaiming that they are huge Catholics that support their church. Well when that church can no longer afford to pay for electricity or heating and the building shuts down, do not be saying that you tried everything you could. So many people have the wrong idea of support and help in the means of donation. It changes everything around us with some people completely blind to it.
I guarantee that if a person is trying to improve their wellbeing and own soul, proper charity work will help. The looks of doing charity does not actually help the person, it is only hurting them. People often post things on Instagram or Snapchat, “helping so and so come help us.” It is not some market line where you are advertising support. It’s where everyone is going wrong, the idea of charity becoming a business. It is people offering their time and money for others that want to help, not want to look good for their social status. If upcoming generations only understood the feeling after completing donations without compensation, would they be at peace with themselves.
6/7
DeleteI think your use of personal connections with the topic really boosted your ethos and strengthened your argument. It was clear to see thus when you said “As a moral standpoint, in my opinion...” and “In my own personal experience, I have seen people donate blood...”. Both were great examples and solidified your argument.
6/7
DeleteI really liked your examples of how people donate blood only to receive a gift; this supports your thesis of “the interchanging of donations for a reward is not okay.” You did a very good job on supporting this thesis.
What makes a community? Is it people with similar interests, people living in the same area? Or, rather, is it people working together to bring out the best in one another to improve their lives simply because they can.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, the later definition is rarely upheld as people choose fictional characters and solitude over social interaction and contribution. So, if community service is forced rather than performed in the spirit of unity, is it really a service to the community? This is definitely an opinion question, and it calls into play each individual’s morals and backgrounds to gain some perspective. Do the morals behind a situation alter the effects of it, or do the ends justify the lack of sincere intent? Personally, I find this to be a situational issue. Every situation has different dimensions to it that can provide clarity on this topic; for example, many elderly people lived in a time where hard work was their central commitment, and they think that everyone else should live their lives the same way. So, if a teenager being forced to complete a service was performing a task for them and spent the entire time complaining , they may rather complete the task alone because of the principles behind it. If a child, however, had an event planned for them by these teens in support of an illness, they would not notice that the students who came did so just so they could attend the event without really caring about the cause.
So, where so I stand on this stance? I guess I do not really know. What I do know, however, is how I think people should be treated. If the services being performed are truly helping people and making a real difference in our world, than I wholeheartedly agree that they should be mandatory. If people are scamming the system to avoid it, shame on them for abandoning their community. Community is a feeling. It is established by the people who sincerely care and work hard for what everyone else may take for granted but they do regardless because someone needs to. We need to be willing to serve our community as it so well serves us.
3/4
DeleteYou did not make an actual position on the stand of ethics. You did provide some evidence of a partial position but it was not complete enough. I also think you could have written more.
These days, community service is often linked with gratifying oneself. Most people only perform acts of kindness to make themselves seem kind or “good.” But how do the people receiving the act know if the person doing it has good intentions? Often the individual who receives the community service looks at their gift, not the person who did it. Many times they do not even know who performed the act of service. How do we define the line between self gratification and self giving?
ReplyDeleteHow do we know whether someone is doing a deed for themselves or not? More often than not we have no idea what is going on in their minds. For example, I donate blood to those in need when it is offered at our school. The catch is that there is a chance of getting a reward for whoever donates, as well as getting out of class and receiving food. But quick question, who would rather stay in class in learn or get your arm pricked with a needle and have the chance of passing out? I, myself, donate to save others lives, not to get some meaningless reward. But how would you know that? How would the people who receive my blood know that? I am almost positive the people that receive my blood are just thankful I did it, they need it to live, and frankly who cares if the person who donated just gratified themselves. No one would ever know if I donate to better myself, or to better other people. What matters is that the blood I donate is saving lives. I know in my heart, that is the reason that I donate each year.
The blood donations are our school are not required, but our ECHO hour program requires that each student should give 20 hours of their service to the community. Some students dread these 20 hours, while others take it as a fun challenge. There are several benefits to the requirement of community service at our school. First, it looks great on college resumes or applications. Colleges love to see students who are involved in their communities. Also, community service brings joy to the people who are receiving it. I think the ability to make a persons day is one of the greatest acts someone can do. It can also strengthen the heart and love of the person who performs the act of community service. On the other hand, they are some downfalls of the requirement of service hours. For example, people can forge their service hours and never actually do them. In my mind, I think service hours are an easy task to accomplishment, so those that do not do them are flat out lazy. Also, many people do them for self gratification, as I said before. The people who receive their community service do not know this though, so I do not believe that it lessens the act as long as they do it to their best ability. Community service is a great idea to have tested throughout schools.
As Catholics, community service goes hand in hand with the will of God. God always wants us to be helping others. Giving of service to others is a great act of kindness in God’s eyes. The greatest act of giving in the Bible is when Jesus died on the cross in order to save us all from sin. Did Jesus really want to have to suffer on a cross for several hours and bear an unbearable pain? As a human I am sure he did not want to die, but he knew that he had to. He gave or himself so that others could live happily and without suffering. This may be an over the top comparison to community service, but it serves well. We may not always want to do our hours, but in the end it is helping another person, so it is something we have to do.
No matter the intention, community service is almost always a helpful act that benefits both sides. Just because someone may not want to wrap gifts for those in need, it does not take away the gift or how much the other person will appreciate it. Giving of service comes from the heart, and requiring it in some cases will strengthen the hearts of those performing these beautiful acts of kindness.
7/8
DeleteYou used rhetorical questions very effectively in your second paragraph, really clarifying your argument and the basis of it. You then backed that up with a great paragraph about ECHO hours. However, to improve your essay, I feel that you could have had a much stronger conclusion. The rest of it was a very strong and carried a great tone, and I think your concluding paragraph did not include that same tone.
6?
DeleteSady, while I do think you did a relatively good job with this, I do have a few concerns. At a glance, it is everything one would expect of a really good essay. You qualify your point with strong, personal experiences. You refute periodically as the concerns arise. You follow the format of a classical argument while taking the liberties necessary to make it an interesting read. While all of these apply to your paper, I found myself confused while reading your blog. You see, I read it over a few times, and each time I finished I found myself asking: did she ever actually address the prompt? I thought maybe you had in the last sentence of the first paragraph, but as I continued I felt as though it had lost its meaning, point, or essence. A few of your examples come near exploring the incentives, but most of the time it veers away before you get there, just shy of the point. This leads me to a different dilemma. Often, you begin with a point, and then you switch focus and redirect. It lacks a general consistency of “narrative flow”. I worry about this for the sake of your grade. I don’t know how they would address this in an AP format, but I am still apprehensive about the possibility of it being deemed “off prompt”. All of the grades in the link concern themselves with adequately, inadequately, etc. addressing the ethics of the prompt, so I am not sure how they would grade something such as your paper. I would also like to add that maybe a more sophisticated style could do better for your scoring, since all of the upper score descriptions discuss it. I know time constraints can make this difficult, but I think you could do it. Lastly, I would like to say that, despite my criticisms, it is a relatively good read. In a different context I would be really interested in what you had brought forth, but given the prompt I found myself a little stunted in my exploration. Still, I think this was an excellent effort and a job well done.
Students and community service can be somewhat of a controversial topic. Some may argue that requiring this or “enticing” students to do service makes the actual act immoral. On the other hand, community service is something that does not always come naturally, but that can be encouraged in order to be practiced. In the long run, this helps to build our community both today and tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThere are a countless number of works telling us that being selfless and helping others is at the heart of a thriving community. Without those to help the people in need, those people have no one to help them get back on their feet. This sense of sharing and love does not always come easy though. There has to be something to instill this community sense into children. As humans, we tend to have an attitude geared more towards ourselves. We do not always like to give things up, but this is what we need. From various famous authors we have learned that a community cannot truly thrive unless its members are selfless, giving, caring, and present. The all about me has to leave so that society can truly become a community.
Coming from a school where community service is required, I can say that it has personally helped me develop a better relationship with my community. Before high school, I never actually realized what I could do to help others. Without being an adult I figured there was absolutely nothing I could contribute. Being told that service hours were part of my requirements pushed me to find these things that I did not know I could do. This turned a school assignment into something I used to find things I enjoyed doing that still helped out my local communities. My school did not only help me grow intellectually, but it is through these hours it helped me grow into a better person, something I am not sure would have happened without needing to get service hours.
Service is something that makes the community thrive. It pushed people to do something for someone else and encourages them to step outside their box. A school not only teaches students to expand their mind, but their actual self as well. For this reason, I find that required community service is a good thing
I’d give you a 7/8. This piece, in my opinion, was great. Your introduction intrigued me and made me want to read more. The concluding sentence of your second character was the crux of your argument, and I think you did a fantastic job establishing everything and making a solid argument.
DeleteOxford’s dictionary would define the term community service as unpaid work intended to aid people in a given area. The key word in that definition is “unpaid,” as in no compensation. Compensation takes many forms, including a reward of food, money, or privilege. As such, I firmly believe that it is highly unethical for organizations to offer incentives for the completion community service.
ReplyDeleteCommunity service is meant to come out of the kindness of one’s own heart. For a deed to be considered bona fide community service, I feel that a person should have to make a number of sacrifices. Such sacrifices primarily include a person’s time and energy, but one of the many sacrifices a person makes in completing community service should also be an expectation of nothing in return. That some schools, clubs, and foundations compensate people for the completion of community service essentially nullifies the goodness of the deeds. If one volunteers himself or herself for a community service deed knowing and/or expecting that they will be compensated, the deed becomes less of a sacrifice. Sure, the person is sacrificing time and energy to do the deed, but they are doing it with the reward in mind, not the selfless giving of time and energy for the betterment of the community.
Schools around the country, including the one attended by yours truly, make community service a prerequisite for graduation. While the schools implement such a practice with the wholehearted intent of bettering the community and getting students to realize the effects of taking an active role in the community, the point is often lost when students focus on the fact that hours spent completing community service are a requirement to advance in their schooling. Often, when students realize that x amount of hours must be fulfilled, they will focus more on how they can get the maximum amount of service hours with the minimum amount of effort so as to meet the required number of hours to graduate. In essence, students at these schools put quantity before quality, redirecting their focus away from how their deeds are making a difference in the community. Making a certain quantity of service hours a prerequisite for advancement is thus highly unethical, as it makes students focus more on the reward than the deed. Now, that is not to say that every student puts quantity over quality, as there are many students at my school that graduate high school with three or four times the minimum required number of hours. Furthermore, most of these students who exceed the minimum spend more than the required number of hours completing a SINGLE deed, while most students who meet the bare minimum number of hours jump from deed to deed and stop when the quota is met, regardless of whether or not the deed is finished or an actual difference in the community is made. This says that people who genuinely care about making a difference will make a difference.
I feel that encouraging people to engage in community service is very important and is by no means unethical, but making people serve in the community and giving a concrete reward for it, such as monetary compensation or the ability to graduate, is EXTREMELY unethical. Compensation of any kind makes community service selfish, shifting the frame of view from self-sacrifice to self-gratification. Therefore, I believe that compensation of any kind is detrimental to the practice and is a practice that should be avoided.
6/7
DeleteI thought it was a very good idea to define what community service means right at the beginning. Then you continued to define a particular word in the definition which was also very smart of you. The main points you focused on really related to community service. Your conclusion was very strong as well.
7/8
DeleteYou made some great points, and you essay was structured very well. However, I think your true talent comes in how you can use your voice through your writing. It probably sounds stupid, but I think a lot of people’s writing doesn’t really sound like something they would say, one might even say it sounds fake. While reading this I can just picture you saying it. I think you have mastered this part of writing, which is a great talent.
7/8
DeleteI really enjoyed your introduction. Using the dictionary to introduce the idea works well with this particular subject. I also really enjoyed your discussion of our school. If I would make any improvements, it would be in your conclusion. I feel like you could have expanded a lot more. Otherwise, I think it was great. As Evan said, I feel as if you could just say this. It’s really great.
Part I
ReplyDeleteAssist in the mission of the selfless. Give because much has been given. Help because of the help that has already been afforded. Charity is, in its purest essence, a selfless act of a self-giving nature. It is a means of uplifting others through acts of goodwill, and it asks for nothing in return. Despite this universally understood truth, it is not unheard of for those seeking the generosity of others to offer something in return. It is seen as an exchange of good for good, help for help, and thankfulness for thankfulness. It is well meaning, and yet it may be, perhaps for that very reason, lacking in substantial and honest good. It raises the question: does incentivized charity negate the purpose, and thereby the value, of a work performed, and what is the moral admissibility of such actions and decisions? Indeed it seems that while incentivized charity may not inherently devalue the act of giving, it does compromise the intention and virtue of giving and is, therefore, a rather morally illicit approach to and practice of charity.
Charity has always been directly related to love. Biblically, charity is the guiding ideal in concepts and commands such as love of neighbor, frequently hailed as the “Golden Rule”. The Golden Rule dictates that all men are to love their neighbors as they love themselves, and to do to other what they would have done unto themselves. It is not, however, an admission that men can accept recompense for the good they do. It is understood, too, in biblical text that one is to give without reserve as well as without recognition. This much is made clear in Matthew 6:3 which reads, “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” In Catholic tradition, the virtues of love and charity are used interchangeably, with the theological virtues listed as either faith, hope, and love or faith, hope, and charity in canonical texts. Love, in Christian tradition, is required to be selfless for reasons beyond text. According to that tradition, love that is not selfless is not full and is, therefore, not love at all. These concepts are not limited to Christian tradition. Indeed, all of Western culture is directly influenced by Christian ideas. As such, ideals and concepts presented throughout Christian history are inherent to any conversation about Western philosophies and moralities, especially those related to love and charity.
ReplyDeletePart II
The lack of morality present in incentivized charity is apparent in its philosophical root. Many would argue that it does not matter how the money is earned or that it is incentivized because it is doing the greatest good possible for the greatest number of people. Incentivized charity is essentially an extension of a moral philosophy known as act utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism is built on the hedonist principle of “the greatest happiness to the greatest number”. The issue with this is that it is based on the idea that the ends justify the means. It doesn’t matter that this act of charity was not selfless and was instead a bastardized version of charity. As long as the greatest number of people are cared for, there is no issue with the means. Except there is an issue, an inherent flaw, that detracts from this all. There can be no lasting satisfaction in something that has already been given an established price. Take, for instance, volunteer hours. If one were to volunteer because it was their own will, and they would receive absolutely nothing in return, the value would exist in the interactions and good that comes of it. If one were to volunteer and then receive a gift card for their volunteer work, they would equate the value of their work with the value of the card. In the end, it does not matter how much good a work does if it is not done with integrity.
Incentivized charity is not charity at all. While it does not devalue the act of giving, it does detract from both the purpose and the integrity of giving without reward. It fails to acknowledge the moral principle and philosophy of charity. Ultimately, it all comes down to priority. What is more valuable to the society, the citizen, and the good of all: integrity or the welfare of the people?
I chose to give you an 8/9. I think your arguemnt was incredible. You make your position known at the very beginning and continued to support it withinformation from the Bible and other examples. You also refuted the other side in a great way. I also think your concluding sentence brought together your whole piece very nicely.
DeleteIf the people of our American society are accepting of recording everything on their phone instead of helping someone, using texting as an alternative to speaking, and abusing people on the internet anonymously, I find it quite shocking that they might be upset about charity that comes from incentives. What is more important, the fact that someone in need received money, or that the person who gave it just gave it because he had to for school?
ReplyDeleteAs a Catholic I believe that charity and service should be done regularly with good intentions. Although when our school has a charitable dress down day, I give my one dollar without even knowing what it will be going to, as do most of my classmates. The money still gets to these people, does it really matter where it comes from? Am I being sinful by giving money without knowing where it is going? I still have a choice as to if I bring money in or not.
Another example of this is when you donate money to a charity. For example when you give money to catholic charities. When you donate money, often times they will send you a little gift or something to thank you for giving. It is doubtful that people are giving money to receive a bracelet of a ring. This is just an opportunity for the people to give thanks for what they received. I hardly think that this questioned the ethics of the giving.
The ethics of giving, cannot really be defined by one person, in one essay. Although the fact that incentives are involved in charity I’d hardly sinful.
I’d give you a 4/5. I thought it could’ve been longer, and it was somewhat contradictory. You stated that you thought things should be given with good intentions, and then you said you gave unknowingly to school. While I understand the point you were trying to convey, you could’ve elaborated to put the pieces together and make it more easily understandable.
Delete5
DeleteLet’s start from the top. I have a bit of trouble seeing how you went from the ways in which we use technologies to the ways in which we give. It feels like a bit of stretch thematically. The “what’s more important” question is always a tough one and, in my opinion, should be used sparingly. It is a bit dangerous and at the center of relativistic thinking. I think you redeem yourself a bit in your next paragraph though by establishing your goodwill as a Catholic with good intention. I think it gets a bit inconsistent through there though. If you had expanded a bit on that, you could have connected your ideas throughout the paragraph better. Still, it was not terrible and did get your apparent point across. I think the strongest part of your argument is when you say “It is doubtful that people are giving money to receive a bracelet or a ring.” I think the ways in which you display the ‘ridiculousness’ of aspects of the argument did you well. Still, I think it was a bit disjunctive, and a better flow could result in a better score. Still, I find certain sentences to have a power I could never convey through my writing, so maybe you have something going for you. Good job regardless of my opinion.
3/5. I definetly feel that you could have made it longer. Your conclusion, in particular, was lacking detail. I do enjoy how you relate this to dress down day donations. I believe that may have been one of your stronger points.
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ReplyDeleteFor many years people have given monetary donations to various charities across the world. People have donated to churches, food banks, concerts, and many other charities. Some of these donations occur because of incentives like a free bracelet, a free meal, a free concert ticket, or a good grade. I do not think that these donations that occur with incentives are bad because it is still giving. It may however, contradict the morals of other around them. I believe that giving is giving no matter the motive.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Christian concert that tours every year around the United States. It is called Winter Jam. Many of the people from our school has gone to this concert. I have gone for the past six years. It is a great concert to explore faith and have fun. You do not need a ticket to get in, but they do ask for a ten dollar donation at the door and a love offering later in the concert. The concert has an incentive of a free ticket to see many awesome bands for no price at all. People donate to them and it gives them access to see all of these bands. This is not a bad thing. Our school offers dress down days for the small price of one dollar to donate to charity. If we do not give this dollar we are not allowed to dress down for the rest of the year. This gives us the incentive to pay the dollar. We are still giving to charity and the reward of having a dress down day has no effect on the monetary gift we give to these charities each month. Another example is that some teachers at our school gives out free bonus points for bringing in a box of tissues or a roll of paper towels. These incentives can drive us to give and donate, but it does not change the fact that we are still giving something. Deuteronomy 15:10 says, “Gove generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your Hod will bless you in all your work and I everything you put your hand to.” Grudging is define as reluctant or resentfully unwilling to give, grant, or allow something. In none of these examples above has the donater been reluctant or resentful in giving.
Some might say that giving a donation to better a grade is wrong because it is paying for a grade instead of donating from the heart. I think that bringing an incentive to the table could motivate others to give to the cause. Many business have incentives to donate. For example, a pizza place could give you a coupon for a free pizza if you donate five dollars. That helps their business as well as you by giving you a free pizza. If the student was paying the teacher outright instead of having it donated, then it would be paying for the grade instead of giving to a charity. This is wrong. God wants us to help others and give to the poor, and if incentives help bring more money to the charity, then there should be no issue.
I would give you a 5/6. I using the Bible as a reference added to logos and worked well with your point. However, I don’t know that he several points you included were well-developed and there were multiple spelling mistakes (I’m not sure if that would affect your grade normally, I’m just pointing out so you notice.) I think that next time you may want to focus on being less repetitive and elongating your sentences.
DeleteWhat can change the moral implications of an action? What makes a good action bad? A sense of false entitlement has many students needing an incentive for a charitable act. This deprives them of the true value of service — helping someone who needs help.
ReplyDeleteI have been a part of the Boy Scouts longer than I can remember. Every few weeks, the troop took part in a service project of some sort. We would do anything from a spaghetti dinner to a construction project. We painted buildings, build benches, and did our best to help people. All of these service projects were undertaken without any hint of future reward. These projects were not always easy, but they helped people. If we had received a reward for our service, it would have destroyed the point of the service. Being paid for an action is not generosity, it is a job.
The most popular, most distributed book of all time, the Bible, explains the concept of service. Acts 20:35 says, “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” There is a clearly defined difference between giving and receiving. A gift is when one receives without giving, a job is when one gives and receives, and service is when one only gives.
The other side argues that a simple, non-monetary compensation is perfectly fine. After all, they are not given money for work. Therefore, it cannot be only a job. This reasoning, however, is fundamentally flawed, as it relies on the idea that a payment other than money is no longer a payment. It is ultimately still compensation for work, making this service a job. Any compensation, no matter how minor, ruins the point of service.
Today’s society grapples with the issue of entitlement. Teachers are forced to offer a grade-based compensation in order to convince their students to serve. This compensation destroys the point of service. Service should be a part of each student’s life, but that is no longer the case. This must change moving forward.
I would give you a 6/7. This is because you made a few good points. You also used the Bible and a few personal experiences. I think that you could have used the word incentive in place of some of the compensations you used. It sounded a little repetitive at the end.
Delete6/7
DeleteI honestly think you did a really good job on this. You start out with two really strong rhetorical questions. I kind of wish you had expanded on those. While they do fit into the scope of your argument, I almost feel like you should have included more of them or perhaps you could have used them to better fit/frame your argument. Next, you use personal experience with service in a near anecdotal approach. I really feel this particularly does a lot to boost your ethos as a person willing to “walk the walk”. Or maybe I am just saying this because I saw you out on the Diamond today with your boyscout troop practicing what you preach and donating your time back to an organization that has been so formative since youth! You sort of build up both your argument and your ethos in your next paragraph too by addressing the widespread “popular philosophy” presented in the Bible and how that relates to the literal millions of people affected by it, both followers of Christ and otherwise. You make your own virtue known here too, which is definitely an added bonus. Then comes your refutation. You get right to the point—if you are paid it’s a job. It really can’t get any simpler than that. I think maybe your ending could have been stronger too. Your last paragraph feels to me as though it could just be a part of the refutation, which is fine (it serves its purpose well enough), but it doesn’t really leave me with much. Finally, your tone is consistent, but I would have liked to see a bit of a more elevated style. It doesn’t have to be ornate or haughty, but I think it would serve you better in scoring, especially because I know that you are capable of it. Overall, I think this was really solid, though. Good job, again.
Charity is commonly regarded as a selfless act, and long hailed as a virtue. As a whole, society tends to uphold this belief, and many have sought to encourage it by providing incentives. Although incentives encourage people to act selflessly, do incentives remove the value of selflessness?
ReplyDeletePerhaps the most immediate response is yes, and few would contest that. Receiving rewards in exchange for charity completely redefines this action; rather than charity, what occurs is employment; a job. My education best exemplifies this contradictory action. Several teaches have offered grade bonuses in exchange for submitting various foods, o providing funds for a particular service. Whether that service be meritable or not, which it usually is, doing so completely devalues the purpose of charity. Rather than instill the virtues associated with being giving and selfless, this only promotes selfishness and self-gain. A separate and more pressing argument could be made regarding whether or not selflessness is in fact a virtue, but for the purposes of this question, it is clear that, assuming selflessness (charity) is an act worth encouraging, encouraging it actually renders any efforts aimed at encouraging it worthless.
Another, and more recent example of incentivized charity, has occurred when, in exchange for providing funds for a particular organization, students are permitted to dress down for “dress-down day.” This is a prominent example of the addition of incentives to charitable acts.
Thus, although there are many important ethical questions that must be thoroughly examined regarding charity and incentives, perhaps the more pressing question isn’t how do we preserve the virtuous qualities of charity, but is it worth preserving?